Eli Drinkwitz enters his seventh season at Missouri after an 8-5 campaign in 2025. Chip Lindsey takes over as offensive coordinator after serving in the same role at Michigan, and Ole Miss transfer Austin Simmons takes over at quarterback. Ahmad Hardy returns after averaging 123 rushing yards per game last season. Update (Sept. 21): Hardy has yet to play this season while continuing his recovery from the gunshot wound he suffered in May and does not have a firm timetable for his return. Jamal Roberts also returns after averaging 58 rushing yards per game. Missouri must replace leading receiver Kevin Coleman after his departure for the NFL. Donovan Olugbode and Brett Norfleet return, while Ole Miss transfer Cayden Lee and Cincinnati transfer Caleb Goodie join the receiving corps. The offensive line returns three full-time starters in Cayden Green, Dominick Giudice, and Curtis Peagler, who made 11, 13, and 13 starts, respectively. Mississippi State transfer Zack Owens joins the group after making 10 starts last season.
Corey Batoon enters his third season as defensive coordinator with Missouri, which returns just two of its top eleven tacklers from last season. Linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez and safety Santana Banner are the only returning players from that group after finishing second and third on the team in tackles, respectively, although they combined for just four starts in 2025. Auburn transfer linebacker Robert Woodyard Jr. joins Rodriguez after making 11 starts last season. Along the defensive front, Marquis Gracial returns after six starts, while Jalen Marshall and Darris Smith also return, and Florida State transfer Jaden Jones joins the group. In the secondary, Chris Graves Jr. joins Banner after nine starts last season, while Jahlil Florence adds another transfer.
John Papuchis takes over as special teams coordinator after previously coaching at Florida State. Blake Craig returns at placekicker after missing nearly all of last season with a torn ACL and is fully healthy entering 2026. Florida State transfer Brunno Reus joins the program to handle punting and kickoffs, while Tennessee State transfer Mark Shenouda provides another option at punter. DaMarion Fowlkes returns with experience in the return game. Missouri enters 2026 with considerable offensive line experience and a defense that must replace most of its top tacklers, as only two of last season’s top eleven tacklers return. That turnover leaves the defense needing quick contributions from returning players and incoming transfers.