Eli Drinkwitz enters his seventh season at Missouri after an 8-5 2025 campaign. Chip Lindsey takes over as offensive coordinator after serving in the same role at Michigan. Ole Miss transfer Austin Simmons takes over at quarterback. Ahmad Hardy returns after averaging 123 rushing yards per game last season. Update (Oct. 13): RB Ahmad Hardy has yet to play or return to practice while recovering from the gunshot wound he suffered in May. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz said Hardy will need about two weeks of full-speed practice before returning to game action, leaving his timetable uncertain. Jamal Roberts also returns after averaging 58 rushing yards per game last season and has emerged as Missouri’s primary running back in Hardy’s absence. Roberts rushed for 222 yards and two touchdowns against Texas A&M on October 10, marking his second straight 200-yard rushing 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 Missouri’s defensive coordinator, returning just two of last season’s top eleven tacklers. Linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez and safety Santana Banner are the only returning players from that group, finishing second and third on the team in tackles, respectively, though 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. 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 punting option. 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. Roberts has boosted the rushing attack, and Hardy continues his recovery, but the defense still needs quick contributions from returning players and incoming transfers.