Corey Batoon could be a domino to fall within the college coaching carousel.
It’s true! Obviously nobody is pushing Batoon out the door, he’s been lights out for Eli Drinkwitz since Blake Baker left for LSU. Missouri’s defense finished 13th in SP+ this year and ended on a high note after blanking a potent Arkansas scoring offense in the second half. So any smart coach with a lot of money would be open to adding a coordinator like Batoon.
So here’s where things get a little interesting:
Yes THAT Blake Baker is reportedly the leading candidate to be the head coach at Tulane. Baker was also the most likely guy to be kept by new LSU head coach Lane Kiffin… in case you somehow missed that news. Despite LSU fans and boosters (and Governor) unhappiness with Brian Kelly, everyone seemed to be happy with Baker and his defense.
But if Baker takes the Tulane job, that means Kiffin will go coordinator hunting.
While at FAU, Kiffin hired Batoon to coach safeties and be the teams co-defensive coordinator. Batoon only coached with Kiffin for one season, so it’s not exactly like those roots run deep. But LSU’s pocket books run as deep, or deeper than anyone else in the SEC.
When Eli Drinkwitz was extended last week (jeez that was just a week ago?), one of the things he was promised was a staff salary pool to be within the top 4 of the league. We’re about to find out how competitive the pay at Missouri is if LSU comes calling for a new defensive coordinator.
Nothing is set in stone, obviously. This is a “pay attention to this news because of this overall situation” kind of thing. Drink should have the money to keep the guy he wants. And if I’m Drink, I would make sure Batoon is happy managing the defense in Columbia, and not looking to jump to the same job elsewhere. If he wants to be a head coach… well that’s a different story. But “Top 4” money shouldn’t mean you’re losing staff for the same job.
Yesterday at Rock M and Rock M+
We were unexpectedly busy yesterday, thanks to some breaking news, some Olympic Sports news, and yours truly taking his sweet time on Study Hall (I really needed some time after watching that game).
- Mizzou WBB are back in COMO for a set of games, leading off with the ACC-SEC Challenge where they faced California. Dylan previewed the home stretch, and he and Quentin were in attendance to watch the Tigers beat Cal, thanks to a late basket by Shannon Dowell:
With Mizzou women’s basketball down by one in the waning seconds of regulation to Cal, Dowell dribbled down the lane and converted a layup with 1.7 seconds left to put MU ahead. Cal couldn’t get a shot off by the time the final buzzer sounded, and in a battle of clawed beasts, the Tigers defeated the Golden Bears 68-67 courtesy of Dowell’s last-second winner.
The Tigers have won four straight games and are 8-2.
It’s an exciting, and important win. The more strides Kellie Harper can make in season the easier it will be for her to recruit and upgrade the roster through the portal.
- Dylan also went on a deep dive for the Volleyball program missing the Tournament for the first time under Dawn Sullivan:
These losses against inferior opponents were especially frustrating given that the Tigers beat Tennessee and Mississippi State, who were both ranked higher in the SEC; the Lady Vols were ranked in the top 25 of the RPI. Like I mentioned earlier, the Tigers avoided such losses during October when they rattled off seven consecutive wins, including beating Ole Miss in the regular season before losing the rematch in the team’s first game of the conference tournament.
There are a lot that went a little wrong for Mizzou VB this year, but those late season losses even stood out to me! And, admittedly, I’m not following the games as closely as many of you are.
- BOWL PROJECTIONS are still pointing to Missouri and the Duke’s Mayo Bowl being a match:
The Missouri Tigers ended the regular season with a 31-17 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks to finish 8-4 overall (4-4 SEC). Mizzou checks in at No. 25 in the latest AP Top 25 poll as they’ll look to finish the season on a high note.
I’m still in favor of the idea of Drink possibly getting dunked by a vat of Mayo. But CBS’s pick of the Texas Bowl versus Iowa State could be fun, as long as they still have their coach.
- Josh put a bow on the NSD post.
- With the 2026 signing day behind us for all of a day, Mizzou started on their 2027 class with Quarterback Braylen Warren:
Warren threw for over 2,000 yards as a sophomore, and 1,847 yards on 202 attempts as a junior. He also threw for 27 touchdowns and lead Omaha Westside High School to a 10-2 record.
Drinkwitz has done pretty well at locking up a QB early in the class. Warren doesn’t have a lofty recruiting ranking, but it’s still early for the class, and he’s a bit of a football legacy. As he dad played football at Nebraska.
DISRESPECTFUL PLAY INDEX came in and yeah it’s been Ahmad Hardy heavy all season, but the guy has been incredible. Like how was this a touchdown?:
There’s a 300 lb man holding onto him and he’s surrounded by at least three other defenders. And he just ran away from them!
Rock M Radio: BTBS recaps NSD
Yes HS recruiting is de-emphasized now with the portal, but there’s still value in signing and developing high school talent. I’ll die on this hill!
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