If there’s one thing Mizzou fans probably don’t want to do right now, it’s think about the Texas game. I’ve spent enough time replaying that one in my head, and, judging by the Twittersphere, I’m not alone among my Mizzou brethren. That game was a gut punch; the kind of loss that makes it tempting to write off the rest of the year, declare it all meaningless, convert to nihilism and start looking ahead to 2027 (or at least basketball season.)
As tempting as that may be for Tigers fans, it would certainly
be a mistake if the team took that same approach. Mizzou still has three games left, and while the College Football Playoff path has gotten awfully narrow, it hasn’t disappeared entirely. Winning out, however unlikely, would include victories over two top-15 opponents and would at least keep Mizzou in the conversation for one of the final spots in the 12-team field.
There is no getting around the dissatisfaction (and really, let’s be honest, the resentment) of how the Texas game played out. But even if the playoff dream doesn’t come together, there are plenty of reasons to care about what happens over the next three weeks. In fact, Mizzou has quite a bit more to play for than just a long-shot postseason bid.
Being realistic, the Tigers probably need a whole heap of help to get into the playoff at this point. A loss to Texas took away the margin for error, and the remaining schedule offers zero room to stumble. A road trip to face the AP No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs is not exactly an ideal place to start a winning streak.
Taking a quick trip into pipe dream land for a bit: Winning all three would give the Tigers an 9-3 record with victories over two top-15 opponents. That would at least put them in position to make a case for one of the final at-large spots, depending on how the rest of the season shakes out.
The important thing is that the opportunity still exists. The Tigers don’t have to spend the next three weeks scoreboard watching or wondering what might have been. They can make a statement by taking care of their own business, starting with an enormous challenge in Athens.
Chasing history
Even if the playoff is a long shot, Mizzou has a pretty significant program milestone within reach.
The Tigers have two more home games after Georgia, against opponents that are more than beatable. Winning two of the final three would give Mizzou at least eight victories for the fourth consecutive season under Eli Drinkwitz.
In the 136-year history of the program, Mizzou has only had one other stretch where it has put together a run of at least four consecutive eight-win seasons: Gary Pinkel’s teams did it six years in a row from 2006–2011.
Drinkwitz has already established a level of consistency that has been difficult for this program to sustain historically. Keeping that streak alive would be another tangible sign of stability and forward momentum, particularly after a season that has included plenty of roster turnover and some significant challenges.
A 2-1 finish would not be the ending the Tigers wanted when the season began, or after they blew out Florida and Texas A&M back-to-back to start October, but it would still represent another winning year and another step toward making sustained success the expectation in Columbia.
Rivalry games still matter
The final two home games also offer more than just a chance to pad the win total.
While not a rival per se, Kentucky is an up-and-coming program under first-year head coach Will Stein. The Wildcats are trying to establish themselves as a serious contender in the SEC, and Mizzou has a vested interest in making sure that climb doesn’t come at its expense.
The Tigers and Wildcats are competing for many of the same recruits and trying to build similar programs in a crowded conference. Maintaining an edge over Kentucky matters, both on the field and in the recruiting battles that will help determine which program is better positioned over the next several years.
Mizzou trails the all-time series against the Sooners 68-25-5, and opportunities to beat Oklahoma have historically been few and far between. The Tigers took advantage of a struggling Oklahoma team in 2024, and doing so again would be worthwhile.
The Sooners remain a recognizable name with plenty of resources and recruiting pull. Now that they are one of Mizzou’s three annual opponents, establishing a competitive series with them would be in everyone’s best interest. If the Tigers can knock of the Sooners, that puts them at 3-0 in rivalry trophy games this season. 8-4 and undefeated in rivalry games is a solid year.
Building toward 2027
Perhaps the most important reason to finish strong has little to do with the playoff or even the final win total. It is about what comes next.
Modern college football can feel like a year-to-year endeavor. The transfer portal and NIL have made roster continuity harder to maintain, and teams can look dramatically different from one season to the next, but building toward the future is still an important part of the process.
Mizzou has plenty of talent on this roster that could return next season. Austin Simmons, Nick Rodriguez, Donovan Olugbode, Donta Simpson and Daeden Hopkins are among the players with at least one more year of eligibility if they choose to use it in Columbia.
Keeping that core together will be important, and finishing the season with some momentum can only help. NIL donors need to believe their investment is being put to good use. A strong finish gives the program something to sell when it comes time to retain its own players and attract additional talent through the portal.
Conversely, limping to the finish line after losing to Texas in such a preposterous fashion would do little to inspire confidence. Nobody expects every Mizzou season to end with a trophy, but donors and players want to see a program that is still competing, improving and building toward something.
Mizzou has the talent to do that and the final three games offer an opportunity to prove it.
The loss to Texas was devastating, but it doesn’t have to define this season. There is still history to chase, rivalry games to win and a foundation to build for next year. Mizzou has too much talent and too much left to play for to let one frustrating afternoon turn into a disappointing finish.
