The Missouri Tigers kicked off 2025 looking eager to prove last year’s 10 wins weren’t a fluke. They are cruising to a 3-0 start with headline wins that showcase a well-oiled offense and a stingy defense. Beau Pribula, the Penn State transfer, has been the story so far. He is settling in quickly with new weapons, such as Kevin Coleman Jr. and especially Ahmad Hardy. His running style has injected real electricity into the ground game. But under the surface of Missouri’s hot start are reminders that college football is rarely a straight line.
Still, you can sense some anxiety on campus ahead of the South Carolina game. Mizzou’s pass defense spent much of last season giving up big chunk plays. So far, the easy wins haven’t fully tested this area. On the McElroy and Cubelic show this week, ESPN announcer Dave Pasch didn’t beat around the bush—he told Missouri fans to get fired up about the offense but called the secondary the team’s big question mark. “Kansas is the best team they’ve played by far,” Pasch said.
“Louisiana had no shot. I mean, they just absolutely destroyed him right from the start. Ahmad Hardy knows the offensive line, the way they’re playing. Pribula looks good so far. The addition of Kevin Coleman Jr. might be one of the better moves by anybody in the SEC this offseason. He was really good at Mississippi State, but he’s just absolutely been dominant this year. 74 catches last year. He’s already got, you know, 24 this year.” The Jayhawks were by far the best opponent they’ve played. It turned into a fourth-quarter statement, capped by a 63-yard touchdown run that broke the Jayhawks’ back with a 42-31 win. Hardy truly is the engine that makes Missouri’s offense go. Hardy has racked up 462 yards and five touchdowns already, averaging an insane 154 yards per game.
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His burst for long runs is why Shane Beamer is all about Missouri’s run tape. “I feel like the explosive run cut up that I watched from Missouri’s last three games is like the longest explosive run cut up I’ve watched in five years, it felt like,” Beamer said. “It’s just long run after long run after long run.” Then there’s Kevin Coleman Jr. This fall, he’s already up to 24 grabs with 258 yards and a score through three games, making him Pribula’s go-to guy and one of the most productive receivers in the SEC transfer crop. That said, the real question remains about the Tigers’ secondary. “Defensively, I’m still curious,” Pasch said.
“They’ve been really good so far. Four passing yards last week against Louisiana. How will it look if LaNorris Sellers plays? Their weapons for South Carolina probably aren’t what they were last year, but if Sellers is good to go, we don’t know that yet. They still got to contend with him. Are they ready for that? Are they good enough for that? That to me is the question mark.” Against Louisiana-Lafayette, the Tigers shut down the Ragin’ Cajuns, allowing only four passing yards and 121 total, with a defense that swarmed and never let them breathe. That’s exactly why there’s curiosity about how this defense holds up against a real SEC quarterback. LaNorris Sellers is the X-factor here. Missouri gave up 18 passing TDs last year and too many big plays, often burned in single coverage with shaky tackling.
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This year, the Tigers’ defense looked good enough to win. But head coach Eli Drinkwitz wasn’t shy about calling it out after the thrilling win over Kansas. Drinkwitz was frustrated watching the tape. He blamed busted zone coverage, missed assignments, and secondary lapses that let Kansas QB Jalon Daniels pile up 223 yards and two scores. What hurt most was the lack of pressure and confusion against Kansas’s pre-snap motion. See, Missouri’s secondary is still finding its rhythm. Vets like Jalen Catalon and Stephen Hall are working on chemistry that matters more in zone than man. The bigger concern is the pass rush, just two sacks against Kansas. The run defense held up, stalling late drives and controlling the clock, but this group needs a big step up against Sellers.
Sellers was limited in practice after taking a hit to the head against Vanderbilt, which led to him being listed as questionable for the matchup with Missouri. His ability to play would mean South Carolina’s offense remains a legitimate threat. Why? Because he’s a running back’s nightmare with his 674 rushing yards last season, he keeps defenses guessing.
Coach Shane Beamer has said Sellers is “making progress,” but the final call is still hanging in the balance. That in turn keeps the Missouri defense on edge as they prepare for a potentially high-impact player who can extend plays and make defenders miss.
What’s behind Beau Pribula’s rankings slide?
Beau Pribula slid 13 spots to No. 21 in CBS’s QB rankings after Week 3—a case of big expectations meeting early-season bumps. After his transfer, many Missouri fans dreamt he’d be that steady SEC-level QB to finally unlock Mizzou’s offensive potential. The early hype cooled as Missouri cruised through a soft schedule, leaving questions about how good Pribula really is against tougher defenses.
Looking at the numbers and performances so far, Pribula looks fine. Against teams like Kansas and Louisiana, he certainly put up yards. It includes a strong 283-yard, two-touchdown performance in the opener against Central Arkansas, followed by 334 yards and three touchdowns versus Kansas, and 174 yards with two touchdowns against Louisiana-Lafayette. But the catch is that all those big numbers came against weak competition. Central Arkansas is an FCS program, hardly a measuring stick, and Louisiana-Lafayette is nowhere near the SEC level.
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The Kansas game, while a bit tougher, still doesn’t fully test the limits of a quarterback’s skill. And especially in an offense boasting a massive rushing attack led by Ahmad Hardy. Also, his touchdown-to-interception ratio hasn’t wowed. He had a modest touchdown-to-interception ratio of 7 touchdowns to 1 interception during these three games. Additionally, his longest completions have been in the 39-50 yard range, indicating some ability to stretch the field, but there is room to improve in connecting on deep, game-changing throws.
Plus, experts noted that Pribula struggles a bit when the pocket collapses. It’s partly because Missouri’s offensive line has had some patchwork moments after losing veterans. Thus, CBS Sports responded to this by adjusting rankings to reflect a QB who’s talented but not yet elite.