Copyright stltoday
Eli Hoff | Post-Dispatch COLUMBIA, Mo. — Eli Drinkwitz, the coach of the undefeated Missouri Tigers, wants his team to approach this week’s game like they’ve lost one. No. 20 Mizzou faces a steep drop-off in competition level from last weekend to this weekend. Last time out, MU beat South Carolina 29-20 to open Southeastern Conference play. At 6:30 p.m. Saturday, though, it’s the Tigers’ homecoming game and nonconference finale against a lowly Massachusetts team that has yet to win a game in 2025. The game will be televised on ESPNU and broadcast locally on the radio via 550AM KTRS. Just like it was against Central Arkansas and Louisiana in the other early season cupcake games, Missouri is a heavy favorite — by more than six touchdowns. So, without having won by that margin yet, Drinkwitz has envied the approach of a team needing to reset after a loss. “You see, when guys lose, they tweet out ‘back to the lab,’ ” he said. “We need to be ‘back to the lab’ after a win. We need to be back to the process after we perform.” And look: Mentality should not matter for Mizzou when it comes to winning this game — talent alone should take care of that. UMass is the worst Football Bowl Subdivision program in ESPN’s SP+ rankings. For a frame of reference, in terms of that metric, the Tigers might as well be playing Lindenwood this week. But Drinkwitz’s “back to the lab” point is still salient for what this game means to the bigger picture of MU’s season. For one, it’s the last game in which Missouri can really afford to be in the lab. Young players like freshman quarterback Matt Zollers should — assuming the Tigers build up the requisite big lead — get a chance to pick up some experience. That kind of opportunity is unlikely to appear in any SEC games moving forward. With theoretically lower stakes, Mizzou can tinker with some of its personnel, too. Curtis Peagler and Tristan Wilson can continue rotating at right guard. The pecking order at cornerback can still be worked out. Speaking of the secondary: That’s a very real flaw MU can work toward correcting in this game. The Tigers’ pass defense has reached what needs to be rock bottom when it comes to breakdowns and concessions of explosive plays to opposing quarterbacks. Drinkwitz and the players seemed to understand that clearly when addressing the issues earlier in the week. Eye discipline and communication can be practiced and performed against UMass. The Minutemen should receive no welcoming gifts from the home team’s defensive backs. Of course, even if Missouri stifles the Massachusetts passing attack, it won’t lull anyone into thinking the coverage concerns are solved. The Tigers limited Louisiana to single-digit passing yards, only to turn around and give up more than 300 to South Carolina. At this point, the only meaningful measuring stick is SEC competition. With a bye week looming on the other side of this game, Drinkwitz has a priority to keep the team’s collective foot on the gas, keep the focus in tune. “For us, the biggest challenge … is not to have relief syndrome,” he said. What’s that mean? “We need to make sure that as a team, dress codes are where we’re supposed to be, we’re in class on time, at study hall, parking in the right spots, avoiding any type of let up and be intense about our work,” Drinkwitz said. Whether that intensity is present Saturday will be evident in the Tigers’ performance — not so much in the result, but in the margin of victory and degree of dominance. This week is about discipline for Mizzou as it looks to keep progressing with its biggest games still ahead. MU picks up key JUCO commitment The fall portion of the recruiting calendar started moving for Missouri on Thursday when junior college defensive lineman DeMarcus Johnson verbally committed to the Tigers. He’s ranked as the No. 2 JUCO player in the country by 247Sports. Johnson is currently at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, a school MU has recruited from in the past. He hails from Missouri City, Texas. At 6-foot-8, Johnson projects as a defensive end. Mizzou has quite a bit of depth at that position but will lose Zion Young after this season. Johnson committed to Houston out of high school, where he was recruited by Brian Early — now the MU edge rushers coach. The Tigers now have 11 commitments in their 2026 recruiting class, a tally that could go up by four to six more by the time signing day rolls around.
