Head coach Eliah Drinkwitz could not extend Mizzou football’s bowl game winning streak to three in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, losing 13-7 against the Virginia Cavaliers. The Tigers started the game hot, but their offense stalled, and the defense was challenged in the second half.
Third Downs
The most glaring statistic behind Missouri’s offensive woes and defensive lapses was its third-down production. On offense, Mizzou went 3-for-12 on third downs, while allowing Virginia to go 13-for-23.
The Cavaliers’ defense stacked the box on key downs to stop the run game, and freshman quarterback Matt Zollers could not consistently convert through the air. The Tigers were particularly bad in the second half, converting on only 1-of-6 third downs, with their lone conversion coming on their final drive of the game.
“I thought the first drive we had a great rhythm. The second drive, we had a good rhythm,” Drinkwitz said postgame. “We just couldn’t convert some third downs.”
The defensive collapse on key downs was especially apparent in Virginia’s first drive of the second half. The Cavaliers converted on five combined third and fourth downs en route to a 19-play, 10-minute-long drive.
It’ll be another run-heavy season in 2026
As the roster stands going into 2026, rising sophomore Matt Zollers and incoming three-star recruit Gavin Sidwar seem like the only certainties. Even if Mizzou makes a splash in the transfer portal, it’s likely new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey will rely on his talented backfield.
Rising junior Ahmad Hardy has already re-signed with the Tigers after breaking the program’s single-season rushing record against Virginia. He finished with 15 carries for 89 yards against Virginia.
It remains to be seen whether rising redshirt junior Jamal Roberts will stick around, but even with Hardy having a historic season, Roberts posted 124 rushes for 753 yards and six touchdowns on the season. Against the Cavaliers, he took 11 carries for 56 yards and had Mizzou’s lone touchdown.
With two rotational receivers in rising seniors Joshua Manning and Marquis Johnson already in the transfer portal and senior Kevin Coleman Jr. exhausting eligibility, it makes sense that the game plan will look similar.
The Zollers-Olugbode connection could be special
Few could have guessed coming into this season that Zollers and fellow true freshman Donovan Olugbode would receive as much playing time as they did. Having a starting quarterback and star wide receiver together for at least three seasons is an ideal scenario for Drinkwitz.
The bowl game further highlighted the pair’s budding connection, even if the stats didn’t jump out. Zollers completed 12 of 22 passes for 101 yards and an interception, while Olugbode caught five passes on 10 targets for 49 yards.
“I thought (Matt) did some really good things,” Drinkwitz said postgame. “Obviously, had a chance right there in that two-minute drive, moved us down the field pretty well. So, a lot to build on and that’s, you know, obviously a lot of growth.”
So far, the deep ball hasn’t been consistent for Zollers, but Olugbode’s route tree is so diverse that he doesn’t need to be dependent on stretching the field. If the passing game is going to improve next season, it will start with those two growing together in the offseason.
With the Tigers’ 2025 season in the books, their next step is to recuperate the roster during the offseason. The transfer portal will be open from Jan. 2 to Jan. 16, and depth pieces are needed to compete in 2026.
