Coach Eli Drinkwitz met with the media earlier today to discuss Missouri’s upcoming match-up on the road at Mississippi State.
Missouri (7-3, 3-3 SEC) is set to face Mississippi State (2-8, 0-6 SEC) this Saturday. The Tigers and Bulldogs have met only four times on the football field, with Missouri winning two matchups in the 1980s. However, since joining the Southeastern Conference, Missouri is 0-2 against Mississippi State.
Kickoff is slated for 3:15 PM, and the game will be aired on the SEC Network. Tickets can be purchased through the Mississippi State ticket office.
The Tigers are guaranteed a bowl game this year and are competing for a better position. Missouri had high expectations at the beginning of the season, believing they were in contention for the FBS playoffs. However, they have lost two of their last three games, including a narrow defeat last week against South Carolina.
Coach Eli Drinkwitz is entering his fifth season leading the Tigers football program, and Missouri has secured a bowl invitation every year under his guidance. Last season, the Tigers capped off their campaign by winning the Cotton Bowl, finishing with an impressive 11-2 record.
Today, Drinkwitz spoke with the media to preview this week’s matchup against Mississippi State. Here’s a summary of his remarks about the Bulldogs.
On the Bulldogs overall: Each week presents a new opportunity to compete on the road in the SEC, and this time it’s against a formidable Mississippi State team that has faced a challenging schedule—arguably one of the toughest in the conference this season. I believe their record doesn’t accurately reflect the quality of football they play or the strength of their team. They are improving each week.
On State’s progress throughout the season: Coach (Jeff) Lebby has done a fantastic job of maintaining focus. Mississippi State has a distinct identity on offense, defense, and special teams. Offensively, they are quite explosive, particularly with wide receiver Kevin Coleman, who we know well from his time in St. Louis. He’s a dynamic route runner and excels after the catch, serving as their punt returner as well. In my view, he is one of the most challenging wide receivers in the SEC. Their running back has also been performing well, and they’ve had success running the ball recently, with Davon Booth providing a boost through explosive plays. He is also responsible for kickoffs.
On State QB Michael Van Buren: Their freshman quarterback continues to improve with each game he plays. He’s a talented player who gets better every week.
On the State defense: I know they used their bye week to work on solidifying their defense. They have a diverse scheme and employ a variety of strategies. Their linebacker corps, featuring Stone Blanton and Nic Mitchell, serves as key anchors; they effectively lead the defense, play aggressively, and are very physical.
On the last trip to Starkville: This will be a significant challenge for our team. The last time we played in Starkville was in 2020, and we did not perform well at all. We need to step up our game, as the road environment there is particularly tough and presents a considerable test for us.
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