Missouri’s road record against ranked teams under Eli Drinkwitz is 3-5, revealing a persistent struggle in hostile environments despite some notable victories. Heading into Saturday’s game at Davis Wade Stadium, where the No. 21 Tigers face No. 24 Mississippi State, the numbers underline the challenge awaiting Missouri on the road against top-25 opponents.
Since Drinkwitz took over as head coach in 2020, Missouri has won two out of 15 games played on the road against ranked teams. Their victories came at then-No. 25 South Carolina in 2022 and at then-No. 24 Kentucky in 2023. The overall record against top-25 teams under Drinkwitz sits at 8-19, with 2023 standing out as the Tigers’ best year in this category, posting a 4-2 record and finishing 11-2 overall after a Cotton Bowl win against Ohio State.
Missouri’s SEC road record under Drinkwitz is 9-15, showing some consistency but also highlighting the difficulty of conference play away from home. The Tigers have had only two seasons with a non-losing road record in SEC play during Drinkwitz’s tenure: last season’s 2024 campaign and 2023. Among those wins last year were double overtime at Auburn and a road victory over Arkansas.
Missouri arrives in Starkville with recent history against the Bulldogs under Drinkwitz split evenly. The Tigers defeated Mississippi State 39-20 in Jeff Lebby’s first year as head coach but lost in 2020 to a Mike Leach-led Mississippi State team. Lebby’s Bulldogs, meanwhile, have not won back-to-back conference games since he took over in 2024 and have not beaten a conference opponent at home since 2022.
Missouri’s struggles against ranked teams are not confined to the road. The Tigers have gone 1-5 so far in 2025 against top-25 opponents, continuing a pattern seen in 2024 (1-3) and 2020 (1-4). Their overall record against ranked teams since Drinkwitz’s arrival illustrates the difficulty Missouri has faced turning promising seasons into consistent wins against elite competition.
Seven of Missouri’s remaining nine opponents this season are ranked in either the AP or coaches polls, setting a demanding schedule for the Tigers as they look to improve their record against ranked teams. The upcoming game at Mississippi State adds pressure, with both teams aiming to snap frustrating streaks and solidify their positions in the SEC standings.
Missouri’s bid to add to their modest tally of ranked road wins under Drinkwitz will be closely watched, with the Tigers trying to overcome a history of losses in hostile environments against top-level opponents.
According to Yahoo Sports.