2020 Missouri Tigers football team
The 2020 Missouri Tigers football team represented the University of Missouri in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers played their home games at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri, and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by first-year head coach Eliah Drinkwitz.
2020 Missouri Tigers football | |
---|---|
Conference | Southeastern Conference |
Eastern Division | |
2020 record | 5–5 (5–5 SEC) |
Head coach |
|
Defensive coordinator | Ryan Walters (3rd season as DC; 6th overall season) |
Home stadium | Faurot Field (Capacity: 62,621) |
2020 Southeastern Conference football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 13 Florida x | 8 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 7 Georgia | 7 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Missouri | 5 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kentucky | 4 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tennessee | 3 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South Carolina | 2 | – | 8 | 2 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vanderbilt | 0 | – | 9 | 0 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 1 Alabama x$# | 10 | – | 0 | 13 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 4 Texas A&M | 8 | – | 1 | 9 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Auburn | 6 | – | 4 | 6 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LSU* | 5 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ole Miss | 4 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mississippi State | 3 | – | 7 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arkansas | 3 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Alabama 52, Florida 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
In a season impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tigers compiled a 5–5 record, all in conference games. The team was set to face Iowa in the Music City Bowl, but had to withdraw due to COVID-19 issues.[1]
Previous season
The Tigers finished the 2019 season 6–6, 3–5 in SEC play to finish in a tie for fourth place in the Eastern Division. Head coach Barry Odom was fired on November 30, 2019 following an overall four-year record of 25–25 and SEC record of 13–19.[2] Eliah Drinkwitz was hired on December 10 following a 12–1 conference championship season at Appalachian State.[3]
Preseason
Award watch lists
Listed in the order that they were released
SEC Media Days
In the preseason media poll, Missouri was predicted to finish in sixth place in the East Division.[4]
Media poll (East Division) | ||
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
---|---|---|
1 | Florida | 624 (53) |
2 | Georgia | 613 (43) |
3 | Tennessee | 434 |
4 | Kentucky | 405 |
5 | South Carolina | 287 |
6 | Missouri | 224 |
7 | Vanderbilt | 101 |
Personnel
Staff
Name | Position | Seasons at Missouri |
Alma Mater |
---|---|---|---|
Eliah Drinkwitz | Head Coach | 1 | Arkansas Tech (2004) |
Charlie Harbison | Associate Head Coach / Defensive Backs | 1 | Gardner–Webb (1982) |
Ryan Walters | Defensive Coordinator / Safeties | 6 | Colorado (2008) |
Erik Link | Special Teams Coordinator | 1 | Drake (2003) |
Brick Haley | Defensive Line | 4 | Alabama A&M (1988) |
Bush Hamdan | Wide Receivers / Quarterbacks | 1 | Boise State (2008) |
Casey Woods | Tight Ends / Recruiting Coordinator | 1 | Tennessee (2006) |
David Gibbs | Secondary | 2 | Colorado (1990) |
Marcus Johnson | Offensive Line | 1 | Ole Miss (2004) |
Curtis Luper | Running Backs | 1 | Stephen F. Austin (1996) |
D. J. Smith | Linebackers | 1 | Appalachian State (2010) |
Andy Lutz | Director of Football Operations | 1 | Pacific (1991) |
Zac Woodfin | Director of Athletic Performance | 1 | UAB (2004) |
Roster
2020 Missouri Tigers football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
|
Defense
|
Special teams
|
Roster |
Schedule
Missouri had games scheduled against BYU, Central Arkansas, Eastern Michigan, and Louisiana, which were all canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5][6][7]
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 26 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 2 Alabama | ESPN | L 19–38 | 11,738 | ||
October 3 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 21 Tennessee | SECN | L 12–35 | 21,159 | ||
October 10 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 17 LSU |
| SECN Alt. | W 45–41 | 10,013 | |
October 24 | 3:00 p.m. | Kentucky |
| SECN | W 20–10 | 11,738 | |
October 31 | 6:30 p.m. | at No. 10 Florida | SECN Alt. | L 17–41 | 12,049 | ||
November 21 | 6:30 p.m. | at South Carolina | SECN Alt. | W 17–10 | 13,603 | ||
November 28[b] | 11:00 a.m. | Vanderbilt |
| SECN | W 41–0 | 11,053 | |
December 5 | 11:00 a.m. | Arkansas |
| SECN | W 50–48 | 11,378 | |
December 12 | 11:00 a.m. | No. 9 Georgia | No. 25 |
| SECN | L 14–49 | |
December 19 | 2:30 p.m. | at Mississippi State | SECN Alt. | L 32–51 | |||
|
- ^[a] The game between Missouri and LSU was originally scheduled to take place in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. However, in light of Hurricane Delta, the game was moved to Columbia.
- ^[b] The game between Vanderbilt and Missouri was originally scheduled to take place on October 17. However, due to COVID-19 management requirements in response to positive tests and subsequent quarantine of individuals within the Vanderbilt program, the game was rescheduled for December 12.[8][9] The SEC postponed Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt to facilitate the rescheduling of the Vanderbilt-Missouri game. The shuffling allows for the opportunity for all 14 SEC teams to play 10 regular-season games.[10][11]
Rankings
Week | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
AP | NR | RV | RV | RV | RV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coaches | NR | NR | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CFP | Not released | 25 | Not released |
References
- Cobb, David (December 27, 2020). "2020 Music City Bowl canceled as COVID-19 outbreak forces Missouri to pull out of game vs. Iowa". CBS Sports. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- "STATEMENT ON THE MIZZOU FOOTBALL PROGRAM". Missouri Athletics. November 30, 2019.
- "Eliah Drinkwitz Chosen as Mizzou's Head Football Coach". Missouri Athletics. December 10, 2019.
- "Preseason SEC media poll, All-SEC Team announced". SECSports.com. Southeastern Conference. September 23, 2020.
- Talty, John. "SEC moves to conference-only 2020 schedule, pushes back start of season". AL.com. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- Dellenger, Ross. "Sources: SEC Adopts Conference-Only Schedule With Sept. 26 Start". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- Dellenger, Ross (7 August 2020). "SEC's New Schedule: Winners, Losers and... Mizzou". si.com. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- Vanderbilt at Missouri Football Game Postponed
- "2020 Football Schedule Announced" (Press release). Vanderbilt University Department of Athletics. August 7, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
- https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2020/11/23/tennessee-football-vanderbilt-game-postponed-missouri-vandy-vols-game/6401082002/
- https://www.secsports.com/schedule/football/vanderbilt-commodores/_/year/2020