Welcome to the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff,
In anticipation of the first four-round postseason in college football history, we’re counting down our projected playoff field as the season approaches. The top five conference champions in the CFP selection committee’s rankings will make the playoffs, and the rest of the field will be filled out by seven at-large teams. Who will lift the national championship trophy on Jan. 20 in Atlanta?
Previous Previews: No. 25-13, No. 12 Boise State, No. 11 Utah, No. 10 Florida State
2023 record: 11-2, 6-2 SEC
About last season in 100 words
The Tigers were one of the most shocking teams last season. A 61-yard field goal gave the Tigers the win Kansas State in September and Mizzou lost only to LSU and Georgia. For the second consecutive season, Missouri was Georgia’s toughest SEC East win.
After losing to Georgia, Missouri was eliminated Tennessee And then they got ahead of Florida thanks to a big conversion on fourth down. The Tigers beat them again Ohio State Went 14–3 in the Cotton Bowl, which was the program’s first 11-win season since 2014 and the school’s first winning season since 2018.
Why could Missouri make the playoffs?
The Tigers brought back nine starters on an offense that was one of the most efficient in college football a season ago. Mizzou averaged 6.5 yards per play as QB Brady Cook had a stellar season. Cook threw for over 3,300 yards and 21 TDs while having just five interceptions.
WR Luther Burden III might be the best wide receiver in the country and will roam all over the field for the Tigers again in 2024. Burden had 86 catches for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore.
The rushing attack needs to replace the All-SEC RB Cody Shredder The former Division II player rushed for 1,627 yards and 14 TDs. This is no easy task and it will likely be done by committee. Missouri added former Appalachian State RB Nate Noel and former Georgia State RB Marcus Carroll was added via the transfer portal. Each player has a 1,000-yard season to his name and Carroll had 1,350 yards a season ago.
Cook’s role in the run game should still be important. He rushed for just 319 yards — sacks count against a college QB’s running total — but he had eight rushing TDs. Missouri wasn’t afraid to call a designed QB run at crucial times in 2023.
Defense is the big question for the Tigers after coordinator leaves Blake Baker At LSU. Former South Alabama DC Corey Batoon takes over a unit that allowed less than 21 points per game and made 39 sacks in 2023.
Finding replacements for draft picks Darius Robinson (8.5 sec) and C.B. Ennis Rakestraw And Chris Abrams-Drain It is very important for the defense to repeat last season’s performance. Players like former Florida DL Chris McClellanFormer Miami LB Corey Flagg and former Clemson CB Toriano Pride will be considered immediate contributors.
Key players
Burden will get the most attention from opposing defenses, but Weese’s ability as an outside receiver is almost as important to Missouri’s offense and is what allows Burden to be so effective out of the slot as well.
After spending four seasons oklahomaWeese had the best season of his career in 2023 with 49 catches for 682 yards and six touchdowns. After a brief flirtation with the NFL Draft, he decided to come back for a sixth season in 2024.
Without Schraeder, Missouri may rely more on its passing game to create yards. And Weis will need to be a more consistent contributor. He had two or fewer catches in six of the Tigers’ 13 games last season.
The biggest game
Missouri’s schedule is a big reason the Tigers are playoff contenders. Mizzou might have the easiest schedule of any team in the SEC and they need to take advantage of it.
The Tigers will visit Alabama on Oct. 26 Golden brown color at home. But we’re looking at the trip to Texas A&M at the beginning of the month as the biggest game because it could define Missouri’s season. With the first four games of the season at home against Murray State, Buffalo, Boston College And Vanderbilt, Missouri should be 4-0 heading to College Station.
A win there would give the Tigers an unprecedented chance to go 7-0 before a trip to Tuscaloosa and give Missouri a chance to lose to either the Crimson Tide or Oklahoma. South CarolinaMississippi State and Arkansas While serious playoff hopes are still alive with a 10-2 mark for the second consecutive season.
(The remaining rankings will be announced in the days leading up to the season.)