The Missouri Tigers football 2026 season arrives with heightened expectations, a nationally ranked roster and a historic year at Memorial Stadium. Mizzou enters the campaign ranked No. 25 in the preseason AP Poll and No. 25 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, giving the Tigers a spot in both major preseason Top 25 rankings.
The season also marks the 100th anniversary of Memorial Stadium, while the stadium’s $250 million north end zone renovation and Centennial Project add another major storyline for fans in Columbia.
With seven home games, five SEC home dates, a rivalry trip to Kansas and late-season tests against Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma, the 2026 schedule offers plenty of marquee matchups.
2026 Missouri Tigers Football Season at a Glance
- Team: Missouri Tigers
- Conference: SEC
- Head coach: Eli Drinkwitz
- 2026 preseason AP ranking: No. 25
- 2026 preseason Coaches Poll: No. 25
- Home stadium: Memorial Stadium, Columbia, Missouri
- Home games: 7
- Regular-season opener: Arkansas-Pine Bluff
- Home opener: September 3, 2026
- Major rivalry: Kansas
- Memorial Stadium milestone: 100th anniversary
- Season-ticket status: Sold out, with selected single-game tickets remaining as of August 2026
Missouri Tigers 2026 Football Schedule
Mizzou’s official schedule features 12 regular-season games, including seven at Memorial Stadium. The Tigers open against Arkansas-Pine Bluff before traveling to Kansas for an important early-season rivalry game.
| Date | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 3 | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | Memorial Stadium |
| Sept. 11 | Kansas | Lawrence, Kansas |
| Sept. 19 | Troy | Memorial Stadium |
| Sept. 26 | Mississippi State | Starkville, Mississippi |
| Oct. 3 | Florida | Memorial Stadium |
| Oct. 10 | Texas A&M | Memorial Stadium |
| Oct. 17 | Ole Miss | Oxford, Mississippi |
| Oct. 24 | BYE | — |
| Oct. 31 | Arkansas | Fayetteville, Arkansas |
| Nov. 7 | Texas | Memorial Stadium |
| Nov. 14 | Georgia | Athens, Georgia |
| Nov. 21 | Kentucky | Memorial Stadium |
| Nov. 28 | Oklahoma | Memorial Stadium |
The Kansas game was moved to Friday, September 11 at 7 p.m. CT and will air on FOX. The season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff is scheduled for Thursday, September 3 at 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
Biggest Missouri Football Games in 2026
Missouri vs. Kansas
The September 11 trip to Lawrence is one of the most anticipated games of the season. Missouri defeated Kansas 42-31 in the teams’ 2025 meeting, and the 2026 contest marks Mizzou’s first visit to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium since 2005.
Missouri vs. Florida
Florida visits Columbia on October 3 for Mizzou’s Homecoming and Wear Gold game. The exact kickoff time falls within the SEC’s Flex window.
Missouri vs. Texas A&M
The Tigers host Texas A&M on October 10 in an early kickoff window. This SEC matchup could have significant implications for the conference standings.
Missouri vs. Texas
Texas comes to Memorial Stadium on November 7 for a major late-season SEC matchup. The game is designated as a Stripe Out Memorial Stadium event and is scheduled for the Early television window.
Missouri at Georgia
Mizzou travels to Athens on November 14 to face Georgia. It is arguably the Tigers’ most challenging road game and could become a major factor in the SEC race and College Football Playoff conversation.
Missouri vs. Oklahoma
The regular season concludes November 28 when Oklahoma visits Columbia for Senior Day. It gives Mizzou a nationally interesting SEC matchup to close the regular season.
2026 Missouri Tigers Roster
The official 2026 roster features a mix of returning stars, experienced veterans, transfers and younger players.
Ahmad Hardy
Running back Ahmad Hardy is one of the biggest names on the roster. He returns as a consensus All-American after rushing for a Missouri-record 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2025.
Hardy was selected to the first-team Coaches Preseason All-SEC team and remains one of the most important players in the Tigers’ offense.
Cayden Green
Senior left tackle Cayden Green also earned first-team preseason All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches. He was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2025 and helped anchor a Missouri rushing attack that produced 2,968 yards last season.
Robert Woodyard Jr.
Linebacker Robert Woodyard Jr., an Auburn transfer, received third-team Coaches Preseason All-SEC recognition. He recorded 67 tackles in 2025, including 50 in SEC play.
Quarterback Competition
The 2026 roster lists several quarterbacks, including Nick Evers, Austin Simmons, Matt Zollers, Brett Brown and Gavin Sidwar. Evers is a fifth-year quarterback with previous experience at Oklahoma, Wisconsin and UConn, while Simmons is a senior transfer from Ole Miss.
Because quarterback roles can change during preseason competition, fans should check the official Mizzou roster and team news for the latest depth-chart information.
Eli Drinkwitz and the Coaching Staff
Eli Drinkwitz remains Missouri’s head coach. The 2026 staff includes offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, defensive coordinator Corey Batoon and special teams coordinator John Papuchis.
Drinkwitz enters another important season with the Tigers, who have built substantial momentum in recent years. Missouri enters 2026 after winning 29 games over the previous three seasons, according to the university’s preseason ticket announcement.
Missouri Tigers 2026 Season Prediction
Projected Record: 9-3
Prediction: 9-3 during the regular season, with Missouri competing for a strong SEC finish and a potential College Football Playoff berth.
The Tigers have enough talent to handle the nonconference schedule and compete against SEC opponents, but the road games at Ole Miss, Arkansas and Georgia create substantial challenges.
The most important factor may be whether Missouri can consistently produce explosive offense while its experienced defensive players handle the SEC’s top offenses.
Best-Case Scenario
A healthy Ahmad Hardy, strong offensive-line play and quality quarterback production could push Missouri toward a 10-2 or 11-1 regular season.
That scenario would require the Tigers to win several difficult SEC games and potentially knock off Georgia or another major conference contender.
Biggest Concern
The schedule becomes considerably more difficult after the bye week. Arkansas, Texas, Georgia, Kentucky and Oklahoma make November particularly important.
If Missouri struggles to generate enough offense against elite SEC defenses, the Tigers could slide closer to the middle of the conference standings.
Memorial Stadium’s 100th Anniversary
The 2026 season is particularly significant because Memorial Stadium is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
The university’s Centennial Project includes a new north end zone expansion and renovation, along with improvements to the stadium’s east and west concourses. The project is designed to modernize the fan experience while preserving one of college football’s historic venues.
The September 19 matchup with Troy is designated as the Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary Game.
The Hill Returns in 2026
One of Mizzou’s best-known traditions, The Hill, returns for the 2026 season with a redesigned area behind the north end zone.
Because the new configuration has reduced capacity, fans must have a specific Hill ticket to access the general-admission area. Mizzou announced that a majority of Hill tickets would be reserved for students.
That change makes The Hill an important consideration for fans planning their 2026 game-day experience.
Missouri Tigers Football Tickets
Mizzou announced in August that 2026 football season tickets had sold out for the third consecutive season. However, single-game tickets remained available for several home games, including Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Troy, Texas A&M, Kentucky and Oklahoma. Florida and Texas single-game tickets had sold out at the time of the announcement.
Fans should compare availability before buying, particularly for high-demand games.
Most In-Demand 2026 Home Games
- Missouri vs. Florida
- Missouri vs. Texas
- Missouri vs. Texas A&M
- Missouri vs. Oklahoma
- Missouri vs. Kentucky
- Missouri vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
- Missouri vs. Troy
The official Mizzou Ticket Central page provides ticket information and links to available single-game inventory.
How to Find Cheap Missouri Tigers Tickets
Fans looking for affordable Mizzou football tickets should:
- Compare prices across multiple marketplaces.
- Check total prices after fees.
- Consider upper-level and end-zone seating.
- Compare less-demanded games against premium SEC matchups.
- Monitor inventory as game day approaches.
- Check the official Mizzou ticket site before purchasing.
The Arkansas-Pine Bluff opener is especially attractive for value-conscious fans because Mizzou announced a four-tickets-for-$80 promotion for the game, while supplies last.
2026 Missouri Tigers Game-Day Experience
The 2026 season offers several special themes and promotions at Memorial Stadium.
Notable home-game themes include:
- Sept. 3: Kickoff in CoMo
- Sept. 19: Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary Game
- Oct. 3: Homecoming / Wear Gold
- Nov. 7: Stripe Out Memorial Stadium
- Nov. 21: Military Appreciation / Wear Black
- Nov. 28: Senior Day
Fans should check official stadium policies before attending, especially for entry requirements, parking and the clear-bag policy.
2026 Missouri Tigers Football FAQ
When does Missouri football start in 2026?
The Tigers open the season Thursday, September 3, 2026, against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
Who does Missouri play in Week 2?
Missouri travels to Kansas on Friday, September 11, for a 7 p.m. CT rivalry game on FOX.
How many home games does Missouri have in 2026?
Mizzou has seven home games at Memorial Stadium.
Who are Missouri’s biggest opponents in 2026?
Major matchups include Kansas, Florida, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma.
Is Missouri ranked in the 2026 preseason polls?
Yes. Missouri is ranked No. 25 in both the AP preseason poll and the US LBM Coaches Poll.
Who is Missouri’s best returning player?
Running back Ahmad Hardy is one of the Tigers’ most important returning stars. He earned first-team preseason All-SEC recognition after a record-setting 2025 campaign.
Who is Missouri’s head football coach?
Eli Drinkwitz is Missouri’s head coach.
Where does Missouri play its home football games?
The Tigers play at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri.
When is the Texas game?
Texas visits Missouri on November 7, 2026, at Memorial Stadium. The game is designated as a Stripe Out event.
When does Missouri play Georgia?
Missouri travels to Georgia on November 14, 2026, at Sanford Stadium.
When is Missouri’s final regular-season game?
The Tigers host Oklahoma on November 28, 2026, for Senior Day.
Are Missouri football season tickets still available?
Season tickets have sold out for the 2026 season, but single-game tickets remained available for several home games as of August 17.
Can fans still buy tickets for The Hill?
Yes, Mizzou announced limited Hill tickets for all seven home games, although availability is restricted because the redesigned area has lower capacity.
Useful External Missouri Tigers Football Links
For readers who want authoritative information, these resources are useful:
- Mizzou 2026 Football Schedule — official dates, opponents, locations and updated kickoff information.
- Mizzou 2026 Football Roster — official player roster and coaching staff.
- Mizzou Ticket Central — official football ticket information and purchasing options.
- Mizzou Football News — latest team announcements, roster news and game updates.
- 2026 Football Game Themes — Memorial Stadium celebrations and special game-day themes.
- 2026 Preseason All-SEC Honors — information on Hardy, Green, Le Blanc and Woodyard Jr.
- Mizzou 2026 Season Tickets Sold Out — current season-ticket and single-game availability information.
- Mizzou 2026 TV Windows — television windows and kickoff information.
Final Outlook for Missouri Football in 2026
The Missouri Tigers 2026 football season combines a ranked preseason team, a talented roster, major SEC matchups and one of the biggest stadium milestones in program history.
Ahmad Hardy and Cayden Green give Missouri proven preseason All-SEC talent, while the quarterback competition and overall roster depth will be critical storylines.
The schedule offers opportunities for a strong record, but games against Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Texas and Georgia will test Missouri’s ability to compete with the SEC’s best.
With Memorial Stadium celebrating its 100th anniversary and season tickets already sold out, demand for Missouri Tigers football tickets should remain strong throughout the 2026 campaign.
For the latest schedule changes, player news and ticket availability, readers should use the official Mizzou Athletics resources linked above.
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