The 2025 college football season officially came to a close Monday night, when Indiana stunned Miami 27–21 to capture the College Football Playoff national championship.

It didn’t take long for the spotlight to shift to what’s next.

Within days of the season-ending confetti, national outlets across the college football landscape rolled out their way-too-early Top 25 rankings for 2026 — and Missouri made sure it wasn’t overlooked.

Although the Tigers wrapped up their 2025 campaign nearly a month ago, momentum is already building around Eli Drinkwitz’s program as it continues to fine-tune its 2026 roster through the transfer portal. That optimism showed up in several early rankings.

In total, Missouri appeared in four national way-too-early Top 25 polls, with a few more outlets placing the Tigers just outside the cut. Here’s how those rankings stack up — and what analysts had to say.

CBS Sports

Missouri Ranking: No. 17

CBS Sports praised Drinkwitz’s steady rise in the SEC, noting his ability to capitalize on favorable schedules while maintaining program stability. While Missouri didn’t notch a win over a ranked opponent last season, the absence of its starting quarterback played a major role.

The Tigers return star running back Ahmad Hardy, viewed by CBS as potentially Missouri’s best player, but the outlet emphasized that replacing key pass rushers and a starting offensive tackle will be critical to raising the ceiling in 2026.

Other SEC Teams Ranked:
No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Georgia, No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 10 Oklahoma, No. 14 LSU, No. 15 Alabama, No. 20 Ole Miss, No. 25 South Carolina

The Athletic

Missouri Ranking: No. 13

The Athletic was the highest on Missouri among major publications, highlighting the offensive foundation now in place. New offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey steps into a favorable situation with Hardy (1,649 rushing yards) and Roberts (753 yards) forming a strong backfield duo.

Quarterback competition will be a storyline to watch, with Ole Miss transfer Austin Simmons battling freshman starter Matt Zollers. Defensively, Missouri’s top-10 unit took a hit with the loss of edge rusher Damon Wilson II to the portal, but the Tigers remain confident in their linebackers and safeties. Secondary depth and special teams improvement remain areas of concern.

Other SEC Teams Ranked:
No. 3 Georgia, No. 5 Texas, No. 9 Oklahoma, No. 11 Texas A&M, No. 15 Ole Miss, No. 16 LSU, No. 20 Alabama, No. 25 Florida

Fox Sports

Missouri Ranking: No. 15

Fox Sports zeroed in on Missouri’s biggest offseason addition: Austin Simmons. The former Ole Miss quarterback was a Week 1 starter in 2025 before an injury derailed his season, but Fox sees Simmons pairing with Hardy as a potentially dangerous offensive combo.

With one of the nation’s top running backs and a quarterback with SEC starting experience, Missouri’s offense has the pieces to be explosive in 2026.

Other SEC Teams Ranked:
No. 5 Ole Miss, No. 6 Texas, No. 8 Georgia, No. 9 Texas A&M, No. 11 Vanderbilt, No. 13 LSU, No. 14 Oklahoma, No. 20 Alabama, No. 23 Tennessee

Pro Football Focus

Missouri Ranking: No. 20

PFF took a more analytical approach, noting that Missouri failed to reach double-digit wins for the first time in three seasons — but still delivered a solid overall year.

The Tigers return what PFF calls the best running back in the country in Hardy, whose 1,181 yards after contact led all FBS backs. Whether Zollers or Simmons wins the quarterback job, Hardy will remain the focal point. On defense, Missouri lost key contributors but added Auburn transfer linebacker Robert Woodyard Jr., a move PFF views as impactful.

Other SEC Teams Ranked:
No. 2 Texas, No. 6 Georgia, No. 9 Ole Miss, No. 11 LSU, No. 12 Texas A&M, No. 13 Oklahoma, No. 16 Alabama, No. 19 Tennessee

Just Outside the Top 25

Missouri also received recognition from other outlets:

• Athlon Sports placed the Tigers in its “Next Tier” just outside the Top 25
• Sporting News listed Mizzou among its “Six Teams to Watch” after releasing its Top 25

However, Missouri was left out of early rankings from ESPN, Yahoo Sports, USA Today, and Sports Illustrated — a reminder that expectations remain varied nationally.

The Big Picture

With an elite running back, an intriguing quarterback battle, and a proven head coach, Missouri enters the 2026 conversation as a program with upside — but also questions to answer.

If the Tigers can stabilize the defense, improve special teams, and find consistency under center, these way-too-early rankings may end up underselling what Mizzou can be next fall.