Offensive Fireworks: How Mizzou’s Offense Can Elevate to an Elite Unit
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The inspiration for this article blossomed from a pair of things. A little over a week ago, EA College Football 27 released its team ratings, with Missouri tying for the eighth-best offense. Combine that with the Fourth of July this weekend, and offensive fireworks on the field, it got me thinking: What would it take for Mizzou to ascend to one of the nation’s best offenses in 2026?
In 2025, the Tigers had one of the nation’s best defenses. Offensively, the team ran the ball well, good enough to finish 8-5. But multiple factors plagued the unit, keeping it from reaching another level.
Now, this isn’t simply to say that Mizzou needs an Arch Manning or Jeremiah Smith to achieve its offensive goals. Three years ago, I looked at what it would take for Missouri to make a Missouri to make a TCU-like leap. Now, this time, I’m taking a different approach by looking at what are common things the most well-rounded offenses did in 2025.
A stronger emphasis on a downfield passing attack
I touched on this a few weeks ago. Mizzou’s downfield passing game was non-existent, even for old Big-10 West standards. Expanding on what I said, here’s where the Tigers ranked in the SEC throws of 20-plus yards: 16th in completions and attempts. 3 of the 5 teams at the top of the list (Mississippi, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt) were among the top 10 scoring units in the nation. The other two, Alabama and Texas, both appeared in the College Football Playoff.
Expanding that to the entire FBS, here are the downfield passing metrics (20-plus yards) of the top 3 scoring teams in college football a season ago:
- North Texas (19-49, 758 yards, 8 touchdowns, 1 interception).
- Notre Dame (27-61, 961 yards, 8 touchdowns, 0 interceptions).
- Indiana (29-55, 955 yards, 11 touchdowns, 1 interception).
Bruce Arians is famously quoted saying, “No risk it, no biscuit.”
Missouri’s offensive firepower was bland when it came to hunting explosives, and will be needed in 2026 in order to become a top unit.
Limiting the negative-drive killing plays at the quarterback position
Sticking with the passing attack and quarterback position.
In 2025, Mizzou’s quarterbacks were sacked 28 times in the team’s 13 games (2.2 sacks per game). This ranked 8th in the SEC, despite having the second-fewest passing attempts in the conference and ranking 105th in the nation.
We’re all guilty of it. When examining sacks, we often place the blame right on the offensive line. But in reality, that’s not always true, and not all sacks stem from the same issue.
Out of the Tigers 28 sacks, only 42% were credited to non-quarterbacks. Only three SEC schools had a lower percentage – Florida, Oklahoma, and Georgia, with the Bulldogs sample size smaller at 19 total sacks.
This indicated that Mizzou’s quarterbacks a season ago put themselves at risk of being sacked.
It’s going to be up to Austin Simmons to diminish this trend in 2025. In a small sample size, Simmons has just 118 career dropbacks at the collegiate level with five sacks. His ability to minimize the negative plays at the position will be something to watch in 2026.
Finishing Drives In the Red Zone
Think back to the most agonizing losses in 2025, or nail-biting finishes. In thinking of games against Auburn (23-17 2OT Win), Vanderbilt (17-10 Loss), and Oklahoma (17-6 Loss). In those three games combined, the Tigers had four possessions where they came away with zero points in the red zone, and another one where they kicked a field goal after the drive stalled at the three yard line.
It’s a small sample size, but the margin of error is extremely thin in the sport.
Erase the interception against Auburn, the game likely doesn’t go into overtime.
Score from the two-yard line at Vanderbilt on 4th and goal, you’re playoff hopes likely extend deeper into the season.
Converting a field goal, or simply going for it on 4th and goal at the three-yard line doesn’t keep you from two scores in Norman.
Missouri’s red zone offense was nowhere near to where it was in 2023 and 2024 in terms of scoring %. The Tigers were a top 10 unit in both 23 and 24. The team slid to a mid-pack ranking in the nation last year.
Maintaining a premier rushing attack, while maintaining health in 2026
This one is saved for last because it’s more of a “duh” factor than anything.
But if Mizzou is ascending to another tier in 2026, of course, we’ll have to talk about the running game. There’s nothing from 2025 in the run game, outside of maybe Ahmad Hardy’s three fumbles (XaiShawn Edwards had two as well). But sustaining the success for the SEC’s best rushing attack in 2026 is crucial for achieving an elevation of the offense.
Of course, health is a major question mark. The status of Ahmad Hardy is unknown, and so is that of right tackle Josh Atkins. Austin Simmons has shown some ability to run, but he’s had an injury history, and the Tigers haven’t had a full, healthy season at QB since 2023.
The last part is something out of the Tigers control, but it’s a major factor moving forward.
Conclusion
If there is anything to be confident about, it’s the fact that Missouri isn’t too far off from being an even more explosive offense. It’s not a personnel issue, but rather how well everything will be executed. If the Tigers can create explosive plays, limit the drive-killing mistakes, and maintain what they did best, there will be a lot of fireworks going off in the newly renovated Memorial Stadium this fall.
Thanks for reading, and happy holiday weekend, everyone.
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