Missouri
College football preseason rankings: Can No. 9 Missouri take advantage of a favorable schedule?
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 predicted playoff field as the season approaches. The top five conference champions in the CFP selection committee’s rankings will make the playoff 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: Nos. 25-13, No. 12 Boise State, No. 11 Utah, No. 10 Florida State
2023 record: 11-2, 6-2 SEC
Last season in 100 words
The Tigers were one of the surprise teams of a season ago. A 61-yard field goal got the Tigers a win over Kansas State in September and Mizzou only lost to LSU and Georgia. For the second straight season, Missouri was Georgia’s toughest SEC East win.
After losing to Georgia, Missouri blew out Tennessee and then snuck past Florida thanks to a big fourth-down conversion. The Tigers then beat Ohio State 14-3 in the Cotton Bowl for the program’s first 11-win season since 2014 and the school’s first winning season since 2018.
Why Missouri can make the playoff
The Tigers return 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 breakout season. Cook threw for over 3,300 yards and had 21 TDs to just five interceptions.
WR Luther Burden III may be the best wide receiver in the country and will move 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 All-SEC RB Cody Schrader after the former Division II player rushed for 1,627 yards and 14 TDs. That’s not an easy task and it’ll likely be done by committee. Missouri added former Appalachian State RB Nate Noel and former Georgia State RB Marcus Carroll through 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 also still be significant. He rushed for just 319 yards — sacks count against a college QB’s rushing total — but had eight rushing TDs. Missouri wasn’t afraid to call a designed QB run in key times in 2023.
The bigger question for the Tigers is on defense after the departure of coordinator Blake Baker to LSU. Former South Alabama DC Corey Batoon takes over a unit that gave up less than 21 points per game and had 39 sacks in 2023.
Finding replacements for draft picks Darius Robinson (8.5 sacks) and CBs Ennis Rakestraw and Kris Abrams-Draine are paramount for the defense to match its performance of a season ago. Players like former Florida DL Chris McClellan, ex-Miami LB Corey Flagg and former Clemson CB Toriano Pride will be counted on to be immediate contributors.
Key player
Burden will get the most attention from opposing defenses, but Wease’s ability as an outside receiver is nearly as important to Missouri’s offense and also allows Burden to be so effective out of the slot.
After spending four seasons at Oklahoma, Wease 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 Schrader to grind out yards, Missouri may lean more on its passing game. And Wease will need to be a more consistent contributor. He had two or fewer catches in six of the Tigers’ 13 games last season.
Biggest game
Missouri’s schedule is a big reason why the Tigers are playoff contenders. Mizzou may have the easiest schedule of any team in the SEC and needs to capitalize.
The Tigers visit Alabama on Oct. 26 after hosting Auburn at home. But we’re going with a trip to Texas A&M earlier in 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 a phenomenal chance of being 7-0 before the trip to Tuscaloosa and allow Missouri to lose to both the Crimson Tide and one of Oklahoma, South Carolina, Mississippi State and Arkansas while still harboring serious playoff hopes with a second straight 10-2 season.
(The rest of the rankings will be revealed in the days leading up to the season.)
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Missouri
Rookie watch: These Missouri football freshmen could get playing time in 2024
Who will make the All-SEC Team Offense?
Who will make the All-SEC Team Offense?
In a preseason headlined by veteran experience and seasoned newcomers, some youngsters are making some noise.
Missouri football is fast approaching its 2024 season-opener, which comes Thursday, Aug. 29 against Murray State on Faurot Field in Columbia. Behind the scenes, some true freshmen are drawing the plaudits of their peers and mentors.
“I mean, there’s freshmen in every aspect of the game, offense, defense, special teams,” Missouri tight end Tyler Stephens said Thursday. “And I think that these guys need to understand that they are needed. Like, every single player is needed. Doesn’t matter if you’re a first year, if you’re a fifth year, there’s going to be an opportunity to play.”
Mizzou signed 21 players in its Class of 2024 — a recruiting cycle that brought one five-star prospect, seven four-stars and 13 three-stars to Columbia. The recruiting service 247Sports rated that as the No. 20 signing class in the country.
But, when the Tigers draw back the curtains on the new campaign, how many of those rookies will Missouri fans realistically see in Year 1?
Due to limited portions of practice being made available to reporters, and the periods that are available mostly containing individual and positional drills, it’s an imperfect system to attempt to adjudicate how much playing time each player is likely to earn from practice alone.
So, based on best judgment, positional needs and comments from players and coaches throughout fall camp, here are the Missouri freshmen who look the most likely to burn redshirts in the 2024 season:
More: Projecting Missouri football’s first offensive depth chart of 2024
Has Cameron Keys made case as rotational corner for Missouri football?
When you lose both of your starters at one position in the same NFL Draft, there’s naturally going to be some shake up.
With Kris Abrams-Draine and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. no longer manning the cornerback spots for Mizzou, true freshman Cameron Keys — a three-star pledge out of Panama City, Florida — seemingly is making a strong case to get some reps early in his Mizzou career.
“Cam Keys has done a nice job. He’s very physical,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said on Aug. 3. … “When we put the pads on, he already knew what it was going to take and the physicality he had to play with.”
The Tigers’ depth appears to have Dreyden Norwood and Clemson transfer Toriano Pride Jr. as the starters. Experienced backup Marcus Clarke likely will retain his role as a rotation piece and redshirt freshman Nicholas DeLoach has been seen working with the Tigers’ first-team unit in camp.
Keys, who is listed at 6 foot, 166 pounds, might be one of the next men up, as he’s packing more of a punch than his listed weight suggests.
“He’s physical, he ain’t scared to put his head in there,” wide receiver Mookie Cooper said. … “He’s just not afraid to put his head in there and go make contact with a receiver. That’s just something you don’t see too much out of freshmen, especially at his size.”
Need for Williams Nwaneri may increase after injury
Five-star defensive end Williams Nwaneri would be most people’s first guess for the freshman most likely to get playing time as a rookie.
More: Here’s where Missouri football could turn after EDGE Darris Smith’s season-ending injury
Mizzou’s staff isn’t planning on rushing the Lee’s Summit North alum onto the field, and have attempted to temper any undue expectations for the top-10 recruit. But a season-ending injury to Darris Smith in camp could hurry his journey to the field.
“The key for us is to not put too many expectations on him,” Drinkwitz said at the start of fall camp. “Just let him learn the standards of how we operate on a day to day basis and when it’s his opportunity he’ll take advantage of it.”
Despite the injury to Smith, the Tigers can still ease Nwaneri into the lineup. Johnny Walker Jr., Zion Young, Joe Moore III, Eddie Kelly and Jakhai Lang all look capable of contributing.
But it would be a surprise not to see Nwaneri at some point to help shoulder the load.
Trajan Greco, Jeremiah Beasley special teams candidates
There’s a tough road to defensive reps for Missouri football’s young safeties, with more returning production there than any other spot on the defense. At linebacker, between returning their Cotton Bowl starters and finding experience in the portal, MU seems to have its two-deep sorted.
But, safety Trajan Greco and linebacker Jeremiah Beasley may still play important roles this season, coming in the form of coverage unit reps.
“Trajan Greco is a guy that’s really stood out,” Drinkwitz said Saturday. “Jeremiah Beasley has really stood out as guys who can find a role, whether that’s on special teams, so it’s been good.”
More: Projecting Mizzou football’s first defensive depth chart of 2024
Will Mizzou’s blue-chip WRs play?
Four-star wide receivers James Madison II and Courtney Crutchfield both have flashed in camp. Crutchfield hauled in a one-handed grab during 1-on-1 drills during Tuesday’s workout on Faurot Field for one of the more impressive plays of the day. Madison’s 6-3 frame, in particular, makes him an intriguing option.
But the depth of players ahead of them will make offensive snaps sparse.
The Tigers don’t have a set-in-stone punt-returner at this point in camp, although Drinkwitz said Saturday that the team has a “pretty clear idea” who the top two players will be on that front this season. The coach added that six wide receivers have been taking reps at the position: Luther Burden III, Theo Wease Jr., Marquis Johnson, Daniel Blood and the two true freshmen, Crutchfield and Madison.
Missouri
'Financial literacy is super important': Harvard freshman creates Missouri financial literacy courses
!['Financial literacy is super important': Harvard freshman creates Missouri financial literacy courses 'Financial literacy is super important': Harvard freshman creates Missouri financial literacy courses](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a45a5c3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1420x746+0+25/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0c%2F3e%2F8a0d50aa403dbb7f12f81be402a3%2Fscreenshot-2024-08-15-at-5-28-19-pm.png)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Students in the Show-Me state are headed back to school with a new financial literacy curriculum at their disposal.
Harvard freshman Katie Murphy, who graduated from Shawnee Mission East, used her summer internship with Pathway Financial Education to create courses that meet the Missouri state standards for personal finance.
KSHB 41 News staff
Murphy put her own touch on the weekly lesson with activities like Jeopardy with questions about banking and budgeting.
“I am excited about what it can hopefully teach them, because financial literacy is super important for all young people,” she said.
Earlier this summer, Murphy spoke to KSHB 41’s Abby Dodge about the Harvard SPARK program, which is funding her internship.
She encourages other students to make an impact on their communities before leaving for college.
“I think the summer before your freshman year is a really good time to try to do something that is meaningful to you and your community before you leave,” she said.
Angelique Cheatem, program manager for Pathway Financial Education, said Murphy’s help in creating curriculum local schools have asked for will make the lessons stick with younger audiences.
![Angelique Cheatem](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d2b90c8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2518x1420+0+0/resize/1280x722!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb1%2F17%2Fb2eb46a14678898aa01e86fc2712%2Fscreenshot-2024-08-15-at-5-42-37-pm.png)
KSHB 41 News staff
“Her input helped a lot because she did just get out of high school and she knows better than me,” Cheatem said. “What they are interested in and what will keep them more engaged.”
Pathway Financial said school districts and teachers are enthusiastic about the courses they created.
It could be implemented as soon as the spring semester.
—
Missouri
Missouri State Fair announces new indoor arena to be named after Gov. Mike Parson
![Missouri State Fair announces new indoor arena to be named after Gov. Mike Parson Missouri State Fair announces new indoor arena to be named after Gov. Mike Parson](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d3d9564/2147483647/strip/true/crop/493x259+0+0/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2F50%2Fe06c13554ad5a870a40ce7d63d2e%2Fparson-arena.png)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Missouri State Fair Commission held a groundbreaking Thursday for a new indoor arena which will be named the Governor Michael L. Parson Arena.
Commissioners say they recognize the Parson’s dedication to the state fair during his time as a Missouri elected official.
“Governor Parson attended the Fair as a child with his family and continues to attend with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren,” Chris Chinn, the fair’s director of agriculture, said Thursday in the announcement.
The indoor, climate-controlled arena will measure 150,000 square feet, with the ability to host a wide variety of events throughout the year and during the annual Missouri State Fair.
It replaces the outdoor State Fair Arena located on the southwest corner of the Fairgrounds. Events typically held in the State Fair Arena are canceled for 2024 as construction begins on the new facility. Construction is expected to be completed in 2026.
Parson said the Missouri State Fair Commission caught him by surprise.
“It is truly an honor to have an arena sharing the Parson name that will bring so much joy, new tradition, and cherished fair memories… we are proud that the support our administration has prioritized for the Missouri State Fair will continue serving future generations of fairgoers for years to come,” Parson said.
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