Missouri

Here’s what the Missouri football quarterback room looks like heading into fall camp

Published

1 year ago

July 18, 2024

Here’s what the Missouri football quarterback room looks like heading into fall camp

It won’t be for a starter, but there will be somewhat of a quarterback competition in Columbia, Missouri, this upcoming fall.

No, Brady Cook will not be involved. The Missouri football starting QB is back for a third straight year, and he is running essentially uncontested. But the Tigers do still have to settle on a backup, with one transfer, a walk-on, a freshman and an in-house option in the running, for now.

Cook recovered from offseason shoulder surgery after the 2022 season, won Missouri’s starting job for the second year running and proceeded to throw for 3,317 yards and 21 touchdowns over the course of the 2023 campaign, which he capped by securing Cotton Bowl offensive MVP honors in a win over Ohio State.

The main question this fall camp, as Cook returns as the unchallenged starter in his final year of eligibility, is about the depth behind him.

Here is how Missouri’s quarterback room looks heading into preseason practices. Every scholarship player and any notable walk-on is mentioned:

The options for Missouri football at quarterback

Starter: Brady Cook, sr.

Reserves: Drew Pyne, so.; JR Blood, sr.; Brett Brown, so.; Aidan Glover, fr.; Sam Horn (out), so.

Drew Pyne transferred to Missouri in the spring from Arizona State, where he began the 2023 season as a starter before suffering an injury. He started his career at Notre Dame, where he started 10 games in 2022 and threw for 2,021 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions.

That’s a good backup to have on the roster, if he goes ahead and secures the No. 2 spot. He did not go through spring camp with the Tigers, which is a setback, but he is by far the most accomplished QB not named Brady Cook on the roster and available to play.

Last season’s backup, Sam Horn, is likely sidelined for the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in the spring.

JR Blood, the older brother of promising sophomore MU wide receiver Daniel Blood, transferred in as a preferred walk-on from Southern, joining fellow walk-on Brett Brown and freshman recruit Aidan Glover, who is a three-star prospect out of Tennessee and in camp looked more like a long-term project than a serviceable SEC backup as a rookie.

The upside

Cook has two full years of starting experience at the same team under his belt, which not many teams in the league can boast. Indeed, here is who can: Ole Miss (Jaxson Dart); Texas (Quinn Ewers); and Mizzou.

That’s a good recipe for offensive success.

Here’s another couple: Cook has all seven of his top pass-catchers from last season, including the likely future NFL first-rounder Luther Burden III. Mizzou has three starters back from last year’s offensive line and added two top-200 available transfers, SMU’s Marcus Bryant and Oklahoma’s Cayden Green, to plug the remaining gaps.

If you could draw it up, that’s about what it would look like.

One question or concern

Are the Tigers prepared if Cook is forced to spend time on the sideline?

It’s the doomsday scenario, but one worth discussing. In the interest of hypotheticals: The Tribune expects Missouri to turn to Pyne if Cook does spend any time off the field.

With Horn, Missouri had a player who had at least gone through a season under offensive coordinator Kirby Moore’s scheme. Now, it would be forced to turn to a player without a live snap in a Mizzou jersey.

Pyne has plenty of experience in college football, but it would still be a season-altering change if his number is called.

Needs for team success?

The schedule, talent level and the expanded format of the College Football Playoff all make a meaningful December game very possible for Mizzou.

To get there, Cook has to take the next step. A costly fourth-quarter interception against Georgia, when the Tigers were at midfield, driving and in a one-score contest, may have cost MU a shot at heading to the SEC Championship game. Similarly, some untimely picks against LSU midseason didn’t help as Mizzou suffered its first loss of the year.

The starter has shown he can get it done. You need only look at Missouri’s last quarter of competitive football — a 14-point, Cotton Bowl-clinching 15 minutes against Ohio State in which Cook was picture perfect — to see that he can.

Now, it has to be Texas A&M; or Alabama; or Oklahoma in the regular season.

More: Missouri football preseason preview: What Oklahoma will bring when old foes reunite

More: Three transfers who could help define Missouri football’s success in 2024 season

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for Jan. 3, 2026

Published

8 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 3, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

18-21-40-53-60, Powerball: 23, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

Midday: 0-8-1

Midday Wild: 5

Evening: 9-5-8

Evening Wild: 0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

Midday: 0-1-4-3

Midday Wild: 7

Evening: 0-3-8-3

Evening Wild: 1

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash4Life numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

03-09-24-35-59, Cash Ball: 01

Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

Early Bird: 06

Morning: 01

Matinee: 05

Prime Time: 11

Night Owl: 14

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

07-17-21-25-30

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Jan. 3 drawing

28-40-52-53-54, Powerball: 12

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.

To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:

Ticket Redemption

Missouri Lottery

P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 winning numbers for Dec. 28, 2025

Published

6 days ago

December 29, 2025

Press Room

The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 28, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 28 drawing

Midday: 6-4-6

Midday Wild: 5

Evening: 3-6-7

Evening Wild: 1

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 28 drawing

Midday: 8-0-0-0

Midday Wild: 2

Evening: 4-6-0-3

Evening Wild: 5

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash4Life numbers from Dec. 28 drawing

09-15-24-34-53, Cash Ball: 04

Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 28 drawing

Early Bird: 15

Morning: 01

Matinee: 02

Prime Time: 08

Night Owl: 04

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from Dec. 28 drawing

02-19-21-29-37

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Ticket Redemption

Missouri Lottery

P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Missouri

More transfers to follow, but Missouri football has inked some key returners

Published

7 days ago

December 28, 2025

Press Room

More transfers to follow, but Missouri football has inked some key returners

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Eli Drinkwitz just had to make sure.

He knew Nicholas Rodriguez, one of Missouri football’s few real standouts with 15 total tackles in the Tigers’ disappointing 13-7 loss to Virginia in the Gator Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 27, had put pen to paper to return next season. But, in college football in 2025, it doesn’t hurt to double-check.

“We’ve got a really strong foundation. Nick’s going to be back,” Drinkwitz said, then paused and turned to his sophomore linebacker over his right shoulder. “You’re going to be back, right?”

“Yeah,” Rodriguez said, smiling.

Rodriguez was among a list of four players the Mizzou coach, of his own accord, confirmed are signed to return in 2026. The others are star running back Ahmad Hardy, freshman quarterback Matt Zollers and defensive tackle Jalen Marshall.

Now, that’s a short list to work with while trying to get a feel for what the Tigers might look like in 2026.

And, as we’ve seemingly seen from some of Mizzou’s recent expected portal entrants and a lawsuit (and countersuit) involving Georgia and current MU defensive end Damon Wilson II, signing paperwork isn’t nearly as guaranteed as most coaches and teams would like it to be.

But it’s a start. And an important start.

Drinkwitz indicated that there are more players who were on the roster for the Gator Bowl who will not be suiting up in Columbia next season.

“Starting tomorrow (Dec. 28) we’ll finish up re-signing the current roster,” Drinkwitz said. “There’s going to be guys (transferring), there’s guys that already told us that they were going to transfer but they wanted to play tonight. We really appreciate those guys finishing.”

This is shaping up to be a crucial transfer portal for the Tigers.

Zollers, a true freshman, looked raw and more of a project than a clear-cut QB1 for the 2026 season. Quarterback is going to be an area of need for Missouri when the transfer portal opens up, as starter Beau Pribula is among the nine MU players who have already been confirmed as soon-to-be former Tigers.

There is still no public word on whether a trio of draft-eligible third-year players — Wilson, linebacker Josiah Trotter and left tackle Cayden Green — will stay in college or enter the NFL Draft process this offseason.

And, without getting into the weeds, here’s a quick glance at where Mizzou is losing starters or key rotation members just to eligibility: Right tackle; center; slot receiver; field defensive end; two defensive tackles; two more linebackers; both starting corners; free safety.

Like Drinkwitz said, the day after the Gator Bowl is going to be spent figuring out who they can get back. That means announcements are likely to be rolling in soon.

Then, if all of that wasn’t enough, the madness really starts.

“Then once we have kind of a final feel of where that is, then we’ll go attack the portal and build a new team. That’s college football now. I mean, every team’s looking to rebuild their roster post bowl games, post coaching changes, whatever. That’s what we’ll do.”

That’s not new. Missouri has mostly navigated the choppy transfer portal waters quite successfully over the past few seasons.

Drinkwitz, even back on early signing day Dec. 3, took “whatever it’ll be, it’ll be” stance to the numbers the Tigers will take when the frantic fortnight — the portal is officially open for entries Jan. 2-16 — gets underway.

Where Missouri fails to re-sign potential returners, it will add players. Where there is glaring needs, be it because of draft-bound players or otherwise, the Tigers will replenish. It’s not a complex formula but could become quite busy.

Tack on that the SEC is moving back to 105 scholarships in 2026, up from 85, and you might see an even larger influx this season.

Pure mathematics suggests the number of newcomers between now and spring ball will comfortably top 20 players. That does not account for potential early NFL Draft declarations or potential portal-bound players. The Tribune counted 75 scholarship players who can return to Mizzou next season, sheerly based on eligibility.

If that sounds expensive in the NIL and revenue-sharing age, you’re right. Teams have $20.5 million in the revenue pot to share directly with student-athletes, and that’s for all sports, not just football. You can bet the likes of Hardy and Rodriguez aren’t getting shortchanged.

Before sourcing third-party deals — and you can now see why Drinkwitz was so vocal about finding that form of funding this season as he weighed a contract extension — that’s a limited pool for massive offseason need.

Exactly how that will impact Missouri’s portal strategy will be among the more fascinating offseason storylines. How many bona-fide stars do the Tigers chase, and at what positions? Who and where are the priorities?

“I think we’ve got a really good foundation in the trenches. We got a really good foundation in the skill positions. So, it’s about filling in the holes, sustaining the culture,” Drinkwitz said. “Guys like Nick and Ahmad and Matt and Jalen Marshall, all these guys that have committed to coming back and re-signing, they’ve got to carry the culture that’s been established, that (graduating center Connor Tollison) fought for.

“That will be what we do. Back to work. I mean, nothing good comes easy. It will be a fight to the finish here, or a fight to finish off re-signing our team, and then we’ll go to work. That’s what we’ll do.”

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