KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The scenario couldn’t appear less complicated for Missouri heading into Friday’s rivalry recreation with Arkansas: Win and the Tigers qualify for a bowl recreation, lose they usually’re sitting house for the vacations.

But there’s extra using on the result than the prospect to play another recreation in December in balmy climate.

The Tigers, who’ve certified for bowl video games in every of coach Eli Drinkwitz’s first two seasons, are nonetheless making an attempt to return their program to SEC prominence. And ending .500 in opposition to a rugged schedule could possibly be thought of an indication of progress, whereas a second straight loss to the Razorbacks would give Missouri its first shedding season since 2016.

“I feel we’re enhancing the expertise. I feel we’re enhancing the best way we undergo the method. I see a number of development. I see a number of issues to be enthusiastic about,” Drinkwitz mentioned. “I feel soccer is about gaining momentum and confidence as you construct, and searching ahead to what lies forward, there are some extra favorable schedules that assist you to acquire momentum.”

This season has definitely been a bear.

After a gap win over Louisiana Tech, the Tigers have been blasted on the street by former Massive 12 rival Kansas State, which could possibly be enjoying for the Massive 12 title by the top of the week. After returning house to face Abilene Christian, the Tigers started SEC play with street journeys to Auburn and Florida sandwiched round a house recreation in opposition to No. 1 Georgia.

The Tigers truly acquitted themselves fairly effectively throughout that stretch.

A minimum of in all places however the win-loss column.

The Tigers had Auburn beat in regulation when usually sure-thing kicker Harrison Mevis missed a chip-shot, then had the sport received in extra time earlier than Nathaniel Peat fumbled the ball away stretching for the top zone. The end result: a 17-14 loss.

The next week, the Tigers gave the Bulldogs their hardest recreation up to now, taking a 16-6 lead into halftime and holding onto the benefit till the the fourth quarter. That is when the Bulldogs scored back-to-back touchdowns to wipe out the 10-point deficit, and the go-ahead rating with 4:03 left propelled Georgia to a 26-22 victory.

Down within the Swamp, the Tigers rallied from an early pick-six to forge a 10-all tie with Florida at halftime. And so they have been nonetheless inside a landing when Brady Cook dinner’s fourth-down move close to midfield fell incomplete with a couple of minute to go, permitting the Gators to flee with a 24-17 victory.

The Tigers misplaced one other nail-biter to Kentucky, making it 4 convention losses to 4 doubtlessly bowl-bound groups by a mixed 18 factors, when a constructive end result in any of them would have Missouri headed to a bowl recreation already.

“All of us need it to be straight up — linear — however not often in my life has success appeared like that,” mentioned Drinkwitz, who signed a contract extension earlier this season. “It is at all times been a course of in constructing, and there are days you stub your toe. It doesn’t suggest you narrow your toe off. You retain going and go to work, and that is irritating for followers and irritating for individuals, nevertheless it’s not irritating for me after I see the imaginative and prescient for what we are able to accomplish.”

A lot of that frustration could be swept apart if the Tigers (5-6, 2-5) handle the Razorbacks (6-5, 3-4) on Friday.

It could ship Missouri to a bowl recreation — in all probability the Liberty Bowl, Las Vegas Bowl or Music Metropolis Bowl. It could give the Tigers about three extra weeks of observe, which is invaluable for a younger group. And it might affirm what Drinkwitz has been preaching, specifically that his program is heading in the right direction heading into subsequent season.

“I have never put any thought course of into the season overview and all that. All I am targeted on is that this recreation, this week, being 1-0, stacking that up,” Drinkwitz mentioned, “and after the sport Friday, I’ll take 48 hours and replicate on the place every thing is. However proper now my mindset is on rallying this group to arrange to play our greatest recreation.”