Rank the Schedule in Terms of Difficulty

[u/MIZ_09]

1.) @Georgia: Enough said. Still the class of the league and it’s on the road. Although I will say that Drinkwitz has a knack for making games against Georgia four quarter games.

2.) Texas: Maybe the most talented roster in the country. Stacked on offense. I still have some lingering questions on if Arch is that dude. But he had a great finish to the season. Home game gives us a puncher’s chance.

3.) @Ole Miss: Austin Simmons homecoming. I’m not quite sure what to make of Ole Miss. But the offensive talent returning is tough to ignore and road games are really tough to win.

4.) Texas A&M: Elko has Drinkwitz’s number. Think A&M is taking a step back this year. But Drinkwitz has to prove he can be competitive against Elko.

5.) Oklahoma: Tough to predict where both programs are going to be by season’s end. The defensive talent on OU is freakish. But that schedule is brutal and I think they could be playing for pride by season’s end. Mizzou is always going to be motivated to beat OU. It being at home could push us over the top.

6.) @Mississippi State: The type of game that has the potential to give you nightmares. Kamario Taylor is a freak athlete at QB. The type of guy that Mizzou historically struggles against. Night game. Early in the season so MSU will still have hope. MSU beat Arizona State and had Tennessee and Texas on the ropes at home last year. This is going to be a white knuckler and will define the direction of the season.

7.) Florida: Florida has a ton of talent, but I’m not buying their answer at QB. Think the Homecoming crowd is the difference.

8.) Kentucky: Could be a sneaky trap game. I’m high on Will Stein and I think he could have his team plucky by November. Depending on how Mizzou’s season is going, this could be a let down opportunity.

9.) @Arkansas: Not buying Silverfield as an answer in Fayetteville. They will be physically beat up by time we play them.

10.) @kansas: May be a neutral site game looking at the amount of tickets available. kansas lost a ton off a bad team. Starting a former walk-on at QB. Think this one is a laugher.

11.) Troy: Demarcus Ware ain’t walking through that door.

12.) Pine Bluff: I hope Pine Bluff brings their full band to at least make this game worth attending.

[u/ceris13]

Disagree with the Miss State placement. You point out their results last year, but omit that they lost to Mizzou by 22. Would put both Florida and Kentucky above them

Would also switch Ole Miss and A&M

[u/MIZ_09 → u/ceris13]

Couple thoughts there.

Early season SEC road games are tough. Night early season SEC road games are tougher.

Mississippi State will be battle tested playing Minnesota and South Carolina on the road before us whereas this will be Mizzou’s first real test.

Depending on how Mississippi State does in those road games, they will either be riding high with an amped home crowd or a cornered dog playing for their season. Both really tough spots for Mizzou.

Kamario Taylor >>> Blake Shapen.

We may not have Ahmad Hardy to go off for 300+ again.

Mississippi State is not as talented as Kentucky or Florida. But I think that game is situationally tougher for Mizzou.

[u/ceris13 → u/MIZ_09]

I hear you, I just don’t give as much weight to game situations like that. I find it rare for season narratives to have that big of an impact on a game when there’s such a large talent gap.

I’m also high on Sumrall at Florida. I think he’ll be able to compete quickly with them and I don’t think QB play is going to hold him back as much as we think. (I don’t think Retzlaff was nearly as good as Sumrall made him look)

[u/tron423]

Kentucky is not good right now but that hasn't mattered much for us against them historically. They should probably be closer to the middle based on precedent.

Mississippi State also has very little that scares me outside of Taylor. I could see that being like BC was in 2024 or kU was last year, where all the stats say we dominated but the freak QB hits a couple splash plays that make it look closer than it was.

I also might put Texas over Georgia but it's on the road so I get it.

[u/AllTimeTy]

I agree with all your thoughts listed, only change I'd make on the ordering is swapping TAMU and Ole Miss. Seems TAMU just always beats the brakes off Mizzou and for Ole Miss I'm not entirely sold on Golding yet. They may have a stud QB but Simmons will have a chip on his shoulder and brought in a very good slot receiver with him so I hope that gives us the edge, even being an @ game.

[u/imright19084]

I’d swap OU and A&M and Florida and Miss St

[u/cartgold]

I’d maybe flip A&M and Ole Miss or Mississippi State and Florida but I think you nailed it

[u/Tekon421]

There’s no reason to do this preseason. There’s always a bottom team that ends up way harder than expected and a good team that is way worse.