No. 13 Mizzou primed for high-stakes, emotional SEC clash in Oxford
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
As No. 13 Mizzou football prepares for a high-stakes clash against No. 9 Ole Miss at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday, the Tigers can count on one thing: familiarity won't be an issue.
Of course, the big story is the return of quarterback Austin Simmons, wide receiver Cayden Lee and cornerback Chris Graves Jr. to the place they once called home. That was the hot topic of conversation during Mizzou's weekly meeting with local media members, on Tuesday, as head coach Eli Drinkwitz and players all fielded questions about how they expect that trio to handle the emotions of this game.
Coach Drinkwitz emphasized that they've already done this before, this season.
"I mean we did that in Mississippi State [with offensive lineman Luke Work]. We did that with Troy, with Chip [Lindsey] and [Nasir Pogue]. So, you know, I think that's just the new age of college football," he said. "They got former players, you know, La'Damian Washington is the wide receivers coach and he's as true of a son as there is playing here. Obviously, Kewan [Lacy] was here for a year and Horatio Fields was, you know, here for four weeks on a contract. So, you know, I mean there's just all kinds of back and forth. I think the biggest thing is to not not to make it bigger than it is and I think that's the most important thing. You have great memories there, there was great things that happened there. For all intensive purposes, I think everybody left in a positive light with both sides. So, you know, we talk about enjoy the journey. That was a part of their journey that made them who they are right now and I don't think there has to be a whole lot more to it than that."
You can watch the full press conference with Drinkwitz in the video player below.
The leader of the Tigers did acknowledge that, of course, there will be emotions involved in this game. However, he wants the story to be more about his entire team and the opportunity they have in a Top-15 clash.
Left tackle Cayden Green is a guy that has experience facing his former team, as well. After spending one season with the Oklahoma Sooners, he transferred to Mizzou to join the Tigers, ahead of the 2024 season. Since coming to Columbia, MU has faced OU twice, beating the Sooners in 2024 and falling short in Norman in 2025.
"I think the biggest thing for us is keeping the main thing the main thing. Like, they know we got their back, so we just got to go out there and play. Like, this team is too good to be caught up in all that other stuff," Green said. "So, we just got to keep the main thing, the main thing."
You can watch the full press conference with Green in the video player below.
From a matchup perspective, Saturday's game between the lines is primed to be just as exciting as the storylines surrounding it.
Through six games, the Mizzou offense has shown that it can hurt opposing defenses in quite a few different ways. The past couple of games, in wins over Florida and Texas A&M, the Tigers' rushing attack wore down defenses, until they couldn't take anymore.
That'll be something that Coach Drinkwitz and company have the opportunity to capitalize on, on Saturday. Ole Miss has struggled with its rushing defense in the 2026 season, ranking last in the SEC and 127th nationally in that category, allowing an average of 176.4 yards per game on the ground.
MU running back Jamal Roberts coming off of back-to-back 200-yard outings, but Drinkwitz emphasized that each game has a life of its own.
"I think every week has got its own challenges, so I don't know if it'll be an advantage. Obviously, the only way it's an advantage is if we're still in the game late in the game. You know, I think the thing that's helped us in both of the games [against Florida and Texas A&M] is we haven't turned the ball over, and our defense was being able to really stop the run. We had eight three-and-outs in the last game and so that gives your offense a chance to really get into rhythm and then play behind your pads, you know, lean into the run game and it's just like, you know, boxing. Eventually, one of those is going to crack open. I think Jamal's done an excellent job of being patient, not getting frustrated," Drinkwitz said. "For us to be effective, we still have to be in the game. And the way they score points, you know, I don't think we can sit in a bunker for the first three quarters."
Opposing quarterbacks have also thrown for an average of 216.0 yards per game, which is right on par for where Simmons sits this season. The leader of the Tiger offense is throwing for an average of about 239 yards per outing and ranks second in the SEC with 14 touchdowns on the season.
Of course, the expectation is that Saturday's game in Oxford will be especially big for the senior. He was the starter for the Rebels one season ago, but got injured and lost that starting job to current Ole Miss star Trinidad Chambliss.
Although Mizzou didn't dive too deep into the emotions of Saturday's game, on Tuesday, Drinkwitz did note that the way Simmons handled that situations showed how tremendous of a teammate he is.
"He showed great leadership," Drink said. "You go from being the starting quarterback to getting Wally-Pipped and now you're, you know, having to be the encourager. He does the same things that he does here, as far as being a guy that daps everybody up when they leave the tunnel, prepared like he was a starter if he ever got his moment. So, you know, I think it says a lot about who he is as a person that he could he can find the emotional maturity to believe in himself, but also to be a good leader and not make it about him."
On the flip side, "Death Row Defense" will also have a high-flying offense to deal with, on Saturday.
Heading into Week 7, Chambliss ranks second in the SEC in average passing yards per game (287.0), as he's thrown for a total of 1,435 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions, so far this season.
Tiger safety Elijah Dotson spoke on what makes Chambliss so difficult to deal with, on Tuesday.
"He's going to be one of the best quarterbacks we've played this year, for sure. You know, he showed that last year. [He's a] mobile quarterback, strong arm, so, you know, we're gonna have to contain him this week for sure," he said. "A lot of quarterbacks that are mobile, you know, once they get the opportunity to run, they're really going to just go run it. You know, once he gets the opportunity to run it's still he can run or pass the ball. So, again we're just gonna have to contain him and be prepared."
You can watch the full press conference with Dotson in the video player below.
Although they will have their hands full on Saturday, the Tiger defense has been playing its best ball of the season in the last two games. In fact, following Saturday's win over Texas A&M, Coach Drinkwitz said - outside of the Cotton Bowl - that was just about the best defensive performance he's seen since he's been in Columbia.
Through the last two games, in the wins over the Aggies and then-Top 10 Florida, "Death Row Defense" has been absolutely stifling. That unit has allowed a total of just 23 points in those matchups and has managed to completely shut down opposing ground games, allowing just 71 total rushing yards in the last two games.
Of course, defensive coordinator Corey Batoon's crew famously shut down one of the SEC's leading rushers, Jadan Baugh, holding him to just 13 yards on 12 carries.
"The Brotherhood is very close...I feel like that's why we've been dominant," defensive tackle Donta Simpson said, when asked how close this defense is to being where it wants to be. "Because, like all of us, as a defense, we come together as like a brotherhood. We take that serious here and that's like the Brotherhood just been, you know, something I've never seen in the team before. So, that's why I just feel like our defense has been very good, because we take the Brotherhood seriously here."
You can watch the full press conference with Simpson in the video player below.
As the Tigers head down to Oxford, they will now look to shut down a former Tiger in the Ole Miss backfield. Running back Kewan Lacy spent one year at Mizzou, before joining the Rebels. Now, in second year, he's logged 230 yards and five touchdowns on 46 carries. Through Ole Miss' five games, he's running for an average of about five yards per carry.
Roberts remembers clearly when Lacy first came to Columbia.
"When he first got here, man, I took him in the under my wing, just like I do anybody else in the running back room. Just showing him the way when he got here as a freshman, you know, came in a little jittery or just real antsy, you know, ready to play. But, you know, just trying to keep him poised and trying to develop him with, you know, some of the things that I got developed when I got here as a freshman running back. Just teaching some of the ends and the pointers in the running back room, and a very talented running back man," Roberts said. "Love that guy, man. We still communicate today and so there's a lot of things I remember about him. He's a very, very funny guy, man. He liked to compete lot. Som I mean, it's going to be a lot of competing on the field Saturday with me and him."
You can watch the full press conference with Roberts in the video player below.
Despite having Lacy in the backfield, Ole Miss will likely try to hurt you with its passing attack first, as the Rebels boast a ton of speed and versatility with its receivers.
At the heart of it all is wideout Deuce Alexander, the undisputed alpha of that room in Oxford. He ranks fourth in the SEC, behind Tiger receiver Cayden Lee, with an average of 100.6 yards per game. Alexander and Chambliss have connected for five touchdowns and 503 total yards on the season.
As a result, the MU secondary is going to take pride in trying to shut Ole Miss' air attack down, so they can focus on what they've done so well the past few weeks: stifiling the run.
"We've been containing the run pretty well these past few weeks, so, you know, we want to continue to make them get back to the ground game. So, we got to do our part in the secondary and make them bring it back to the big guys in the box," Dotson said.
Ahead of Saturday's game, Drinkwitz did not give an official injury report, as the SEC releases those every Wednesday, but he was asked about the status of running back Ahmad Hardy.
"I mean, I answered that question last week and I tried to say the same thing. Like, I really don't want to have to answer that question every week. I will tell y'all when there's an update and...contrary to what's on the cesspool of message boards," Drinkwitz joked. "There's no update. He hasn't began a two week ramp up period. If he practices, I promise I'll tweet it out. I won't even give it to Pete [Thamel]. We'll just do it ourselves, you know? So again...I know everybody's excited about where we're at and all that good stuff and blah blah, blah, blah, blah. Like, when he's available, I promise you, we'll be excited to use him. But, that's not the story right now."
Up next - No. 13 Mizzou will face No. 9 Ole Miss in Oxford on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 pm on SEC Network.
