Mizzou football check in at No. 25 in AP Poll

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Head coach Eli Drinkwitz and company will be starting the 2026 season off with a ranking.

On Monday, Mizzou football came in at No. 25 the preseason AP Poll. Along with the Tigers, eight other Southeastern Conference squads found themselves in the Top-25. In fact, five of MU's opponents on the 2026 slate are in the Top-10.

It is the second time in the Drinkwitz era that his team will start the season ranked, with the other coming in 2024.

You can find a full look at the 2026 preseason AP Top-25 below.

1. Ohio State
2. Oregon
3. Georgia
4. Notre Dame
5. Texas
6. Indiana
7. Miami (Fla.)
8. Texas A&M
9. Ole Miss
10. Oklahoma
11. LSU
12. Texas Tech
13. Alabama
14. BYU (tied for No. 14)
15. USC (tied for No. 14)
16. Michigan
17. Washington
18. Penn State
19. SMU
20. Tennessee
21. Utah
22. Iowa
23. Houston
24. Louisville
25. Mizzou

As of these standings, Mizzou's first Top-25 showdown will come on Oct. 10 at Faurot Field, when the Texas A&M Aggies roll into Columbia for action. After that, Coach Eli and his squad will face four Top-10 squads over the course of the last six weeks

The Tigers will open up the 2026 campaign on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. when Arkansas-Pine Bluff heads to Faurot Field.