Eli Drinkwitz finally broke through, earning his first top-10 win as Missouri coach in a 45-17 destruction of previously unbeaten and eighth-ranked Florida. This was more than just a victory; it was a four-quarter beatdown that snapped a brutal nine-game losing skid against ranked opponents and might just be the best win of Drinkwitz’s career with the Tigers.
“None of That Matters” – Drinkwitz Blasts the Noise After Big Win
After watching his team fail to execute down the stretch in a road loss to Mississippi State a week earlier, Drinkwitz knew the SEC gauntlet is real. But after piling up 560 yards of total offense against the Gators, he didn’t hold back, directly addressing what he thinks about outside opinions. “Everybody’s allowed to get better and improve,” Drinkwitz said. “After this game, I can’t believe anything that y’all write about us or anything on Twitter. After last game, I didn’t believe anything that was said about me or our team on Twitter, because none of that matters.” He hammered home that what truly matters is “the truth of what your coaches teach you and preach to you and that’s what makes a good football team.” Drinkwitz insisted his focus, and his team’s, is “about ignoring the noise and staying focused on our trajectory,” even adding he “couldn’t have cared less” about “narratives” heading into the spotlight game. This win, pushing his record to 8-19 against AP Top 25 opponents with the Tigers, feels like a massive step for his program.
Simmons and Roberts Lead a Potent Offense, Big Tests Loom
This Missouri squad has had no issues scoring points all season, even with preseason Doak Walker candidate Ahmad Hardy yet to suit up. Ole Miss transfer quarterback Austin Simmons has been an absolute machine, throwing for 1,287 yards and 13 touchdowns without a single interception. Running back Jamal Roberts is a force, already having three 100-yard games this season, including a massive 211-yard explosion against the Gators. Ranked 25th previously, the Tigers should vault inside the top 20 in the updated rankings. They’ve got a chance to keep the momentum rolling with a winnable home game next week against Texas A&M, followed by a road trip to Ole Miss. However, the schedule gets truly brutal in the season’s second half, with matchups against top-ranked Texas and No. 2 Georgia still on the slate. They’ll need to clean up issues like “not setting edges” and “not tackling” from that Mississippi State game if they want to hang with the best.
Missouri has a huge opportunity next week at home against Texas A&M to prove this Florida win wasn’t a fluke. Can they keep their focus, ignore the “crap” people are talking about, and build on this incredible momentum before the real monsters of the SEC come calling? You know everyone will be watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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