Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri’s No. 19 ranked coach, isn’t going to Florida State, and he made that crystal clear in an unprompted statement to reporters Tuesday. His direct message, “I want to clear that up. Let’s focus on the main thing, which is Texas, and let’s eliminate all the distractions and clear the clutter from that standpoint for my team and for everybody out there,” came as his team preps for a massive showdown at No. 10 Texas this Saturday. This wasn’t some quiet denial, this was the Tigers’ seventh-year leader slamming the door shut on distractions before the most grueling part of their schedule.
Shutting Down the Noise With a Bank Account Statement
Listen, the rumor mill was spinning hard. Drinkwitz even popped up on CBS Sports’ initial list of candidates to replace Mike Norvell, who FSU just parted ways with after seven seasons and a 41-39 record. But anyone paying attention knows Drinkwitz isn’t jumping ship. Why? He signed an extension last November, locking him in through the 2031 season. Not only that, but that deal shot his average annual salary past $10.7 million. That’s big money, making him the 11th-highest paid coach in college football according to USA Today. Realistically, only a handful of programs could even think about boosting that pay. His name’s been floated for other gigs, like the Penn State vacancy last year, but Mizzou has built something steady under him. His overall record is 52-31 (29-26 SEC), and he’s been on fire over the last four seasons, going 35-12. This guy’s committed, and he’s not about to let speculation derail his squad.
November’s Gauntlet and a Playoff Dream
And trust me, Mizzou cannot afford any distractions right now. Drinkwitz knew he had to clear the air because a brutal November stretch is staring them down. After they battle the Longhorns in Texas, it’s a trip to face No. 2 Georgia, then a home game against No. 8 Kentucky, before they close out the regular season against Oklahoma. That’s a murderer’s row. His 6-2 (3-2 SEC) Tigers are walking into that Texas game as a 2.5-point road underdog, but here’s the kicker: if they can pull off that upset, their College Football Playoff chances jump to a legitimate 15.9%, according to the CBS Sports CFP Forecaster. That’s a real shot, and you don’t mess around with that kind of opportunity.
Missouri’s got a huge showdown at No. 10 Texas on Saturday, and with Drinkwitz silencing the noise, you know the Tigers are all-in. This November is gonna be wild, and we’re here for every single snap!
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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