2 Units That Need to Step Up for Mizzou in Final Stretch: The Buzz

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Watch the video above as Missouri football reporter Joey Van Zummeren gives his thoughts on two groups that will need to help take the pressure off quarterback Matt Zollers' shoulders in the final stretch of the Tigers' season.
Missouri's hopes at a bid in the College Football Playof seem to have one foot in the grave. A third loss would, in all likelihood, completely end those chances. So the Tigers will have to go undefeated in a four-game stretch that includes a game against No. 3 Texas A&M, and another at No. 18 Oklahoma.
Leading the Tigers through that stretch will be true freshman quarterback Matt Zollers, filling in for an injured Beau Pribula.
After Zollers showed promise once coming in during the third quarter of Missouri's game at Vanderbilt, it's on other parts of the Tigers to improve.
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz highlighted two of those specific areas Wednesday.
"He's got a really good defense to lean on," Drinkwitz said Wednesday on the SEC Coaches Teleconference. "We got to to play better up front for him, and we got to continue to find advantages in special teams and clean that area up so that he doesn't feel all the pressure."
Both of these groups have been inconsistent for Missouri. On the offensive line, Pribula rarely had enough time to establish himself in the pocket when he was in. On special teams, true freshman Robert Meyer has missed kicks in multiple key situations, going 9 for 12 on the season.
The biggest factor for the remainder of Missouri's season will be how Zollers performs. But outside of him, the Tigers will need to get these two weaknesses improved.
- Wednesday's Mizzou Results
- Wednesday's Mizzou Schedule
- Did you notice?
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Here's the morning buzz for Thursday, Oct. 30.
Wednesday's Mizzou Results
There were no events scheduled.
Wednesday's Mizzou Schedule
Nothing today.
Did you notice?
- Women's basketball small forward Grace Slaughter was named to the Cheryl Miller Award Watchlist. This award is given to the best women's basketball small forward in the NCAA.
On the radar. 🙂↕️#MIZ x #OurZou pic.twitter.com/k9parLSNJ7
— Mizzou Women’s Basketball (@MizzouWBB) October 29, 2025
- 4-star center Tristan Reed, who previously named Missouri in his final five schools, will announce his decision on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
NEWS: 2026 4⭐️ Tristan Reed is making his college announcement this Saturday at 4:30pm CT, he told @LeagueRDY. Reed is down to these five schools:
— Sam Kayser (@KayserHoops) October 29, 2025
Ohio State
Maryland
Mississippi State
Missouri
Michigan State
The 6-foot-9 center is one of the top big men in all of high school… pic.twitter.com/gfsnpLYKXX
- Class of 2027 edge rusher Juelz Batiste received an offer from Missouri. He also holds offers from Florida State, Auburn, Nebraska and UCF.
#Agtg after a long talk with coach @DanielPlatz_I'm blessed to receive an offer from university of Missouri!!!@MizzouFootball@LAvsAllYall@PrepRedzone @G_Sportz @PrepRedzoneLA pic.twitter.com/GZZvsvywd9
— Juelz Batiste (@5starrjuu) October 29, 2025
Mizzou Quote of the Day:
"I don’t know that I could have done that. Playing professionally requires a lot of preparation and work. I don’t know that I ever had the desire to play two sports. I was content playing baseball."Phil Bradley
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Amber Winkler is a sports journalist and photographer from St. Charles, Mo., and has been the primary baseball writer for Missouri Tigers On SI since 2024. She’s also covered football and basketball as an intern.
Follow amberewinklerJoey Van Zummeren is the lead writer on Missouri Tigers On SI, primarily covering football and basketball, but has written on just about every sport the Tigers play. He’s also a contributing writer to Green Bay Packers On SI. From Belleville, Ill., he joined Missouri Tigers On SI as an intern in 2023.
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