Reviewing the Most Exciting Elements of Mizzou Football on the 'All Things Mizzou' Podcast

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Mizzou football will be turning a new leaf in 2026, looking to improve upon a 2025 campaign in which it battled plenty of adversity en route to an 8-4 regular season and Gator Bowl loss against Virginia. After loading up in the transfer portal, retaining top talent and adding a promising freshman class, there's plenty to be excited about for the 2026 season.
That's exactly what Missouri On SI reporters Killian Wright and Zachary Knox-Doyle discuss on the most recent episode of the "All Things Mizzou" podcast, picking five different aspects about the upcoming 2026 season that excites them the most. The pair also recapped recent news regarding Mizzou basketball, Sophie Cunningham and Mizzou alumni in the NBA.
You can watch the full episode using the YouTube, or through Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
The five most exciting Mizzou football storylines
Wright and Knox-Doyle selected one item from each of the following categories: home game, away game, offensive player, defensive player and storyline.
Some selections were obvious — see Knox-Doyle selected Donovan Olugbode as the offensive player that excites him the most, or Wright picking Nicholas Rodriguez on the defense. Other elements might surprise you, such as Wright's selection for the home game that excites him the most, or Knox-Doyle's pick for the storyline to watch.
Wright's selections
Home game: ???
Away game: Ole Miss
Offensive player: ???
Defensive player: Nicholas Rodriguez
Storyline: ???
Knox-Doyle's selections
Home game: Texas
Away game: ???
Offensive player: Donovan Olugbode
Defensive player: ???
Storyline: ???
Mizzou basketball alumni roundup
In the past week, there's been plenty of news regarding former Mizzou basketball players attempting to carve out roles in the NBA. Jordan Clarkson, who spent the 2014-15 season at Missouri and won the 2025-26 NBA Championship with the New York Knicks, re-signed with the Knicks on a one-year, $3.9 million deal. Kobe Brown, who last played for Missouri in the 2022-23 season, signed a two-way contract with the Indiana Pacers after breaking out at the end of last season.
As for more recent alumni, Shawn Phillips Jr. opted not to suit up in NBA Summer League and instead was granted an injunction for another season of college eligibility. Tamar Bates performed well in summer league and likely won't play another game — the Jazz like what they saw from the former Tiger — while Mark Mitchell, Sean East II, Jevon Porter and Caleb Grill are still competing.
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Originally from Kansas City, Killian Wright covers Mizzou athletics for Missouri Tigers On SI. He's previously served as sports editor for The Maneater, Mizzou's student newspaper, and works as a reporter for the Columbia Missourian. He is set to graduate from the Missouri School of Journalism in 2028. KC Sports Network is the premier destination for Kansas City sports fans with podcasts, YouTube and social media content. Stay connected with the latest news and analysis by following KCSN on all social media platforms.
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