The Missouri Tigers football program represents the University of Missouri (Mizzou) in Columbia, Missouri, United States. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a member of the Southeast Conference (SEC).
History
- Inception: The program began play in 1890.
- Conference affiliation: Missouri was a charter member of the Big Eight Conference (later the Big 12) from 1907 until moving to the SEC in 2012.
- Conference championships: The Tigers have claimed 15 conference titles, the most recent being the 2013 Big 12 championship.
Stadium
- Memorial Stadium ( “The Yard” ): Opened in 1926, the on‑campus facility currently seats approximately 62,000 spectators. Renovations in the 1990s and 2000s modernized seating, luxury suites, and press facilities.
Coaching leadership
- Notable head coaches include:
- Al Onofrio (1966–1977) – guided the team to two bowl appearances.
- Dan Devine (1971–1978) – later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
- Gary Pinkel (2001–2015) – the winningest coach in program history, overseeing the transition to the SEC and capturing the 2013 conference title.
- Barry Odom (2016–2021) – led the team to multiple bowl games.
- Eliah Drinkwitz (2020–present) – currently serves as head coach.
Performance and postseason
- Bowl record: Missouri has participated in over 30 bowl games, with a cumulative record near .500.
- National rankings: The Tigers have finished seasons ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll multiple times, most recently in 2020 (ranked No. 21).
Notable players
- Roger Wehrli (cornerback, 1964–1967) – Pro Football Hall of Famer.
- James Wilder Sr. (running back, 1973–1976) – All‑American.
- Kellen Mond (quarterback, 2014–2018) – NFL draft selection.
- Albert Okwuegbunam (tight end, 2015–2019) – NFL player.
Rivalries
- Kansas Jayhawks: The “Border War” rivalry, dating to 1891, is one of the longest‑running series in college football.
- Arkansas Razorbacks: SEC intra‑conference rivalry intensified since Missouri’s conference move.
Cultural impact
- The program’s mascot, “Truman the Tiger,” and the fight song “Oh! Missouri” are integral to university tradition.
- Home games generate significant economic activity for Columbia and are heavily attended by students, alumni, and regional supporters.
References
- University of Missouri Athletics official website (mutigers.com)
- NCAA records and historical archives
- College Football Hall of Fame inductee listings.
