The offseason has officially arrived in Columbia, and it’s anything but quiet. This isn’t an offseason panic episode, it’s a temperature check. And for Mizzou, the reading says one thing clearly: the next step matters more than ever.

On a recent episode of The Starting Lineup, hosts Scott Puryear, Ned Reynolds, and Art Hains dig into a defining moment for Mizzou athletics, starting with a football program standing at a crossroads. Momentum is real. Expectations are higher. And the margin for excuses is shrinking fast.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here:

The conversation opens with one of the more puzzling storylines from the end of the season: the role of record-setting running back Ahmad Hardy. After a year that rewrote the stat sheet, his usage, especially in the bowl game, raised eyebrows and sparked bigger questions about decision-making and identity on offense. It’s not a takedown, but it is an honest pause.

From there, the focus shifts to what may be the most important offseason move of all: quarterback. With departures creating a clear void, the transfer portal isn’t just an option, it’s a necessity. The discussion explores what kind of quarterback fits Eliah Drinkwitz’s system and how quickly that transition has to happen in today’s college football calendar.

Roster turnover is another unavoidable reality. Several defensive standouts are weighing NFL futures, NIL leverage, and timing, a balancing act that’s becoming increasingly complex for programs outside the SEC’s financial elite. Mizzou’s NIL strategy is intentional and growing, but the gap between the Tigers and the conference’s heavyweights is part of the larger conversation.

And then there’s the pressure. Drinkwitz has re-energized the fan base and stabilized the program, but with investment comes expectation. The schedule window that once worked in Mizzou’s favor is closing, and the upcoming SEC slate won’t leave much room for moral victories.

The episode doesn’t stop at football. There’s a clear-eyed look at where Mizzou basketball stands heading into a demanding conference stretch, plus a moment to recognize Missouri State University’s 2026 Hall of Fame class.