SEC Football: Preseason power rankings for 2022 season
By Matt Melton
13. Missouri Tigers
Week 1 Opponent: Louisiana Tech
The No. 13 spot in our preseason power rankings goes to a Missouri Tigers team, that despite struggles in a few areas a year ago, enters 2022 with a notable amount of excitement at others as well.
Entering year three under head coach Eli Drinkwitz, the Tigers are coming off a 6-7 season a year ago, one in which Missouri made their first bowl appearance since 2018. This followed a 2020 campaign in which the Tigers went 5-5 in year one under Drinkwitz, meaning that the 2022 season could be key when it comes to the future of the Missouri program.
As for what the 2022 Tigers will look like, Missouri returns a notable amount of production at wide receiver in particular, a group that also adds star freshman Luther Burden to the mix. The Tigers will also be counting on breakout seasons from a few additional names such as quarterback Brady Cook, along with a defense that was one of the SEC’s worst in 2021 allowing 33.8 PPG to opponents.
As mentioned previously, the 2022 season could be an important one for the Tigers. Missouri has not had an above .500 season since 2018 (8-5), and it could be tough to do that this year due to the fact that the Tigers have a tough schedule.
Missouri should begin their 2022 season with a win however, as the Tigers face a Louisiana Tech team that finished 3-9 a year ago.
