Reasons Eli Drinkwitz could leave the Missouri Tigers in 2025

From hot seat to hot coach. This was the transition Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz made in one season which was his fourth in Columbia, Missouri this past fall and winter as he led the Missouri Tigers to a 10-2 regular season, capped with a Cotton Bowl victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Prior to 2023, Drinkwitz had gone a modest 17-19 in three years in Columbia after taking over for the previously fired Barry Odom. It is safe to say that almost no one saw the 10-win season from the Tigers coming in 2023, but that is exactly what happened.

Led by quarterback Brady Cook and division II transfer running back Cody Shrader, this group of Tigers that was not thought to do much of anything ended up as one of the best teams in the SEC, finishing second to the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC East.

In fact, Drinkwitz’s Tigers only lost to the previously mentioned Georgia Bulldogs and LSU Tigers last season.

What is Eli Drinkwitz’s contract at Missouri?

Missouri’s head man received a contract extension and raise on December 31st this past season which will pay him $46 million through 2028, starting with $9 million in 2024.

Compared to other coaches in the SEC, Drinkwitz was making 12th most in the conference prior to the extension at $6 million per year according to The Tennessean. This new deal projects him to be about mid-pack in the conference as far as annual earnings go behind names like Kirby Smart, Lane Kiffin and Brian Kelly.

How has Eli Drinkwitz done in recruiting for the Missouri Tigers?

It may have just taken time for things to catch up for Drinkwitz, as he is also crushing it on the recruiting trail for the Tigers. The Tigers just pulled in their first five start since 2021 in Luther Burden in Williams Nwaneri who ranks as the nations top edge rusher in the class of 2023 according to On3.

Drinkwitz classes have finished 19th, 36th at 21st in his first three full recruiting cycles for the Tigers, but with the record improving, you should only look for this to improve as well if Drinkwitz indeed stays in Columbia.

Why would Eli Drinkwitz leave the Missouri Tigers?

A main reason Drinkwitz would leave Columbia however would be for another job. While the NFL is always a lure for the ever-elusive championship at the professional level, Drinkwitz is a native of Arkansas. And the Razorbacks have a fifth year head coach in Sam Pittman who is squarely on the hot seat heading into the 2024 season.

Drinkwitz and the Tigers actually went into Fayetteville this past season and thumped the rival Razorbacks 48-14 in the final game of the regular season. Do not think that Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek did not notice that. Pittman, who has a 47% winning percentage in four seasons in Fayetteville may be lucky to survive the season. And if so, talk about Drinkwitz coming to Fayetteville may only intensify.

The Razorbacks have not been shy in the past about spending money on athletics, so do not put it past them to take a run at Drinkwitz if the seat comes open in 2025. It makes sense for Arkansas to target a coach that has proven he can turn around a program, and it may make sense for Drinkwitz too if he has a desire to come back home.