Missouri has officially secured the future of its football program, announcing that head coach Eli Drinkwitz has agreed to a six-year contract extension that will keep him with the Tigers through the 2031 season. The agreement, first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel early on Thanksgiving morning, was later confirmed by Mizzou Athletics with statements from both athletic director Laird Veatch and Drinkwitz himself.
The extension arrives at a crucial moment for the program. Drinkwitz had been linked to several high-profile job openings, including Penn State, Florida, and LSU, creating national speculation about his future. Missouri’s decision to lock him into a long-term deal not only eliminates that uncertainty but also elevates him into the upper tier of the sport’s highest-paid coaches.
Since arriving in Columbia, Drinkwitz has compiled a 45–28 record, with the Tigers achieving bowl eligibility every season under his leadership. The program has also taken major steps forward on the recruiting trail, currently positioned to secure its third consecutive Top 25 recruiting class, a rare level of sustained momentum for Mizzou.
On the field, the Tigers have delivered some of their strongest seasons in a decade. Drinkwitz led Missouri to back-to-back 10-win campaigns in 2023 and 2024, marking the program’s first such achievement since the 2013–14 stretch. The run was highlighted by a memorable New Year’s Six Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State, one of the most significant wins in modern Mizzou football history.
Entering the final weekend of the 2025 regular season with a 7–4 (3–4 SEC) record, Mizzou prepares for its annual Battle Line Rivalry against Arkansas on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CST, SEC Network). Beyond that, the Tigers are aiming to complete another historic milestone: a third straight bowl-game victory, something the program has never done.
Missouri’s commitment to Drinkwitz signals belief in the trajectory of the program and confidence that he is the right leader for the long term. More coverage and analysis of the contract extension will continue on Rock M Nation and RockM+.
