Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz took full accountability for the Tigers’ 13–7 loss to Virginia in the Gator Bowl, admitting the defeat stemmed largely from his own decisions and vowing to rebuild the roster with top-tier talent moving forward.
After Missouri scored on its opening drive, the offense stalled for the remainder of the game. Despite running back Ahmad Hardy breaking the program’s single-season rushing record, the Tigers struggled to find rhythm, finishing with just 260 total yards of offense.
True freshman quarterback Matt Zollers threw for 101 yards and an interception, as Missouri failed to generate consistent momentum. Following the game, Drinkwitz didn’t deflect blame.
“I didn’t do a good enough job calling plays,” Drinkwitz said. “That’s on me. I didn’t put our guys in the best position to win.”
The Tigers entered the bowl game without offensive coordinator Kirby Moore, who departed for a head coaching job weeks earlier. Although Missouri added Chip Lindsey to the staff, Drinkwitz handled play-calling duties himself — a decision he later acknowledged did not produce the desired results. Hardy’s limited second-half usage, including not recording a carry until the final minutes, raised questions about the offensive approach.
Looking ahead, Drinkwitz emphasized that the loss will serve as motivation rather than a setback. With roster turnover expected due to transfers and injuries, he made it clear Missouri plans to be aggressive in retaining key contributors while recruiting impact players to elevate the program.
“This one will stick with me,” Drinkwitz said. “But we’re going to learn from it, reload, and come back stronger.”
The Gator Bowl loss closed the season on a disappointing note, but Drinkwitz’s focus has already shifted toward building a deeper, more explosive roster capable of competing at a higher level next season.
