It may not be the biggest blockbuster game of the week, but the Missouri Tigers head to Jordan-Hare Stadium to play the Auburn Tigers in one of the SEC’s most interesting match-ups on Saturday morning. “Why are you so compelled by a game between to 2-1 teams that have been boring as hell so far, Stoney?” I’m sure you’re asking. Well, it’s not so much about the play on the field as it is the storylines surrounding both of these programs heading into this weekend’s game. Both of these teams have been somewhat difficult to pin down in 2022 so far. And, both of these teams are in dire need of a win with a couple of ugly losses on their resumés so far.
Missouri was absolutely rocked by Kansas State, 40-12, in Week 2. Meanwhile, Auburn was drubbed 41-12 by Penn State last week. I didn’t expect either team to really make any noise in the grand landscape of college football this season. But, they feel like two programs approaching turning points…which is interesting in and of itself because both of these head coaches, Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz and Auburn’s Bryan Harsin, are new at their respective programs. With all of the talk about Harsin being on the hot seat in the SEC, we’ve lost sight of how Drinkwitz hasn’t exactly been able to elevate the Missouri program either. These feel like the two coaches with the hottest seats in the SEC right now, but while Harsin’s fate feels like a seemingly foregone conclusion, Drinkwitz seems to be getting a bit of a pass despite being a year deeper into a rebuild than Harsin. Now, I know Harsin had some…let’s just say…extenuating circumstances around his performance review at Auburn. But still, if we’re looking at strictly on-the-field product, Missouri is in just as mediocre of a situation as Auburn. That won’t cut it in the SEC.
There haven’t been many, if any, signs from Mizzou this season that they can be competitive in the SEC. There’s some shuffling along the offensive line. The defense hasn’t been good. Outside of the emergence of the electrifying Luther Burden, there just doesn’t seem to be a whole hell of a lot to be excited about in Columbia.
As a result, Drinkwitz is sitting firmly at 13-13 in his third season with the Tigers. When we’re looking at the potential coaching carousel this offseason, it might be time for us to start putting Drinkwitz in that conversation with Harsin as guys who figure to be turned loose. That’s something that makes Saturday’s game all the more fascinating to me. Jobs could depend on it. It could be a critical game for Missouri’s chances of getting into another bowl game. They’d have to beat Vanderbilt, South Carolina, and New Mexico State – all doable – and then win one somewhere else. With the remainder of that schedule including Georgia, Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, and Arkansas, I’d say Auburn is the most logical choice for Missouri to get to a 6th win. And, even if they do get there, is 6-6 and another .500 year enough to keep Drinkwitz around?
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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