Tag: Drinkwitz

Missouri boosts coach Eli Drinkwitz to $10M club with new deal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz joined college football’s $10 million club with a six-year contract extension through the 2031 season.

The deal with the Tigers removes Drinkwitz from the offseason coaching carousel and was confirmed by the University of Missouri Board of Curators after unanimous approval Wednesday night. His annual salary will average $10.75 million.

“My family and I believe deeply in the vision and leadership from our administration and are incredibly happy to continue calling Columbia our home,” Drinkwitz, 42, said. “I’m grateful for the unwavering support of President Mun Choi, the Board of Curators, led by Chair Todd Graves and incoming Vice Chair Bob Blitz, along with our athletics director Laird Veatch. We’re also incredibly thankful for the support of our generous donors and NIL partners. I’m committed to continuing our work to build Mizzou into a championship program.”

Drinkwitz was hired in 2019 after one season at Appalachian State. Missouri won 11 games in 2023 and was 10-3 last season after the Tigers had a 17-19 record in his first three seasons in Columbia.

The Tigers are 7-4 (3-4 SEC) this season, with three of their losses to ranked Southeastern Conference opponents (Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas A&M) still alive in the CFP playoff picture.

Missouri needs two more wins this season to hit 30 over the past three seasons. The Tigers are 33-9 at home under Drinkwitz but finish the regular season o the road Saturday against Arkansas (2-9, 0-7).

His success sparked interest from SEC programs with openings. He was rumored to be on the radar of Florida and LSU, programs with existing vacancies thought to both be prioritizing Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin.

“Under his vision and leadership, Coach Drinkwitz has transformed the standard for Mizzou Football and united our entire program and fan base behind a clear pursuit of excellence,” Veatch said. “We’re thrilled he will continue leading our team into the future. This is an incredible time for our program: Our unprecedented 20-game home sellout streak speaks to our fans’ tremendous passion and commitment, while the Memorial Stadium Centennial Project reflects our growing and sustained investment in Mizzou Football.

“It’s also critically important that we continue providing Coach Drinkwitz with the resources necessary to build and develop championship rosters in the Southeastern Conference. This new contract reflects our commitment to further strengthening and enhancing those resources. Our ‘Will to Win’ is clear – we’re fully aligned behind Coach Drinkwitz and eager to keep building with him as he leads this program forward in the pursuit of championships.”

–Field Level Media

Aug 30, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tulane Green Wave head coach Jon Sumrall looks on against Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Yulman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

LSU Next Coach Odds: Surprise early favorite emerges

Posted on | by Field Level Media

One of the most fascinating coaching cycles in recent memory added another marquee opening with LSU’s firing of Brian Kelly, creating a vacancy that is likely to pique the interest of several prominent candidates.

Some immediate potential frontrunners bubbled to the top of rumor mills. Among them being Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin and recently fired Penn State coach James Franklin, who have been mentioned in connection to multiple other openings already.

However, it’s a somewhat lesser known name who emerged as the early frontrunner.

Tulane coach Jon Sumrall was installed as the +150 favorite by at least one sportsbook. The 43-year-old was linked to multiple Power 4 openings last year before signing an extension with the Green Wave last December.

After guiding Troy to a 23-4 record over two seasons, he led Tulane to the Gasparilla Bowl in 2024 and has the Green Wave sitting at 6-1 this season. Sumrall also has SEC ties, having played linebacker at Kentucky, where he returned as an assistant coach from 2019-21 after a year as Ole Miss’ linebackers coach.

The second shortest odds has direct ties to LSU. Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady served as the Tigers’ passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2019, when he worked with Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow.

The next shortest odds belong to Kiffin and Franklin, followed by Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, whose name has also been linked to several prominent openings including Florida and Penn State.

UCLA, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Arkansas, UAB and Colorado State also have ousted their head coaches since this season began.

NEXT LSU COACH ODDS*
Jon Sumrall, Tulane (+150)
Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills OC (+200)
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss (+500)
James Franklin, ex-Penn State (+600)
Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri (+800)
Jeff Brohm, Louisville (+1200)
Brent Key, Georgia Tech, (+1400)
Jimbo Fisher, ex-Texas A&M (+1800)
Clark Lea, Vanderbilt (+2000)
Urban Meyer, ex-Jacksonville Jaguars (+2500)
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame (+2500)
Rhett Lashlee, SMU (+3300)
Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State (+4000)
Jon Gruden, ex-Oakland Raiders (+4000)
Lincoln Riley, Southern Cal (+4500)
Dan Mullen, ex-Florida (+5000)
Dabo Swinney, Clemson (+5000)
Dan Lanning, Oregon (+6600)
Alex Golesh, South Florida (+6600)
Matt Campbell, Iowa State (+7500)
Nick Saban, ex-Alabama (+7500)
*BetOnline.ag odds provided for entertainment purposes only.

LSU athletics director Scott Woodward said that the program will immediately begin a national search for a new head coach.

Kelly, who recorded a 34-14 record with the Tigers, was shown the door one day after his 20th-ranked Tigers turned an 18-14 halftime lead into a 24-point home loss to Texas A&M.

“As a proud alum, and as the current caretaker of our athletics programs, I will not compromise in our pursuit of excellence and we will not lower our standards,” Woodward said in a statement. “I continue to believe that LSU is the best football program in America and that our head coach position is among the best considering our investment, our ability to attract and retain talent, our unbelievable fans, and our institutional and statewide commitment to — and love for — LSU Football.”

–Field Level Media

Missouri Tigers quarterback Sam Horn (21) on the field before the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Dodgers draft pick, Mizzou QB Sam Horn picks laces over aces

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dodgers draft pick Sam Horn is putting pitching on the backburner, choosing laces over aces to compete for the starting quarterback job at Missouri in 2025.

Horn, who also plays baseball for the Tigers, was selected in the 17th round of the 2025 MLB Draft on Monday. He celebrated with his family, took a call from a few friends and coaches, and then got a ring from Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz.

Other than offering congratulations to Horn and his parents, Drinkwitz said he was compelled to remind his QB that workouts would start before 7 a.m. on Tuesday.

“I called him the day of the draft to make sure he was having a draft party. I called him after he got drafted,” Drinkwitz, who commonly deals in equal parts sarcasm, bluntness and dry humor, said Thursday at SEC Media Days. “I told him the day he got drafted I was proud of him, and I would see him at 6:30 workouts in the morning.”

Penn State transfer Beau Pribula is Horn’s primary competition to replace Brady Cook at quarterback. Pribula left the Nittany Lions after starting quarterback Drew Allar decided to play another season and pass on the NFL draft.

Horn has a chance to turn pro now or later as a power pitcher.

“What an awesome accomplishment, awesome opportunity for that young man to be that good of an athlete, to be able to play, I think he threw 15 innings this year and had an outstanding season. We’re so proud of him to be able to compete in two sports,” Drinkwitz said. “Sam has been adamant this whole time to compete and win the job in the SEC, play quarterback at the highest level. Had conversations with his representatives. He was going through his Tommy John surgery, or the rehab process going through spring. That really hasn’t changed.”

He touches the high 90s with his heater on the mound. He recovered from Tommy John surgery and returns to Columbia for fall camp in two weeks with two years of eligibility remaining. Drinkwitz said Horn is going year-to-year with his decision.

“We had discussed it, Sam had relayed the message, his agent had relayed the message to all the baseball organizations that he was going to play football this fall. So nothing’s changed,” he said.

The 565th pick in the draft informed teams through his agent he planned to stay in college. He has several options.

Players drafted have a deadline of 4 p.m. on July 28 to sign with an MLB organization. He can sign and still play baseball, or opt to pass on the deal with the Dodgers and re-enter the draft next season after playing another season of football and baseball with the Tigers.

–Field Level Media

Nov 24, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz celebrates after a defensive touchdown in the third quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Missouri won 48-14. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz receives contract extension

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz had his contract extended through the 2028 season with an increase in salary on Sunday, following a stellar season that was capped by a 14-3 victory over Ohio State in Friday night’s Cotton Bowl.

Financial figures weren’t disclosed but school officials indicated Drinkwitz’s raise will put him among the top coaching salaries in the Southeastern Conference. Drinkwitz guided the No. 9 Tigers to an 11-2 record and was named SEC Coach of the Year.

The 11-win season was the first for Missouri since 2014. Missouri went 6-2 in SEC play this season.

In November 2022, Drinkwitz had his contract extended through 2027 and his annual salary was increased from $4 million to $6 million.

“This contract puts Coach Drink where he belongs, in the upper echelon of SEC head coach salaries,” Robin Wenneker, Missouri’s board of curators chair, said in the news release. “To continue in championship style, keeping Coach Drink and his staff together was the No. 1 priority for the Board of Curators and its administration.”

Drinkwitz is 28-21 in four seasons at Missouri. This season marks his first winning campaign.

“You can’t do this alone, and our players, coaches and staff have worked tirelessly and believed in the process of building a championship program,” Drinkwitz said in the news release. “The passion of our fan base, alumni and donors is awesome, and we are proud to represent them. We are extremely grateful for the resources they provide and the continued investment from our administration in Mizzou football. All of it has allowed us to get to where we are.”

Missouri previously extended the contracts of defensive coordinator Blake Baker and offensive coordinator Kirby Moore.

–Field Level Media

Nov 12, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Eliah Drinkwitz reacts to an officials call during the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Five-star DE Williams Nwaneri chooses Missouri

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The No. 3 overall prospect in the Class of 2024 is staying in-state to play his college football, and that’s welcome news for Missouri.

Five-star defensive end Williams Nwaneri committed to the Tigers on Monday, choosing them over Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon and Tennessee.

The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder is considered the No. 1 defensive end and the No. 3 overall prospect by the 247Sports composite rankings. He hails from Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Nwaneri is the second five-star to commit to Missouri since Eliah Drinkwitz became head coach in December 2019. The first was wide receiver Luther Burden, who is now entering his sophomore season there.

Missouri now has 12 players committed for the Class of 2024. Per 247, only one of the previous 11 commits was a four-star.

–Field Level Media