CFB insider picks Missouri Tigers as one of the top playoff contenders in 2024 season due to easy schedule
The Missouri Tigers are coming off a strong 2023 season. For the first time in nearly 10 years, the Tigers had an 11-win season, their first winning season since 2018.
The rapid improvement from Eli Drinkwitz's side last season culminated in a 14-3 victory over an Ohio State Buckeyes team that massively struggled. This improvement has led to many people predicting a lot of success for the Missouri Tigers in the 2024 season. One of them is college football analyst Pete Thamel.
Thamel appeared on the latest edition of "College GameDay Podcast," predicting that the Tigers could make a run for the playoffs this season.
"I think part of the case for Missouri being a playoff contender is built through their schedule, which features a lot of the state of Massachusetts.
"Their Power Five, non-conference home game is Boston College. They open with Murray State. Then, they have Buffalo in Columbia; they have Boston College in Columbia. Then they have Vanderbilt in Columbia. They'll go to College Station on October 5th. Now, we'll know a lot more about Texas A&M by then, right? That will be a very difficult game. "
A team's schedule can make or break its season. In college football, the importance of who plays who is empathized not only due to the large gulf between some programs but also the national rankings that include every program, not only those in your conference.
Missouri's schedule this year features the usual collection of SEC teams (Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, etc.) alongside one of the conference's new arrivals, the Oklahoma Sooners.
The best way for the Tigers to make their case for a spot in the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoffs is to beat their fellow SEC teams. Beating some of the best teams in the country will keep them in the national conversation.
These must-win games begin with the Texas A&M Aggies in early October. This will be, as Thamel has described it, a "very difficult game." If Missouri were to defeat the Aggies, its season gets easier, and a place in the CFP may be assured if it does not make any mistakes on its way.
Interestingly, much of its non-conference opponents come from the state of Massachusetts. These games will precede the game with Texas A&M. While the results of these games will have no direct effect on the SEC race, a minor slip-up against a weaker side could mean that the Missouri Tigers' season may be over before it has even begun.
Which key players will be returning to help the Missouri Tigers?
Many players who were key in the 2023 season are returning to the Tigers this year. One of them is quarterback Brady Cook.
After a generally impressive 2022 season, there were fears that Cook would struggle in 2023. Instead, he thrived and was one of the main reasons Missouri was successful. Cook threw for 3,314 years and 21 touchdowns and is likely to improve on these numbers in his senior year.
Another returning player is wide receiver Luther Burden III. During his sophomore season, he recorded 1,212 yards and scored nine touchdowns. With an in-form Brady Cook, Burden will form a partnership that will be Missouri's main weapon.
On defense, defensive end Johnny Walker Jr. should be set for a strong 2024. He had a good start to the season, recording four sacks in his first seven games, but this form soon slowed down. Walker Jr. had a good performance in the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State, and fans are hoping that he can bring this into the new season.