Missouri

The Tigers went all-in on the transfer portal, and the results are electric. Ahmad Hardy returns as the centerpiece of an offense that added serious firepower, headlined by Ole Miss transfer Cayden Lee at receiver and quarterback Austin Simmons. New offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey inherits a unit that grades out 38th nationally at +2.5 points, but the roster churn runs deep — Missouri lost quarterback Beau Pribula and key receivers Marquis Johnson and Joshua Manning, creating uncertainty at the sport's most critical positions. The defense remains the foundation, ranking 14th nationally at +7.3 points, though significant departures from the front seven and secondary create structural fragility that could undermine what made this team successful.

JP+ projects 6.2 wins for Missouri, which feels conservative given the talent influx but reflects the ecosystem instability created by widespread roster turnover. The Tigers face a brutal SEC slate with road trips to Georgia and Ole Miss plus a home date with Texas, making margin for error thin despite the defensive strength that carried them to eight wins last season. If the new signal-caller and Hardy develop immediate chemistry with Lee and the revamped receiving corps, this team has the explosive potential to surprise the league. If the defensive continuity issues prove costly and the offensive transitions struggle, Missouri could find itself fighting just to reach bowl eligibility despite all the portal investment.