Missouri's defense was inarguably the better half of the team this season. The unit, helmed by a plethora of future NFL players, allowed the 10th-least yards per game in all of FBS in 2025 at 279.2 — the best mark in the Southeastern Conference. 

Breaking it down further, Missouri allowed the 16th-least passing yards per game in the nation at 180.4 — the second-best mark in the SEC — and the 10th-least rushing yards per game — the fourth-best mark in the conference. 

But many of the stars who built the defense won't be with the program next season. Starters Zion Young, Chris McClellan, Toriano Pride, Daylan Carnell and plenty more exhausted their final seasons of eligibility, meaning the Gator Bowl will be their last game in a Missouri uniform. Breakout stars Josiah Trotter and Damon Wilson II have a chance to enter the 2026 NFL Draft, and may also not don Tiger uniforms after this season. 

Given the status of soon-to-be departed players, Missouri could also use the opportunity to evaluate who might be ready for bigger roles in 2026. Here's which players to watch for that being the case. 

 The redshirt junior solidified himself as the top backup at the position this season, making the most of his limited opportunities, tallying 14 tackles and four sacks on the season, both of which ranked third-highest among Missouri's edges. 

There's a high chance Smith is one of Missouri's two starting defensive ends for the 2026 season, as he played the third-most snaps at the position this season. However, Young exhausted his final season of eligibility, and the aforementioned Wilson could be eyeing the draft. If both leave, Smith's chances of being a starter skyrocket. 

Both Wilson and Young will be playing in the Gator Bowl, but Smith could see an increased workload, just for Missouri to evaluate his readiness for an increased 2026 role. 

Beasley was also among his respective groups top reserve, ranking fifth on the team in snaps played at the linebacker spot. The true sophomore played all 12 games, logging 16 tackles, along with a forced fumble against Central Arkansas in Week 1. 

Beasley will see an elevated role in the Gator Bowl, as Trotter will be sitting with an injury. He'll still have Nick Rodriguez, Triston Newson and Khalil Jacobs ahead of him on the depth chart, but Beasley has the opportunity to take some snaps for himself. 

Should he make the most of those, Beasley could make his case for a starting linebacker job next season alongside Trotter and Rodriguez — or in place of Trotter, should the All-SEC linebacker depart. 

Each of Missouri's top three boundary corners — Pride, Dreyden Norwood and Stephen Hall — along with the top slot corner in Carnell, exhausted their final season of eligibility in 2025. The Gator Bowl will be their last game suiting up for the Tigers, leaving a young and inexperienced returning group to take their place in 2026. 

Keys headlines the group, as he played the most snaps at cornerback aside from the seniors above. He finished the season with a 73.1 defense grade and a 73 coverage grade, each of which ranked third-highest among Missouri's corners. 

Similar to Smith and Beasley, he still won't be a starter in the Gator Bowl, but if defensive coordinator Corey Batoon wants to give any of his young defensive backs a chance for an increased role, Keys would make the most sense.