COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri's quarterback room has been a revolving door of faces in the 2025 season. 

The Tigers entered the closed their 2024 season by saying goodbye to longtime starting quarterback Brady Cook, who'd been at the helm of Missouri's offense for over two full seasons. The future of Missouri's quarterback room was unclear, as multiple faces stepped up as contenders to replace him. 

Sam Horn, a now redshirt junior who'd spent the last year recovering from Tommy John surgery in football season, and pitching from the diamond during baseball season, was the lone scholarship returner in the quarterback room. He'd completed three of his eight career passes for 54 yards, one touchdown and one interception over three years at Missouri. 

He was limited in action with the team, and fans had only received glimpses of Horn, rather than the full experience. However, he was one of Missouri's highest-ranked quarterback commits in program history – a four-star quarterback, ranked as the No. 15 quarterback in the nation.

Beau Pribula, a graduate transfer from Penn State, was reportedly paid a hefty sum of $1.5 million to join Missouri and contend for the starting job. He'd spent three seasons with Penn State, but never started a game, instead playing in situational drives, tallying 995 total yards and 23 total touchdowns across two seasons of playing time. 

Pribula was largely expected to win the starting job, but head coach Eliah Drinkwitz announced the plan to have a quarterback battle between Pribula and Horn throughout training camp. The pair couldn't separate themselves from the other in the weeks before the season opener, leading Drinkwitz to announce both would take snaps under center in Week 1. 

Fast forward to Week 11, and neither are Missouri's starter heading into the Tigers' matchup against Texas A&M. 

How'd we get here? 

Pribula was set to play the first half of the season opener against Central Arkansas, while Horn was due for the second half. However, on the second drive of the game, Horn was sent to the gridiron for a play call much earlier than expected. He took the snap from center Connor Tollison, and darted upfield before being brought down by two defenders, and fracturing his tibia in the process. 

Horn was ruled out for the remainder of the season, leaving Pribula as the winner of the battle that never really started.

"You hurt for a young man, because last year was taken away from him from a different reasoning," Drinkwitz said. "And now this year he's going to have to face another injury." 

The team trekked on, however, with Pribula leading the reigns as the starting quarterback. He'd go on to start the next seven games for the Tigers, racking up 1,905 total yards and 16 total touchdowns. However, disaster would soon strike for Pribula too, as he'd suffer the same fate Horn did. 

While plunging toward the goal line on a fourth down rush, Pribula was wrangled to the ground by two Vanderbilt defenders, and suffered a serious ankle injury in the process. 

True freshman Matt Zollers entered and finished the game. He's likely to start the remainder of Missouri's season. 

Horn and Pribula won't be donning Missouri helmets in 2025, but that doesn't they don't have roles to play. 

Both were elected team captains for a reason, and have leading roles to uphold despite losing spots on the field. 

"My challenge for them is to lead when you're not the (starting) quarterback," Drinkwitz said over the offseason in regards to their battle for the starting job. "Don't be in the back just watching the plays, go lead. Go be on the sideline. Go provide energy, because that's really the next step. It's who really rallies the team."

Specifically, they can help Zollers, a true freshman with only a couple games and zero starts under is belt. He's ready to step up into the starting role, but having a solid support system around him will only help.

“I think it's having guys like Beau around him, guys like Sam horn," team captain Jalen Catalon said. "Unfortunately, they weren't able to, contribute this season because their injuries and stuff, but they're still doing a great job to lead him, and he's taking the coaching from them."

Pribula has remained a vocal leader despite the hardship he's faced. Team captain and center Connor Tollison said Pribula gave an important message to the team Oct. 28. 

"He had a good message a few weeks ago just after he got hurt," Tollison said. "About the opportunity we had, it's gonna be a big opportunity for us. Everything's still in front of us, everything we've been working for all year so don't let this slip away, and do everything we can to seize the opportunity.”

Zollers and the Tigers will host Texas A&M Saturday for arguably their biggest challenge of the season yet, and Horn and Pribula will be supporting from the sideline.