Missouri officially closed its 2025 season with a Dec. 27 Gator Bowl loss to Virginia, falling 13-7 to end with an 8-5 record. 

There was nearly a month gap between the Gator Bowl and Missouri's final regular-season game, leaving the Tigers to have cluttered focus spread between both offseason tasks and preparation for the game. Offensive coordinator Kirby Moore left for a head coaching gig and brought four staff members with him — eight Tigers also announced intentions to enter the transfer portal since the Arkansas game. 

The portal officially opens Jan. 2, meaning a floodgate of announcements and commitments will break loose. Missouri will certainly play its respective part in it, as it will need to rebuild the now-departed parts of the roster which led to eight wins in 2025. 

Here's which positions the Tigers should prioritize. 

While freshman Matt Zollers had his fun moments in the 2025 season, it's clear he's not ready to be a full-time starter of a quality offense yet. He threw for just 101 yards — most of which came in the final 1:11 of play — while completing 12 of his 22 passes and throwing an interception. After Zollers hit his head on the ground hard, the final play of the game actually was put in the hands of walk-on Brett Brown, who hadn't attempted a pass all season. As expected, it ended in a loss. 

Missouri's quarterback play — whether it be Zollers or former start Beau Pribula — wasn't good enough to function against quality Power Four opponents in 2025. Sam Horn likely isn't a real option either, as he has an MLB contract from the Los Angeles Dodgers awaiting him. 

To get a real upgrade at the position, Missouri will need to target an experienced, win-now ready quarterback in the portal. 

While Zollers played poorly in the Gator Bowl, it's important to take into account who he was throwing to. His top wide receiver, Kevin Coleman Jr., was battling an illness throughout the game. He won't be with the team next season, as he exhausted his eligibility and will now turn pro. Fellow starters Josh Manning and Marquis Johnson hit the transfer portal, leaving the Tigers without three of their four top wideouts. 

For a competent passing attack, Missouri will need to add starting-caliber pass-catchers in the portal to support whoever is taking snaps under center. 

Keagen Trost, the nation's highest-graded offensive linemen, per PFF, exhausted his final season of eligibility too. He was crucial in the Tigers' dominant run game, and helped protect Zollers and Pribula in the pocket. Cayden Green, the starting left tackle, will likely either turn pro, or shift back inside to guard. Even if he remains at left tackle, there's still a gaping whole at right tackle. 

It shouldn't be hard to recruit a quality player to replace Trost, given Missouri's recent success of sending tackles to the NFL — Marcus Bryant, Armand Membou and soon Trost. Nonetheless, Missouri will need to address the issue in the portal.