Mizzou Projected to Play Big 12 Opponent in Early Bowl Prediction

The Tigers are being penciled in as a bowl team for 2026 and have an early projected team to go along with it.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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According to On3, the Missouri Tigers are projected to play in the 2027 Birmingham Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. This would be the sixth straight season the Tigers make a bowl game, if it were to happen. Oklahoma State would be a fascinating matchup for the Tigers, as the Cowboys are coming off a historic low point that led to the firing of former head coach Mike Gundy.

Why it matters

The Tigers have made the concept of a bowl game a mainstay over the last few seasons, winning two of those five over the last five seasons. This early bowl projection indicates that Missouri is expected to continue its recent success and make another postseason appearance.

The details

The Tigers most recently lost to Virginia in the Gator Bowl in an ugly 13-7 fashion. The year before, however, was marked by a 27-24 win over Iowa in the Music City Bowl. Before that came a historic victory over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, winning 14-3. The Tigers have brought in some exciting new talent this offseason, including quarterback Austin Simmons and wide receiver Cayden Lee from Ole Miss, as well as linebacker Robert Woodyard Jr. from Auburn.

  • The Tigers are being penciled in as a bowl team for 2026.
  • The projected matchup is for the 2027 Birmingham Bowl.

The players

Mike Gundy

The former head coach of Oklahoma State who was fired, leading to the hiring of Eric Morris.

Eric Morris

The new head coach of Oklahoma State, who previously was the head coach at North Texas.

Austin Simmons

The quarterback transfer from Ole Miss who is joining the Missouri Tigers.

Cayden Lee

The wide receiver transfer from Ole Miss who is joining the Missouri Tigers.

Robert Woodyard Jr.

The linebacker transfer from Auburn who is joining the Missouri Tigers.

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What’s next

It's too early to tell if the Tigers will make a run in the postseason or not, but some of the talent they've brought in this offseason is intriguing.

The takeaway

The Tigers' consistent bowl game appearances over the last few seasons, coupled with their exciting new talent, suggest they are poised to continue their recent success and make another postseason appearance in 2026.