COLUMBIA, Mo. — It was a simple question that produced complex answers. Just minutes after another defeat for the Missouri football team, this time in the Gasparilla Bowl, third-year coach Eli Drinkwitz addressed the question.
Do you consider this a successful season?
His team finished 6-7 … 3-5 against Southeastern Conference teams … 3-7 against Power Five teams. The 10 Power Five teams the Tigers played outscored Mizzou by 80 points. The Tigers were 2-4 in games decided by a touchdown or less. They had two blowout losses by 28 and 42 points. They beat three bowl teams, including South Carolina and Arkansas, and played Georgia closer than anyone until Saturday's Peach Bowl.