COLUMBIA, Mo. — Like a cinematic secret agent weaving through one of those mazes of booby-trapped red lasers, Missouri largely dodged the effects of one of college football’s more turbulent offseasons.
Sure, the Tigers lost their highly regarded defensive coordinator, but on the opposite side of the ball, they held on to one of the sport’s rapidly rising young coaches: offensive coordinator Kirby Moore.
His debut season made a considerable impression, not just in Columbia but in broader Southeastern Conference circles. Taking over playcalling duties and promptly leading a top 30 scoring offense to 11 wins and a Cotton Bowl victory will do that.