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SEC East preseason power rankings: Can Missouri football cause some chaos in 2021?

Dec 12, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Connor Bazelak (8) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Connor Bazelak (8) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 24, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Connor Bazelak (8) against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Connor Bazelak (8) against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3: Missouri Tigers

How good will the Missouri football team be in Eliah Drinkwitz’ second season in Columbia? The Tigers have some decent momentum from a fairly respectable season in 2020, but there’s a good chance that Missouri does not end up at No. 3 in the SEC East by the time the 2021 season comes to a close.

That said, the Tigers do have a decent starting quarterback in Connor Bazelak, who showed flashes of promise a season ago, and a solid defensive star in Trajan Jeffcoat, who could be one of the best pass rushers in the SEC East this season.

If this season is going to be a successful one, the Missouri football team has to get off to a hot start. That means finding a way to get a couple wins on the road against Kentucky and Boston College.

If the Tigers can start 3-1 or 4-0, this season has a lot of potential to be fun for Missouri football fans. Of course, if the Missouri football team starts 2021 at 2-2, then the Tigers will have little momentum as they enter a fairly difficult stretch of their schedule.

Mizzou currently is ranked at No. 49 in ESPN’s FPI and the Tigers are No. 58 in Connelly’s SP+ preseason rankings. Neither of those rankings are particularly great, but the Tigers will have chances to prove itself this year.