The problem with Mizzou is quite simply Missouri

Mizzou never has been a forward thinking school.

In the 60s and 70s, schools like Nebraska, Alabama, Oklahoma, Michigan, Notre Dame, etc. were forward thinking institutions who anticipated the future importance of a strong football program in relation to university success. These schools began preparing for the future back in the 60s while Mizzou failed to see the future, and in fact took a major step backward in the 1980s when Mizzou leadership abandoned the football program to focus strictly on education during a crucial time in college sports.

Mizzou is WAY behind. Pinkel helped Mizzou refocus and inject energy into a once dead program, but Mizzou is still a long way behind the blue blood programs.

At this time, Mizzou is in fact nothing more than a stepping stone program. Gary Pinkel didn't use Mizzou as a stepping stone, but then again coaches like Gary Pinkel who stay at a program for life are extremely rare. Younger coaches are motivated by money and job and program prestige more than creating a legacy at a Midwestern school.

Mizzou got lucky with the SEC invite. No question. If Mizzou didn't get that invite, Mizzou would still be a minor player in a weak Big 12. And quite honestly, if the Big 12 dissolved, Mizzou would've been one of the first schools left out of a power 5 conference.

That's literally who Mizzou is: A school lucky to be in the SEC who was a mere Big 12 crisis away from begging the Big East or the Mountain West for membership.

It is what it is.

Perhaps this is Mizzou's moment to be a forward thinking school and make decisions that setup Mizzou for future success. This will be the most important hire in Mizzou's football history.

Regardless, Mizzou is about 40 years behind the blue blood programs. Unfortunately, Mizzou isn't likely to narrow that gap anytime soon.

It will take decades of smart decisions.


ETA:


The college landscape has changed. Recruits are shifting their focus south and to the coasts. The Midwest is dying and so is the Big 10 (Rust Belt).

Those regions are literally dying in terms of population decline. Sure, Ohio State won the natty last year because they have a legit star coach...but that's what it now takes.

The Big 10 and the Big 12 aren't nearly as strong as they were in the past. The reason is because no one wants to play in the Midwest or the cold north, with exception to recruits who want to play for Michigan or Ohio State.