Started By
Message
The worst SEC head coach extension this offseason
Posted on 5/6/26 at 10:49 am
Posted on 5/6/26 at 10:49 am
This slipped under the radar, but I was reading an article the other day that mentioned Eli Drinkwitz, who was already making $9M a year, received an extension that will pay him an average of $10.75M per season through 2031, capping out at above $11M per year. That puts him squarely in the top 10 of highest-paid CFB head coaches. If he wins 8 regular-season games, he will automatically receive a $200,000 raise and another year added, every year he does it.
This is coming off of a season where Mizzou went 8-5 overall, 4-4 in conference, and lost to every ranked team they faced. In 2024, they went 10-3 overall, 5-3 in conference, and lost to every ranked team they faced, other than #24 Boston College who finished 7-6. Drinkwitz received an extension and significant pay raise prior to the 2024 season.
Drinkwitz is entering his 7th season at Mizzou and has a 46-29 record overall. He is 1-11 vs top 10 teams and 6-19 vs ranked teams.
If Mizzou were to fire Drinkwitz, they would owe him 80% of his remaining contract.
Here's where Mizzou finished in each of the final AP poll rankings:
2020: UR
2021: UR
2022: UR
2023: #8
2024: #22
2025: UR
This is coming off of a season where Mizzou went 8-5 overall, 4-4 in conference, and lost to every ranked team they faced. In 2024, they went 10-3 overall, 5-3 in conference, and lost to every ranked team they faced, other than #24 Boston College who finished 7-6. Drinkwitz received an extension and significant pay raise prior to the 2024 season.
Drinkwitz is entering his 7th season at Mizzou and has a 46-29 record overall. He is 1-11 vs top 10 teams and 6-19 vs ranked teams.
If Mizzou were to fire Drinkwitz, they would owe him 80% of his remaining contract.
Here's where Mizzou finished in each of the final AP poll rankings:
2020: UR
2021: UR
2022: UR
2023: #8
2024: #22
2025: UR
5
Posted on 5/6/26 at 10:54 am to SidewalkTiger
Mizzou admin probably, "he was pretty good in '23 though"
Posted on 5/6/26 at 10:57 am to SidewalkTiger
I remember when there was talk about him possibly coming to LSU. 
Posted on 5/6/26 at 10:58 am to TigerLunatik
Yeah. That was one of the least exciting names being tossed around for sure.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 11:01 am to LSU Patrick
Missouri has basically accepted mediocrity. They must make enough money to not care.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 11:16 am to crimsoncoded94
That or they had Sexton putting feelers out there while his name was being discussed and he reported back they weren’t going to get many good looks so they stuck w what they got.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 11:28 am to SidewalkTiger
quote:
Mizzou were to fire Drinkwitz, they would owe him 80% of his remaining contract
It takes a special kind of coonass to broach the subject of buyouts(in this case a hypothetical) when you are on the hook for tens of millions of BK buyout cash. We don't spend our money like chromosomal Kardashians here in Missouri.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 11:49 am to TigerLunatik
quote:
I remember when there was talk about him possibly coming to LSU
That was just ShoeF fans when they swore they were getting Kiffin
Posted on 5/6/26 at 11:51 am to Faurot fodder
quote:
Faurot fodder
Mizzou is an afterthought in every single sport but that budget though!
Posted on 5/6/26 at 11:59 am to SidewalkTiger
Pocket change.
Plus he made some good assistant hires in the offseason.
This is just walking around money for us so don’t worry yourself too much.
Plus he made some good assistant hires in the offseason.
This is just walking around money for us so don’t worry yourself too much.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 12:00 pm to NFLSU
quote:
Mizzou is an afterthought
LSU isn't even a thought. It's a reality TV show, like Maury or Jerry.
You probably grew up on those shows, didn't ya?
Posted on 5/6/26 at 12:03 pm to Faurot fodder
quote:
It takes a special kind of coonass to broach the subject of buyouts(in this case a hypothetical) when you are on the hook for tens of millions of BK buyout cash. We don't spend our money like chromosomal Kardashians here in Missouri.
LSU fired BK for a .708 win percentage over 4 seasons.
Drinkwitz gets extended for a .613 win percentage over 6 seasons
Posted on 5/6/26 at 12:07 pm to SidewalkTiger
Drink has elevated Mizzou so I don’t think that was a bad extension. He’s basically Lane Kiffin lite. Just doesn’t have the charisma and isn’t as intelligent
Posted on 5/6/26 at 12:10 pm to SidewalkTiger
You, an LSU fan, started a thread about contracts and mentioned a possibility of dead money for Mizzou in the future.
Being self-aware is a good life quality, but not one you'll learn through reality TV.
Being self-aware is a good life quality, but not one you'll learn through reality TV.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 12:12 pm to Faurot fodder
quote:
You, an LSU fan, started a thread about contracts and mentioned a possibility of dead money for Mizzou in the future.
Being self-aware is a good life quality, but not one you'll learn through reality TV.
It would make sense than an LSU fan would be hyperfocused on overpaying for mediocre performance and the dead money possibilities, no?
Posted on 5/6/26 at 12:16 pm to SidewalkTiger
Maybe sidewalk, but with a bit of self-awareness you might have thought better of starting a thread trying to dog Mizzou for wasting money, when y'all are paying $50 million for BK to do a horrible job as an analyst.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 12:18 pm to Faurot fodder
quote:
You, an LSU fan, started a thread about contracts and mentioned a possibility of dead money for Mizzou in the future.
Being self-aware is a good life quality, but not one you'll learn through reality TV.
But at least we never gave him a dumb extension, I guess.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 12:21 pm to SidewalkTiger
When Mizzou finishes ahead of LSU this football season this will be one of those topics to revisit.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News