Eli Drinkwitz addresses Missouri's 2020 vacated loss to Tennessee

The NCAA recently came down on Tennessee following their various rule violations under former head coach Jeremy Pruitt, punishing the program with a hefty $8 million fine. The Volunteers were also forced to vacate all 11 of their wins from the 2019 and 2020 seasons, which includes a Week 2 win over Missouri in 2020.

This was Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz‘s first season at the helm for Mizzou, and at SEC Media Days, SEC Network host Paul Finebaum asked Drinkwitz if they get any credit for that loss against his squad that’s now been vacated.

“Man Paul I have tried all day not to say anything, but I appreciate you teeing me up on that,” Drinkwitz said. “All I’m gonna say is I’m not saying anything. I don’t know how that works.”

Drinkwitz has been fairly outspoken in the past about numerous issues in the college football landscape, including being particularly outspoken about name, image, and likeness at SEC Spring Meetings this year.

But at SEC Media Days, Coach Drinkwitz took a new, more conservative approach, even speaking about nearly every position group on his roster when he was at the podium to intentionally avoid answering more questions from the media.

But that didn’t stop Finebaum from continuing to poke the bear, as he told Drinkwitz that personally he would be bothered if he was saddled with a loss after a team had to get rid of their victory.

“All I’m gonna say is I called it last year on radio and got beat up for it,” Drinkwitz said.

Drinkwitz went on about how he’s looking to not take the spotlight away from his team this offseason off the field, adding that he’s already had his fair share of viral moments and wants to avoid bulletin board material and being a sideshow moving forward.

“But I do think that was a very interesting question and I don’t know how that works with teams vacating victories,” Drinkwitz said. “I don’t know how that works.”

Drinkwitz and the Tigers could definitely use the win against Tennessee from the vacated season, as Missouri has not beaten the Volunteers since Drew Lock led them to a blowout victory in 2018 at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee handed Missouri their worst loss of the season last year with a 66-24 victory, as the two teams will square off in Week 11 on November 11 in Columbia.