Everything Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz said ahead of South Carolina-Missouri

South Carolina hasn’t beaten Missouri since 2018, and the Gamecocks are winless against Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz. This weekend, though, USC is a 12.5-point favorite ahead of the 2024 edition of the Mayor’s Cup.

Both Missouri and South Carolina are clinging to long-shot College Football Playoff odds. The 7-2 Tigers and 6-3 Gamecocks are eliminated with another loss but, with a lot of help, could sneak into the 12-team field by winning out the rest of the way.

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Here’s everything Drinkwitz had to say ahead of his team’s matchup with the Gamecocks during his Tuesday media availability:

On Missouri starting center Connor Tollison’s season-ending injury

“Very tough news for us as a program and as a team. Connor was Mr. Consistent — as good of a center as we’ve had here…Yeah, there’s a chemistry aspect of offense that’s disrupted when you know you’ve got the center and the quarterback that are going to be new, but I think everybody’s got to do their job, have each other’s backs and know that there’s going to be some issues that we’ve got to work through and not get too high or too low about them.”

On South Carolina’s recent success and Williams-Brice Stadium

“We’ve got a really tough opponent this week, a ranked South Carolina team. Coach Beamer has done an absolutely fabulous job this year. They’re playing their best football right now. They’re peaking at the right time…going to be a very difficult test. Obviously, one of the most difficult places to play in the SEC. Williams-Brice Stadium is extremely loud. Their fans are extremely noisy. It’s a really, really tough environment to be in. So, we’ve got our hands full.”

On the Gamecock offense

“Dowell Loggains, their offensive coordinator, has done an outstanding job of playing to the strengths of his offense. Their quarterback, LaNorris Sellers is a redshirt freshman who is playing his best ball. He gets better every week. Raheim Sanders—Rocket Sanders—who transferred from Arkansas has been one of the best backs in this league for a long time. He’s a bigger, physical back and a very difficult challenge for us. And they have just a really, really good tight end. Joshua Simon, I think, is a really good player.”

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On the South Carolina defense

“On the defensive side of the ball, Clayton White…he does a really, really good job. They’re very multiple on their defensive front. They have two elite defensive ends. But I think their internal players…make it very difficult. They exchange gaps, they play downhill, they’re really, really stout vs. the run. Their will linebacker Debo Williams is a really good player. Obviously, they’ve got the two safeties who are both NFL players…

“I talked to an NFL scout a couple of weeks ago, and he said that South Carolina has as many NFL defensive prospects as any other team in the SEC. So, from a talent standpoint, Coach Beamer has done an excellent job of raising the talent level and developing the talent level right there on that team.”

On his team’s quarterback situation/Brady Cook’s injury

“We have a lot of confidence in Drew [Pyne], and whoever gives us the best opportunity to win is who we’re going to play. And we won’t know anything on Brady until later in the week, but I would anticipate Drew’s—we’ll prepare for Drew to be the starter.”

On what areas Drew Pyne has improved the most

 “I think it’s pocket presence. I think it’s harder to replicate live rush as much as anything in college football because we’re trying to be so protective of the quarterback in practice. You don’t want anybody around his arm or hand. So, for him to be able to see and develop, push up in the pocket vertically, I thought in the game was really a big difference. And then the timing of the throws, everything happens just a little bit quicker in the game. I thought as he settled into the game, he was able to make some throws with more time…we blew a couple of pressure pickups at the running back position and Drew was able to make it right just by understanding where his outlets were and knowing the concepts. And I think that’s just going to be a little bit easier and easier each week…”

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On the importance of blocking well against a good Gamecock defensive front

“Well, that’s going to be a challenge. There’s not really been anybody who’s been able to keep it clean. Obviously, breaking in a new center, too…for us, being able to find a rhythm running the football better than we were in the first half last week.”

On playing against a mobile quarterback like LaNorris Sellers

“You know, I think that’s a growing trend in college football. It’s a little easier to get your offense going with a mobile quarterback…it’s a challenge because it’s hard to defend the box…South Carolina has some really elite wide receivers…It will be a challenge to try to defend what they bring. The biggest thing is, in the pass game, when you get to him, he’s really hard to tackle because he’s about 240 pounds. Arm tackles aren’t going to get it done. You’ve got to bring a hard shoulder attack to get him to the ground.”

On giving up a fake punt against Oklahoma ahead of playing Shane Beamer’s South Carolina squad

“It wasn’t good…We were in safe punt and gave up a fake punt. So, that’s really disappointing…Special teams are always a hallmark of a Coach Beamer team. So, they will be really good in that phase, too.”

On Gamecock safety Nick Emmanwori

“We’ve played him three years…no, this will be our third year playing him…we kind of have a good feel for where that matchup is. He’s a really good player.”

***Drinkwitz spoke on a few more issues, but those questions and answers weren’t as relevant to this weekend’s matchup.

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