Eli Drinkwitz Drops Big SEC Statement After Shredding National Media to Bits

The House v. NCAA settlement has finally flipped the switch on roster limits. But while most leagues jumped to 105 scholarships, the SEC stayed put. And to top it off, the conference is bracing for its next shake-up: a nine-game schedule. That means no more easing into the year with September “cupcake” games. Instead, the grind starts early and never lets up. So for Missouri, that grind includes annual battles with Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. But the road trips? Straight into the heart of the SEC’s heavyweights. And the familiar cushion of Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and South Carolina is gone. What’s left is a league that’s bigger and tougher, with a new schedule but the same old roster limit. That’s why Mizzou’s Eli Drinkwitz criticized the SEC’s roster decision.

On his September 24 appearance on the Paul Finebaum Show, Mizzou’s Eli Drinkwitz didn’t hold back. He called it ‘disappointing’ that the SEC chose not to max out its roster limit under the settlement, while other conferences jumped ahead. Here’s why. “This year and last year, we had two bye weeks,” said Drinkwitz. “Next year, you’re back to a one-bye week schedule. We have nine SEC games.” But the roster limits? “We are only at an 85-scholarship limit, while other conferences went up to 105,” added Eli. Now, as the SEC faces tougher competition without extra players to work with, Drinkwitz didn’t mince words about the bigger picture.

“The SEC is doing some really good things, but we all have to get on the same page about competitive equity. About what we’re doing to get ourselves a competitive advantage. We can’t stay behind the eight ball.” And reflecting on the decision, he remarked, “I think it was a disappointing choice to stay at 85 scholarships, while the Big 10, Big 12, and ACC have the ability to have 105 scholarships. That’s a real disadvantage.” But Eli Drinkwitz wasn’t alone; Alabama AD Greg Byrne raised the same concerns last month on the Hey Coach radio show. But what could be the reason behind such a decision?

When asked why the SEC stayed at 85 players, Drinkwitz pointed to one key issue: the coaches weren’t in the room. “I’ll be honest, there are a lot of times where head coaches aren’t allowed into those meetings,” he said. “Those are high-level meetings. They don’t necessarily want our opinion, you know.” Then he acknowledged there might be reasons behind the decision. “I’m sure there’s probably holistic reasoning for it,” stated Drinkwitz. But from a football perspective, he wasn’t convinced.

“If it’s just decisions made strictly about football and about the competitive excellence that the SEC needs to have, I’m not sure it’s the right decision,” according to the Missouri HC. But what about that nine-game schedule? When Finebaum asked whether Drinkwitz’s group had a say, he didn’t hold back, saying they had been updated and understood where the SEC was headed. But he noted that there was a lot at play, including playoffs and revenue, so he emphasized that there has to be give and take. And the reason? Drinkwitz stressed that as coaches, they need the SEC’s backing to move ahead. But while sticking to his stance on roster limits, Mizzou’s HC fires back at the media over the Heisman spotlight on QBs.

Eli Drinkwitz weighs in on the Heisman coverage

Missouri’s Heisman spotlight isn’t on QB Beau Pribula; it’s on RB Ahmad Hardy. The sophomore has quietly built an impressive campaign while catching the attention of his coach. That’s why Eli Drinkwitz blasted the national media for focusing too heavily on QBs. “Nobody wins the Heisman in September. Once you get into October and November, sustained excellence will show who the best player really is,” he said. But what gives Hardy the edge?

Ahmad Hardy has been a force this season, already leading the Power Four with 600 rushing yards and six TDs. On top of that, his breakout performance came in Missouri’s dominant 52-10 win over Louisiana, where he tore through the defense for 250 yards on just 22 carries, proving he can take over a game in a flash. Following that, Hardy admitted the game was personal, stating, “Last season they beat us by 14 points. I wanted to beat them, and the guys came with it, so that’s what happened.” And now, analysts are beginning to take notice.

Former Heisman winner Tim Tebow praised Hardy’s talent, saying, “Maybe one of the best players in the country that nobody is talking about is Ahmad Hardy. This dude is a freak…he’s running 19.5 miles per hour. It’s a joke. He’s one of the best players in the country.” Now with performances like that, Hardy is proving he deserves attention beyond the QB spotlight.