Who will pose toughest test for Missouri football’s offense in 2025? Ranking all 12 defenses

Change is coming to the Missouri football offense.

With Brady Cook, Luther Burden III and Armand Membou among the eight starters moving on after the 2024 season, the Tigers have a lot to replace, and third-year offensive coordinator Kirby Moore has a lot to figure out come the fall.

Which team is going to put all that change to the test?

We took a shot at ranking each defense Missouri will face in the 2025 campaign. Here’s who we think will provide the sternest test for MU’s new-look offense:

12: Central Arkansas

When either Beau Pribula or Sam Horn make their first collegiate start Thursday, Aug. 28, they should be in for a breezy opener.

11: UMass

Missouri scored 45 points before the fourth quarter against the Minutemen on the road last season. Home-team points shouldn’t be a scarce commodity on homecoming in 2025.

10: Louisiana

Louisiana has just 41% of its defensive production from last season returning, and without a big transfer class coming in it’s easy to see the Ragin’ Cajuns taking a step back from their top-50-in-FBS mark last year.

9: Mississippi State

The Bulldogs allowed an abysmal 456.4 yards per game last season and are essentially building anew this year.

MSU’s defensive line looks deeper, with NC State edge rusher Red Hibbler and Coastal Carolina defensive tackle Will Whitson projecting as starters and offering the potential for the Bulldogs to at least have a hint of a pass rush.

But, elsewhere, seven players expected to start on MSU’s defense are returners. Unless there’s significant year-over-year improvement, it could be another rough year for the team in Starkville.

8: Kansas

The Jayhawks are 96th in the FBS for returning defensive production, with cornerbacks Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson the most significant losses. Kansas, otherwise, managed to avoid any significant losses to the transfer portal.

Linebackers Bangally Kamara (South Carolina) and Trey Lathan (West Virginia) are solid portal additions on the Jayhawks’ defensive front for new defensive play-caller D.K. McDonald.

The Jayhawks’ pass defense is the biggest concern. They already gave up 239.1 yards per game in 2024 before their best two players in the secondary left.

7: Vanderbilt

Sep 21, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook (12) runs the ball against Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Bryan Longwell (4) during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

For all the improvement Vanderbilt has made in recent seasons, defense has still been a recurring concern. Head coach Clark Lea has handed play-calling duties to assistant Steve Gregory, who takes over a defense that has 73% of its 2024 production — a top-10 mark in the FBS — returning in 2025.

The biggest losses are experienced safeties De’Rickey Wright and CJ Taylor, but FAU transfer CJ Heard is a good get to plug one of those spots. The ’Dores also have added a lot of depth along the defensive line.

The ceiling, realistically, can only be so high for Vanderbilt. But a lot of returners and some decent portal activity makes next season interesting in Nashville.

6: Arkansas

The Razorbacks lost a lot to the transfer portal, but most of the major outgoing transfers were on offense. Defensive end Landon Jackson appears to be the most influential loss on the defensive side.

Arkansas has added 13 players on defense out of the portal, but the Razorbacks have depth questions to answer along the defensive line and in the secondary after allowing the most passing yards per game in the SEC last season.

5: South Carolina

Aug 31, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks edge Dylan Stewart (6) celebrates after a sack against the Old Dominion Monarchs in the second quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

South Carolina had one of the best pass-rushing duos in the SEC last year, and it notably gets freshman star Dylan Stewart back from that group while Kyle Kennard heads to the NFL as a fourth-round pick.

The Gamecocks also lose safety Nick Emmanwori, linebacker Demetrius Knight and defensive tackles T.J. Sanders and Tonka Hemingway to the league, so it’s not far-fetched to think they might take a step back in 2025 after being the No. 16 total defense in the FBS last year.

USC has a good portal haul to lean on and there appears to be a solid crop of returners ready to replace the five NFL Draft picks, but it’s hard to imagine losing that many quality players won’t show up over the course of the season.

4: Texas A&M

The Aggies have to essentially rebuild their entire defensive line, with edge rushers Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart and defensive tackle Shemar Turner all off to the NFL.

But, Mike Elko-coached teams don’t typically have weak defensive fronts, and the Aggies have replenished in the portal up front with Iowa State’s Tyler Onyedim, Florida’s T.J. Searcy, Colorado’s Dayon Hayes and Georgia’s Sam M’pemba.

Texas A&M gets a lot of production back in the secondary. So, if the Aggies can bridge the gap on the line, it could be a strong unit.

3: Auburn

Oct 19, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Drew Pyne (6) throws a pass against Auburn Tigers defensive lineman Keldric Faulk (15) during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

The Tigers had a top-35 defense last season, which slipped a little under the radar as offensive struggles hurt their record. Auburn gets a lot of those key players back, and has added a lot of depth with nine defensive newcomers arriving via the portal.

Auburn has a lot of continuity on defense, with multiple standout freshmen returning with more experience. It also gets nickel safety Champ Anthony back after an injury caused him to miss most of 2024.

Up front, Auburn should be in a good spot with defensive end Keldric Faulk the marquee returner.

2: Oklahoma

The Sooners lost their top two defensive players, linebacker Danny Stutsman and safety Billy Bowman Jr., to the NFL, but they shouldn’t miss a beat on that side of the ball.

Linebacker Kendal Daniels (Oklahoma State) and edge rusher Marvin Jones Jr. (Florida State) are big-time additions up front. The Sooners were already strong in the secondary and that doesn’t look likely to change next season with a lot of returning pieces.

All eyes will be on the OU offense, as the defense doesn’t look like it will be much of a problem.

1: Alabama

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The Crimson Tide have a lot of major pieces moving on from their 2024 defense, most notbaly with linebacker Jihaad Campbell and safety Malachi Moore among the players heading to the NFL. Defensive lineman Damon Payne and safety Devonta Smith transferred to Michigan and Notre Dame, respectively.

But this is ’Bama, so depth isn’t exactly an issue for defensive coordinator Kane Wommack.

Deontae Lawson and Colorado transfer Nikhai Hill-Green could be among the best linebacker duos in the nation. Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb are tremendous next men up at safety. Alabama will be just fine on defense.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Ranking the best defenses Missouri football will face in 2025 season

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