ATLANTA (Oct. 5, 2026) - Officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. today announced that Missouri head football coach Eli Drinkwitz has been selected as The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week.
 
The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week award honors a football coach who led his team to a significant victory during the previous week, while also embodying the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity.
 
Eli Drinkwitz and No. 25 Missouri scored 35 consecutive points on their way to a dominant 45-17 Homecoming victory over No. 8 Florida Saturday at Faurot Field. Mizzou's 28-point advantage was its largest ever against a top-10 team, surpassing the previous mark of 21 in a 46-25 victory at No. 8 Southern California in 1976.
 
Senior running back Jamal Roberts carried the ball 24 times for career highs of 211 yards and three touchdowns, including a career-long 80-yard touchdown to stretch the Mizzou lead to five scores. The Tigers saw continued production from transfer quarterback Austin Simmons, who lit up the Gator defense for 340 yards and a pair of first half touchdown passes. On defense, Missouri was able to bottle up a Florida offense that had scored 52 points against No. 4 Ole Miss just a week prior. Nicholas Rodriguez led the way for the Tigers with 11 total tackles, while Kensley Louidor-Faustin contributed three and a half sacks on the day. 
 
Saturday's win marked the 50th victory for Drinkwitz during his time at Missouri, making him just the fourth head coach in program history to reach that benchmark. He has now recorded eight victories over ranked opponents during his tenure, with the win over No. 8 Florida representing his highest ranked victory as a head coach.
 
"This weekend's game served as a significant benchmark for Coach Drinwkitz, his program and the University of Missouri," said Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation Jim Terry. "The Tigers have made significant strides in recent years, and we can't wait to see where Coach Drinkwitz takes the program next."
 
Off the football field, Mizzou football players have had success in the classroom under Drinkwitz, recording a 970 Academic Progress Rate and an 80 Graduation Success Rate during the 2024 season. The Graduation Success Rate measures the number of student-athletes who graduate from their school within six years of entering.
 
In the community, Drinkwitz and his players have participated in a number of service projects, including working with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for those in need.
 
"Each week is a new challenge in the SEC, and this week that challenge for Missouri was a clash with one of the nation's hottest teams," said Peach Bowl, Inc. President and CEO David Epps. "Coach Drinkwitz and his squad looked more than ready for the spotlight and proved why they deserve this recognition after such an impressive win."
 
Managed by Peach Bowl, Inc., The Dodd Trophy, college football's most coveted national coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's coaching philosophy. The award was established to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field.
 
A panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2026 season. The winner of the 2026 Dodd Trophy will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.