Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz is dealing with a major shake-up ahead of the Gator Bowl matchup against Virginia. QB Sam Horn was already out for after a season-ending Week 1 injury. Now, star QB Beau Pribula has entered the transfer portal, leaving the Tigers suddenly without their top signal-caller. That sent Mizzou staff scrambling through the depth chart to find the next man up, and that’s where third-string QB Matt Zollers comes in.

“We are excited for Matt to be our QB of the Gator Bowl! He’s READY!! LFG!!” Eli Drinkwitz wrote on X.

Zollers stepped into the starting role after season-ending or indefinite injuries to both projected starter Sam Horn and Pribula. He made his first career start earlier this season against Texas A&M, doing so as a true freshman.

Projected starter Sam Horn suffered a fractured tibia in his right leg during the first play of the season against Central Arkansas. This required surgery, meaning he was out despite winning the QB1 status. That immediately bumped Matt Zollers up to the primary backup behind Beau Pribula. But after six games, disaster struck again.

During an Oct. 25 matchup against No. 10 Vanderbilt, Pribula suffered a severe ankle injury and was carted off in the third quarter. Thrown into the fire, Zollers held his own. He had joined Missouri early, enrolling in January 2025, and opened the season learning the ropes behind Horn and Penn State transfer Pribula.

Zollers completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown in relief, showing poise well beyond his years. Since then, Matt Zollers has appeared in six games and picked up his first win as a starter in a 49–27 victory over Mississippi State on Nov. 15. Now, he’s set to lead Missouri on one of the biggest stages yet. The 19-year-old has accumulated four touchdowns for 402 yards, along with one interception.

What went wrong with Beau Pribula?

At Penn State, Beau Pribula sat behind Drew Allar, who has already announced he’s returning for the 2025 season. Wanting a real shot to be a full-time starter and the engine of an offense, Pribula looked elsewhere and found that opportunity at Missouri. Eli Drinkwitz and offensive coordinator Kirby Moore sold him on a creative scheme and a clear path to compete for the starting job.

Before getting hurt, Pribula put up solid numbers. He threw for 1,941 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions across 10 games. But timing also played a big role in his decision to hit the portal. This year features just one transfer window, opening Jan. 2 after most bowl games wrap up. That’s why Pribula chose to jump in early, joining a crowded group of high-profile quarterbacks looking for new homes.

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Another major factor was Kirby Moore’s exit. Moore left Missouri to take his first head coaching job at Washington State, a big step up from his coordinator role. While his 2023 season at Mizzou was a huge success that ended with 11 wins, the offense took a noticeable step back in 2024 and 2025, especially through the air. Pribula felt that dip firsthand.

He briefly returned from injury late in the season against Oklahoma, but the offense never found its footing in a 17–6 loss. Pribula finished 20-of-36 for 231 yards and two interceptions, with much of that production coming while Missouri played from behind. In the end, the combination of timing, coaching changes, and stalled momentum made the portal the logical next move.