“Mizzou’s Eliah Drinkwitz Earns Spot on Prestigious 2025 Dodd Trophy Watch List — Honoring Excellence in Leadership, Integrity, and On-Field Success”
Eliah Drinkwitz’s evolution as head coach of the Missouri Tigers has reached a new milestone, as he was recently named to the 2025 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List—an honor reserved for college football’s most impactful leaders. The announcement, made by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation in partnership with Peach Bowl, Inc., sends a powerful message not only about Missouri’s rise in the national football landscape but also about Drinkwitz’s embodiment of the values that define the Dodd Trophy: scholarship, leadership, and integrity. For Drinkwitz, this recognition is not merely about his team’s success on the field—it’s a reflection of his holistic approach to building a program that inspires excellence in all facets of collegiate athletics.
Since taking over at Missouri, Eliah Drinkwitz has been tasked with reviving a program with deep SEC roots and a passionate fanbase hungry for a return to prominence. The job wasn’t just about wins and losses—it was about reestablishing identity, building culture, and earning respect across the fiercely competitive Southeastern Conference. Now, entering another pivotal year in Columbia, his selection to the Dodd Trophy Watch List serves as both a validation of his methods and a challenge to sustain the progress that has placed the Tigers back in the national conversation.
What sets the Dodd Trophy apart from other coaching awards is its emphasis on values that transcend the game itself. Named after the legendary Bobby Dodd, the longtime Georgia Tech coach known for his integrity, academic emphasis, and on-field brilliance, the award seeks to honor those who uphold the highest standards of the sport. With PNC Bank as the presenting sponsor, the award is managed by Peach Bowl, Inc., which ensures that the legacy of Bobby Dodd continues to be a guiding light for what coaching in college football can and should look like. Eliah Drinkwitz’s inclusion in this year’s preseason watch list underscores his commitment to building not just a competitive team, but a program of character.
Drinkwitz’s journey to this point has been marked by a relentless drive to improve and a willingness to adapt. His coaching philosophy has always emphasized preparation, adaptability, and communication—tools that have helped him navigate the ever-shifting terrain of college football. But beyond the X’s and O’s, he has consistently prioritized his players’ growth as students, athletes, and young men. His efforts to maintain strong academic standards, foster leadership opportunities, and instill a sense of responsibility in his team have drawn praise from colleagues and administrators alike.
On the field, the results are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Under Drinkwitz’s leadership, Missouri has steadily climbed the SEC ladder, knocking off top-tier opponents and positioning itself as a program on the rise. Each season has shown flashes of the type of sustained excellence that the Tigers hope to achieve. From innovative play-calling to passionate sideline energy, Drinkwitz has made it clear that Missouri football will not settle for mediocrity. The 2024 campaign, in particular, marked a breakthrough as the Tigers posted a strong win-loss record and earned critical victories that vaulted them into postseason relevance. His ability to balance the demands of SEC competition with the broader responsibilities of leadership has made him a standout among his peers.
But the story of Drinkwitz’s candidacy for the Dodd Trophy extends beyond football Saturdays. The criteria for the award place heavy emphasis on academics and community engagement—areas where Drinkwitz has also left a meaningful imprint. His players regularly participate in community service initiatives, from local charity events to youth outreach programs that use football as a platform for mentorship and inspiration. Inside the program, academic performance is non-negotiable. Missouri has boasted improved graduation rates, increased team GPAs, and a culture that supports players beyond their athletic ambitions. Drinkwitz’s message has always been clear: success on the field must be matched by excellence in the classroom and in the community.
This balanced approach is part of why the Dodd Trophy holds such esteem in college athletics. It’s not awarded simply to the coach with the best record or the flashiest offense. It’s about the complete picture—the coach who builds young men, maintains high moral standards, and leads with purpose. In naming Drinkwitz to the preseason watch list, the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation is recognizing the totality of his contributions. While the midseason watch list will bring updates based on performance and further evaluation, this initial nod already places Drinkwitz in elite company.
The timing of this recognition is especially significant. With the 2025 season approaching, expectations are higher than ever for Missouri. The Tigers have assembled a talented roster filled with experienced returners and exciting new additions. The coaching staff, galvanized by Drinkwitz’s leadership, is focused on taking the next step—from being a respectable SEC program to becoming a consistent contender. The preseason Dodd Trophy Watch List inclusion sets the tone for a campaign where every move will be scrutinized, every game will matter, and every decision will reflect the standards Missouri is striving to uphold.
Moreover, the prestige of the Dodd Trophy itself adds weight to the occasion. Unlike other coaching honors that are awarded in December or January, the Dodd Trophy winner is announced during the week of the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta. This timing underscores the connection between postseason achievement and holistic program values. To be even considered for such an award is to be placed among the most respected minds in the sport, those who not only win but win the right way.
Drinkwitz joins 25 other coaches on the watch list, a group that includes national title winners, rising stars, and program-builders alike. Being part of this elite cohort is an honor in itself, but it also sets the stage for the competition ahead. Every game, every interview, every action throughout the season will either reinforce or challenge his candidacy. Drinkwitz has already shown that he welcomes such challenges, using them as motivation to elevate both himself and his program. His presence on the Dodd Trophy Watch List is a testament to the progress Missouri has made—but it’s also a signal that more is expected, and more is possible.
What makes Drinkwitz’s trajectory especially compelling is how he has stayed true to his core values even as the spotlight has grown brighter. In an era of college football where NIL deals, transfer portal chaos, and coaching turnover dominate headlines, he has kept his focus on foundational principles. He’s adapted to the new landscape without compromising what he believes in. That resilience has not only stabilized Missouri’s program but has turned it into a destination for recruits, transfers, and coaches who want to be part of something meaningful.
The path forward will not be easy. The SEC remains college football’s most grueling gauntlet, filled with powerhouse programs and championship ambitions. Every week brings another challenge, another test of character and preparation. For Drinkwitz and the Tigers, the goal is to build on what’s already been achieved—to turn respect into relevance, and relevance into championship contention. Being named to the Dodd Trophy Watch List is a step in that direction, a recognition that the blueprint Drinkwitz has drawn is working.
Fans in Columbia and across the SEC should take pride in this moment. The Dodd Trophy is not about flash; it’s about substance. It’s about character. And it’s about leading young athletes to a better future. That’s what Eliah Drinkwitz has committed himself to at Missouri. He’s not just recruiting players—he’s developing leaders. He’s not just winning games—he’s building a legacy. And now, with his name on the Dodd Trophy Watch List, that legacy is being recognized on a national level.
As the 2025 season kicks off, eyes will be on Missouri like never before. Every play will matter. Every decision will carry weight. And every step taken by Eliah Drinkwitz and his team will be measured against the high bar set by coaches of integrity, vision, and impact. Whether or not he ultimately takes home the Dodd Trophy, his place among the nominees already tells a powerful story: Missouri is rising, and its leader is one of college football’s best examples of what the coaching profession should strive to be.
