'I'm excited and I'm also nervous' Bernie Miklasz discusses 2024 expectations for Missouri Tigers

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - 2024 is a shaping up to be a very big year for the Missouri Tigers.

The Missouri Tigers 2024 season kicks off Thursday at Faurot Field, as the Tigers will host Murray State.

After a very surprising 2023 season that saw the Tigers win 11 games, get ranked in the top 10 and beat Ohio State at the Cotton Bowl, expectations will be high for the Tigers in 2024, especially with dreams of making the College Football Playoffs.

While there will be some notable departures from last years team, including the likes of running back Cody Schrader, defensive coordinator Blake Baker, defensive lineman Darrius Robinson, and cornerbacks Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Kris Abrams-Draine, a lot of last year's team will be back this season.

Luther Burden III and Brady Cook will still be a dangerous duo on the offense for the Tigers, while on defense, they will see the likes of returnees Johnny Walker Jr., Darrius Smith and Triston Newson.

The Tigers will have some extremely talented newcomers, led by five-star freshman William Nwaneri on the defensive line, St. Louis-native and Oklahoma transfer Cayden Green on the offensive line, and cornerback Torriano Pride Jr., who is a transfer from Clemson and also a St. Louis-native.

"I'm excited and I'm also nervous," said Bernie Miklasz on 'The Chris and Amy Show' Thursday. "The expectation levels are pretty incredible."

"They are going into the year as a top-10 team and I'm reading all the previews, and all the national college football writers and bloggers have them making the College Football Playoffs. That is not like Mizzou. I don't mean that as a slap, I mean that as they have entered a whole new territory."

Miklasz cautions that with expectations so high for the Tigers in 2024, they will get the best performances from their opponents this season, unlike 2023.

"The expectations are so high and the hope is so high, everyone they are going to play this year is going to be out after them," said Miklasz. "In the past, it was like 'well it's Mizzou, we got this'. Now it's 'oh it's the new darling program' and 'oh ok we'll see about that'. They are going to get everybody's best shot."

Miklasz does have some questions about the defense, but he does believe with Mizzou's schedule in 2024, they should be a nine-win team, at minimum.

"They have a very adventitious schedule and they, at the very least, win nine games," said Miklasz. "I think they can win 10 games. I think beating Oklahoma at home would have to be one of the things."