Missouri quarterback competition: Tigers reveal plan for Beau Pribula, Sam Horn in Week 1

Missouri will split reps between quarterbacks Beau Pribula and Sam Horn in its Week 1 showdown against Central Arkansas, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Pribula will play the first half of the game, while Horn will play the second half.

Pribula transferred to Missouri this offseason after spending three seasons at Penn State, where he amassed 424 passing yards and nine touchdowns in 24 career appearances. Pribula is also a legitimate rushing threat. He tallied 571 yards and 10 scores on just 94 carries with the Nittany Lions.

While Pribula boasts the most in-game experience in Missouri’s quarterback room, Horn is the most familiar with Missouri’s offensive schemes. Horn is entering his fourth season at Missouri and is the only returning quarterback on the roster. Alas, he’s only made four appearances in his collegiate career.

Horn didn’t see any action last season due to an injury. His future with the team was uncertain after he heard his name called in the MLB Draft in July. However, Drinkwitz confirmed Horn will be on the team this fall.

Evidently, neither quarterback has separated himself from the other quite yet. At SEC Media Days in July, Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz revealed what he’s looking for in Missouri’s next starting QB.

“We don’t need a celebrity quarterback,” Drinkwitz said. “We need somebody who, when the game is on the line, he’s going to make the best decision for our team. He’s going to take care of the football.

“He’s going to get our team in the end zone. It’s not about stats. It’s about production… Who learns the best from mistakes, right? You can’t consistently make the same mistake at the quarterback position and be the starting quarterback.”

Whoever lands the starting role will provide a fresh look for the Tigers. Quarterback Brady Cook was Missouri’s starter for the past three seasons, but moved on to the NFL this offseason.

Cook helped lead Missouri into a new era, guiding the Tigers to back-to-back 10-win seasons the last two years. Now, Missouri’s next QB will be expected to build on that momentum.

“I had a lot of confidence that both can execute at a high level. So, really, the only other thing to measure was to put them in live competition,” Drinkwitz said. “The ability to play live football on Thursday night, the ability to watch these guys prepare, to see how they handle the preparation, I felt life was the best course of action, and that decision, I’ve done that before, worked out pretty good.”

On Thursday, Missouri will kick off its 2025 campaign with a matchup against Central Arkansas at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on the SEC Network. Drinkwitz stated earlier this month the quarterback competition will not carry over into Week 2.