The secret to getting a contract extension and raise in college football?
Have your name linked to the Penn State opening.
First it was Indiana’s Pennsylvania-raised Curt Cignetti getting a new deal. Then it was Nebraska’s Penn State alum Matt Rhule striking a new pact to stay in Lincoln.
On Thanksgiving, Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz was the latest coach linked to the Nittany Lions job to get a new contract to stay put. On Thursday, the Tigers coach posted on X, ‘My family and I are thankful to be Mizzou. The support from our President, the Board of Curators, AD, boosters and fans is special! Why Stop Now!!!’
Drinkwitz’s new contract runs through 2031 on a $10.75 million average annual deal, per Calum McAndrew of the Columbia Daily Tribune, part of USA TODAY Co.
It’s Drinkwitz’s fourth contract extension since taking over the program and the second time he has put pen to paper on a new deal this year.
The 2023 SEC Coach of the Year, Drinkwitz is in his sixth season at Missouri after one year at Appalachian State. At Mizzou, Drinkwitz has a 45-28 record and will lead the Tigers to a fifth straight bowl game this season.
Missouri is 7-4 this season and reached as high as No. 14 in the polls this year before injury to starting QB Beau Pribula and the rigors of SEC play took its toll.
‘My family and I believe deeply in the vision and leadership from our administration and are incredibly happy to continue calling Columbia our home,’ Drinkwitz said in a release. ‘I’m grateful for the unwavering support of President Mun Choi, the Board of Curators, led by Chair Todd Graves and incoming Vice Chair Bob Blitz, along with our athletics director Laird Veatch. We’re also incredibly thankful for the support of our generous donors and NIL partners. I’m committed to continuing our work to build Mizzou into a championship program.’
Missouri finishes the regular season 3:30 p.m., Saturday at Arkansas.
Meanwhile, Penn State players are openly campaigning for interim coach Terry Smith to get the job full-time, and Penn State’s fired coach James Franklin has already landed on his feet at Virginia Tech.