Missouri Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz shared his thoughts on player tampering, but several fans and spectators disagreed with him. On Tuesday, Dec. 16, Drinkwitz attended a press conference ahead of the college football playoffs.
Analyst Michael Bratton shared a clip on X, as Drinkwitz was asked for his thoughts on the current state of player recruiting in the sport and if it affects him in any way. Despite past accusations of tampering with high-tier recruits himself, Drinkwitz asserted that he is not a fan and that it is gradually making the collegiate football landscape an unhealthy environment for everyone involved, including his Tigers.
Eli Drinkwitz says CFB is sick right now and says there are signs that the sport is cracking:
“Tampering is at the highest levels – there is no such thing as tampering, because there’s no one that’s been punished for tampering.
“Everyone on my roster is being called.” pic.twitter.com/uNmqWi52YG
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) December 16, 2025
Fans online labeled Drinkwitz a “hypocrite,” especially since there was evidence that he had controversially tried to snag Missouri Tigers offensive tackle Cayden Green previously.
“He’s not wrong. He’s also a big time hypocrite. Cayden Green?,” one user claimed.
“That’s rich considering he tampered with Cayden Green last year,” another user shared.
“This MFer!!!!! lol. He pulled Cayden Green out of Norman without him being in the portal. He only hates it when it’s not working for him anymore lol,” another exclaimed.
“It’s crazy he’s saying that when he tampered with Cayden Green,” a user said.
A few other X users also called Drinkwitz out, considering his history of tampering in the past.
“Drink literally tampered last year lol,” one fan pointed out.
“Is that the same guy who poached Penn State’s backup QB during the playoffs last year?” another user questioned.
“Aw, kinda like you guys do to other teams players?” a user wrote.
In their 2025 campaign, Drinkwitz spearheaded the Tigers to an overall record of 8-4 (4-4 SEC) and finished as the No. 8 seed in their conference. While they did not make the playoffs, Missouri is set to face coach Tony Elliott’s Virginia Cavaliers for the Taxslayer Gator Bowl on Dec. 27 at the Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, to wrap up the season.
Read More: Penn State Coaching Search: Top 3 Candidates Who Could Revive The Program Ft. Eli Drinkwitz
Eli Drinkwitz On How To Fix The Current College Football Tampering Issues
At the same press conference, Eli Drinkwitz shared what should be the governing body’s next steps to regulate the tampering done by team officials in pursuit of top-level recruits.
Drinkwitz cited a couple of examples amid the criticism he is facing for allegedly engaging in player tampering himself.
“We need to get something under control and, you know, the score act was something that, that it looked like it was gonna be a step in a direction. There is no perfect solution, but we have to get some sort of steps moving in that direction. I think we’re all waited with, I don’t know, is it baited breath? The saying, trying to wait on what’s gonna happen with this fifth year lawsuit in Nashville where you could have a flurry of fifth year guys now being eligible and that would just throw a completely new wrinkle in the system,” Drinkwitz said. (0:52)
Also Read: What Is Eli Drinkwitz’s Salary at Missouri? A Closer Look At His Contract Extension Through 2027
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
