For the last couple of years, Missouri coach Gary Pinkel had been one of the best and most underappreciated coaches when it came to motivation and mental development of players. The Tigers hadn't had the SEC's best teams, but they were some of the most mentally tough players in the country.
Forget the shape of the SEC East during the Tigers' two-year championship run. Missouri took care of business when others faltered. Issues on and off the field failed to slow the Tigers down in 2013 and 2014. Embarrassing home losses to Indiana and Georgia last year didn't derail the Tigers' train to Atlanta.