HOT: GARY PINKEL

Not too long ago, Pinkel’s job status seemed tenuous at best.

Pinkel could be putting together his best recruiting class since 2010, and Missouri is looking to move to 16-2 since the beginning of last season this weekend against Indiana. And to this point, he’s done a masterful job in spite of losing his starting quarterback, starting running back, top three receivers, a pair of NFL defensive ends, the starting middle linebacker/leading tackler and both starting cornerbacks.

The Tigers (3-0) haven’t done anything too spectacular yet this season, and Georgia and South Carolina still are the division favorites at this point. But if Missouri goes on to win the SEC East again in 2014, I don’t see how Pinkel, the winningest coach in school history (at Toledo and Missouri), isn’t the SEC Coach of the Year.

WARM: MIZZOU DEFENSIVE TACKLES

Shane Ray and Markus Golden are getting all the national pub, but the defensive tackles, highlighted by Josh Augusta’s interception, were just as disruptive Saturday.

After UCF had success running the ball in the first quarter, especially to the edges with receivers or quarterback Justin Holman, the Knights couldn’t do anything between the tackles the final three quarters. And the tackles, even without starter Matt Hoch (pectoral strain), were able to pressure Holman almost as often as Ray and Golden.

COLD: DARIUS WHITE

After catching seven passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns in the first two games, White managed just three catches for 27 yards against UCF. Bud Sasser continues to do more with less, and Jimmie Hunt is Maty Mauk’s favorite target.

Running back Russell Hansbrough (not Marcus Murphy) was more productive in the passing game Saturday than White.

FROZEN: MARCUS LOUD

The freshman defensive end temporarily lost his backup role after barking on Twitter following the season opener against South Dakota State.

After Ray and Golden produced so well off the bench a year ago, Loud and Charles Harris were supposed to provide some approximation of that in 2014.

Instead, Loud played just 17 snaps against UCF and recorded four tackles and one quarterback hurry on the season.