The Missouri Tigers started out the 2017 season with an abysmal 1-5 record, but then things started to turn around.

Indeed, Mizzou won six-straight games to finish the regular season 7-5 before losing in the Texas Bowl to close out the campaign.

However, the momentum needs to carry over into the 2018 season, and AD Jim Sterk is confident coach Barry Odom and his players can get the job done. Sterk told reporters there is plenty of reason for optimism, but cautioned that injuries can quickly derail a good season (via KansasCity.com):

“Yeah, I think we can make great progress this year, but you guys have been around — you never know,” Sterk said. “So something happens to players or things that occur, so I think you have to take into account all of those things when you look at, at the end of the season, was this a successful season? I try to do that when I look at it. It’s not just wins and losses. But yeah, do we want to make postseason? Yes. Do we want to win our division? Yes we want to do that. But it just depends on how things go.”

Winning the SEC East will be a tall task, with Georgia as the favorite and South Carolina looming as a tough matchup as well. However, the Tigers have star QB Drew Lock and star DL Terry Beckner Jr. returning, so anything is possible.

The Tigers kick off the 2018 season with a home game against UT-Martin on Saturday, Sept. 1. Even though it should be an easy win, fans and analysts should learn a lot about the 2018 Tigers on that day.