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Two local CFB teams will play bowl games. Kansas football and K-State declined

Stories by Kansas City Star journalists, with AI summarization

It was an eventful year for area college football teams, and that played out into the postseason. Missouri, Kansas State, Kansas and Missouri State have all made notable decisions about their bowl games.

The Missouri Tigers will play in the Gator Bowl against Virginia. It's their first time in that bowl since 1968. Missouri State, which was not initially bowl eligible while making the transition to FBS, received an invitation to the Xbox Bowl with more slots available than teams to fill them.

What about KU and K-State?

The Kansas State Wildcats declined a bowl invite following coach Chris Klieman's retirement, drawing a league fine. Meanwhile, the Kansas Jayhawks also opted out of postseason play, despite an invitation to the Birmingham Bowl.

Missouri Tigers football coach Eli Drinkwitz walks the Battle Line Trophy off the field after the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Fayetteville. By Wesley Hitt

NO. 1: MISSOURI TIGERS TO PLAY IN GATOR BOWL. HERE’S THE DATE AND ACC FOOTBALL OPPONENT

The Missouri Tigers will head to the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl for the first time since 1968, the Southeastern Conference announced Sunday. | Published December 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Maddie Hartley

Quarterback Avery Johnson of the Kansas State Wildcats hands the ball off to running back Joe Jackson before a game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium in Manhattan. By Peter Aiken

NO. 2: BIG 12 FINES KANSAS STATE WILDCATS FOOTBALL $500,000 FOR DECLINING A BOWL GAME

The Kansas State football team will not play in a bowl game this postseason, even though the Wildcats are eligible to do so. | Published December 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kellis Robinett

Head coach Lance Leipold of the Kansas Jayhawks talks with quarterback Jalon Daniels #6 against the Utah Utes in the second half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Lawrence, Kansas. By Ed Zurga

NO. 3: KANSAS FOOTBALL DECLINES BOWL-GAME INVITE. HERE’S WHO JAYHAWKS COULD’VE PLAYED

The Kansas football team has declined a bowl invitation, a KU Athletics spokesperson confirmed to The Star on Sunday night. | Published December 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Shreyas Laddha

File photo

NO. 4: MISSOURI STATE WILL GO BOWLING; BENEDICTINE REACHES NAIA FOOTBALL QUARTERFINALS

There was plenty at stake in KC-area and regional college football action Saturday with NAIA and NCAA Division-II playoff games. A bowl game was awarded, too. | Published November 30, 2025 | Read Full Story

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.