Sports

Stakes continue to rise in Sunflower Showdown, and Mizzou has another big game at hand

Kansas State players run out on to the field at Bill Snyder Family Stadium to take on Kansas during the Sunflower Showdown on Nov. 26, 2022. Missouri Tigers quarterback Sam Horn (21) handed off to running back Cody Schrader (7) against the South Dakota Coyotes during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.
Kansas State players run out on to the field at Bill Snyder Family Stadium to take on Kansas during the Sunflower Showdown on Nov. 26, 2022. Missouri Tigers quarterback Sam Horn (21) handed off to running back Cody Schrader (7) against the South Dakota Coyotes during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. The Capital-Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK

A college football season with something to like for all area teams continues this week, with the Sunflower Showdown in Lawrence and another big SEC showdown for surging Missouri.

In this episode of SportsBeat KC, The Star’s sports podcast, we break down the games, and the stakes, for Kansas State-Kansas and Mizzou-Florida.

Beat writer Kellis Robinett shares his thoughts on the Wildcats, who look to make it 15 straight wins in this series against the Jayhawks. Quarterback Will Howard has been playing some of the best ball of his career over the past few weeks, and K-State remains on a quest to play in a second straight Big 12 title game.

But this is also the Jayhawks’ best squad since 2008, the year in which KU last defeated the Wildcats. Kansas’ fortunes may hinge on its quarterback situation. Will Jason Bean, who suffered a head injury in last week’s loss to Texas Tech, be ready?

Meanwhile, Missouri is on roll. The Tigers are coming off perhaps the best victory of the Eli Drinkwitz era, pounding Tennessee 36-7 behind running back Cody Schrader’s 321 yards from scrimmage.

Calum McAndrew, who covers MU for the Columbia Daily Tribune and The Star, discusses the big strides Mizzou has made this season, and what postseason destination may await the Tigers.

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Blair Kerkhoff
The Kansas City Star
Blair Kerkhoff has covered sports for The Kansas City Star since 1989. He was elected to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
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