Why KU Jayhawks players have set aside social media on eve of football Border War
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas DT D.J. Withers avoids social media to stay focused before rivalry game
- KU coach Lance Leipold uses historical video to educate players on Border War
- Missouri enters matchup as 6.5-point favorite with three straight wins over KU
With the Border War college football showdown between Missouri and Kansas mere hours away now, both fanbases remain busy on social media, talking trash to the other.
Occasionally it has turned a bit ugly. Some posts illustrate quite well the hatred still simmering between KU and Mizzou — in spite of the fact that they haven’t played since 2011.
Kansas defensive tackle D.J. Withers has seen many such messages.
“It’s pretty bad, but we try to stay away from that during the week,” Withers told The Star. “Got to stay off Twitter; can’t really look at that because that’s really got nothing to do with us.”
Withers was familiar with the KU-MU rivalry but learned more about it when Kansas coach Lance Leipold showed the team a video about the Border War. The montage featured some all-time Jayhawks greats discussing the history of the series, both on and off the field.
Naturally, Withers is excited for the game. He said he’s most interested in seeing how rowdy the Missouri fans will be in Columbia.
“This is the stuff you dream about when you come to play college football,” he said. “It’s always the rivalries. Just between us and Missouri, us and K-State. You can’t wait for those big games.”
KU tight end Deshawn Hanika, a Topeka native, is glad he’ll get to experience the Border War as a player instead of a fan.
“Yes, I’m old. Yes, I did go to one game. I believe it was ‘08,” he said. “I don’t remember if we won or lost that game, I’d have to look it up. But just remembering the atmosphere there, it was electric.
“It’s one of the great rivalries in college football that doesn’t get talked about for some reason. Probably because he haven’t played since (2011). But it’s a special thing for each state.”
Missouri is a 6.5-point favorite Saturday and currently holds a three-game winning streak in the series. Kickoff at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia is set for 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
This story was originally published September 5, 2025 at 5:15 AM.
