Mizzou Tigers vs. Kansas Jayhawks: Five things to know about Border War renewal
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Mizzou leads historic series 57-54, seeking fourth straight win vs. Kansas.
- KU's Jalon Daniels and Mizzou's Beau Pribula each enter game with hot starts.
- Freshman Robert Meyer replaces injured Blake Craig as Mizzou’s kicker.
5,029.
That’s how many days it’s been since the Missouri Tigers last faced the Kansas Jayhawks on the gridiron: 5,029 days since the last Border War game. (It took place at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in 2011, a 24-10 Tigers victory before Mizzou departed the Big 12 for the SEC.)
In a rivalry rooted in history that extends well beyond the field, Saturday’s renewal of the famed Border War series has been circled on both programs’ calendars for a long time now.
The Tigers enter Saturday’s game at Faurot Field 1-0 after beating FCS foe Central Arkansas 61-6 in last week’s season opener. MU quarterback Beau Pribula accounted for four touchdowns and 348 yards of offense — without so much as playing a single snap in the fourth quarter.
Coach Lance Leipold’s Jayhawks, meanwhile, bring a 2-0 record to Columbia after last week beating Wagner — also an FCS opponent— 46-7 in Lawrence.
“It means a lot to a lot of people,” Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz said of the Border War’s revival and MU-KU rivalry. “It’s a privilege to wear the ‘Mizzou’ on your chest. And when you wear Mizzou, you represent 6 million people in this state, and that’s just current — there’s past and present. ...
“There’s just a lot of importance, and this is our chance to write our part of the story. We’re going to continue to play this game, so this is just one part of the story, but it’s an important part.”
Mizzou vs. Kansas details
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium, Columbia
TV: ESPN2
Radio: KMBZ (980) Kansas City, KCMQ (96.7 or 103.1) Columbia
Betting line: Mizzou is a 6.5-point favorite.
Over/under: 50.5.
Five things to know before kickoff
1. Mizzou holds all-time series lead vs. KU. Dating to 1891, the Tigers have played the Jayhawks 111 times. They lead the series 57-54 and will be looking to extend a three-game win streak vs. KU.
2. Daniel Hishaw has big shoes to fill at RB. With last year’s KU star back, Devin Neal, gone to the NFL, Hishaw is the main man in the Jayhawks’ backfield now. He may not replicate Neal’s gaudy production of the past four years, but Hishaw has rumbled for 158 yards and a TD through two games.
3. Mizzou’s offensive line will be challenged. The Tigers’ O-line struggled to protect Pribula at times last week, especially early in the game. And the Jayhawks’ defense represents a taller order than that posed by Central Arkansas. Look for KU defensive tackle D.J. Withers, who recorded two sacks against Wagner, to try to rattle Pribula on Saturday.
4. Kansas QB Jalon Daniels has looked good. In his sixth year of college football, the KU quarterback is off to an explosive start for Kansas. That’s a welcome experience for the Jayhawks, who struggled to a 5-7 record in 2024. Through two games, Daniels has accounted for 456 passing yards and seven touchdowns with just one interception.
5. Mizzou turns to a freshman kicker. MU’s starting placekicker, Liberty North High School product Blake Craig, tore an ACL in the season opener and will miss the remainder of the season. True freshman Robert Meyer, from Colfax, California, takes over now. The Tigers’ kicking game would appear to remain in good hands, as Meyer was rated as a five-star prep recruit by Chris Sailer Kicking. Should Saturday’s game be close, Meyer may well play a role in its outcome.
This story was originally published September 3, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
