Missouri Tigers enter latest AP Top 25 after Border War win over Kansas
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- Missouri enters AP Top 25 at No. 25 after early wins over UCA and Kansas.
- Penn State transfer Beau Pribula sparks offense with 7 touchdowns in 2 wins.
- Mizzou shifts student ticketing to weekly lottery amid stadium renovation limits.
After two convincing wins to open the 2025 season, Missouri football is back in the Associated Press Top 25.
The Tigers checked in at No. 25 in Sunday's poll, marking their first appearance of the season after a 61-6 rout of Central Arkansas and a 42-31 Border War win against Kansas. Missouri fell behind 21-6 in the first quarter against the Jayhawks but outscored its rival 36-10 the rest of the way to close out the program's first win over KU since 2011.
That was also the last time the two rivals met in football.
That performance, coupled with several losses by previously ranked teams, was enough for voters to slide the Tigers into the final spot in the rankings. Missouri just missed out on joining the USA Today Coaches Poll, moving up from No. 28 to No. 26 with 142 points, one spot behind BYU.
Quarterback Beau Pribula has played a large role in Missouri's quick rise. The Penn State transfer has topped 300 yards of total offense in both games and accounted for seven touchdowns.
Running backs Ahmad Hardy and Jamal Roberts each accumulated over 100 yards on the ground against KU, while receivers Marquis Johnson and Kevin Coleman Jr. have each produced a 100-yard game. Tight end Brett Norfleet has been a steady target in the red zone, hauling in three touchdowns through the first two weeks.
The Tigers return to Faurot Field next Saturday, hosting Louisiana at 3 p.m. The Ragin' Cajuns are 1-1 after dropping their opener to Rice and rebounding against McNeese State.
Another change to Mizzou student ticket process
While Missouri fans are celebrating the return to the rankings, students will have to adjust to a revamped ticket process that Mizzou Athletics announced Sunday.
Instead of the digital queue system that caused widespread frustration through the first two weeks of the season, the school is moving to a lottery-based claim process for the Zou Pass. Each Monday, students will receive an email with a form to fill out by 11:59 p.m. Those submissions will then enter a randomized drawing for that week's football tickets.
The athletic department has also outlined how tickets will be distributed by class for each remaining home game.
Against Louisiana (Family Weekend), South Carolina and Texas A&M, 30% of tickets will be reserved for freshmen, 30% for sophomores, 20% for juniors, and 20% for seniors and graduate students.
Games against UMass, Alabama and Mississippi State will flip that ratio, giving upperclassmen priority.
The adjustments follow criticism from students who waited in long online lines or failed to secure tickets despite purchasing the $200 Zou Pass. Athletics officials emphasized the pass guarantees the chance to claim tickets, not an automatic seat, especially with Memorial Stadium's capacity reduced by ongoing renovations.
Mizzou's move to the lottery system is designed to spread access more evenly across campus and reduce the pressure of logging in at exact times. Whether it solves the problem long-term will become clearer as SEC play arrives — along with even more demand for seats.
Copyright 2025 Columbia Missourian
This story was originally published September 7, 2025 at 8:00 PM with the headline "Missouri Tigers enter latest AP Top 25 after Border War win over Kansas."