Mizzou Tigers, Saint Louis in talks to revive long-dormant in-state hoops rivalry
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Missouri and Saint Louis are finalizing a neutral-site game for Nov. 6.
- The matchup would be the programs' first meeting in 25 seasons.
- Both teams enter the game after NCAA Tournament appearances following 2025-26 seasons.
A big in-state men's basketball rivalry could return next season, as the Missouri Tigers are finalizing an agreement to play Saint Louis on Nov. 6 at Enterprise Center, according to multiple reports.
The matchup in St. Louis would mark the first meeting between the programs in 25 seasons. Mizzou won the last matchup 69-67 on Dec. 3, 2001.
No official announcement has been made, but the neutral-site contest would feature two teams coming off NCAA Tournament appearances after strong 2025-26 seasons.
Missouri finished 20-13 and 10-8 in Southeastern Conference play under coach Dennis Gates, entering the NCAA Tournament berth as a No. 10 seed. The Tigers fell 80-66 to Miami in the first round in the same arena at which this MU-SLU matchup is rumored to be played. The Tigers dropped three straight games entering March Madness.
Saint Louis put together one of the best seasons in recent program history, finishing 29-6 and 15-3 in Atlantic 10 Conference play under second-year coach Josh Schertz.
The Billikens won the A-10 regular-season title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after beating Georgia 102-77. Saint Louis lost to eventual national champion Michigan 95-72.
The potential matchup would also continue Gates' push to strengthen Missouri's nonconference schedule, as the NCAA Tournament expands to 76 teams next season. Gates has repeatedly emphasized the importance of improving strength of schedule to maximize postseason opportunities.
The game would likely draw a large crowd to the 18,000-seat arena, home of the NHL's St. Louis Blues, despite being labeled a neutral-site contest.
The Tigers have played at the arena every year since it opened in 1994 in the Braggin' Rights contest against Illinois.
Both Missouri and Saint Louis are projected among the nation's top teams entering next season, with each appearing inside the preseason top 31 of CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein.
A renewal of the rivalry would give college basketball fans in Missouri one of the state's biggest matchups in more than two decades.
Copyright 2026 Columbia Missourian
This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 12:28 PM with the headline "Mizzou Tigers, Saint Louis in talks to revive long-dormant in-state hoops rivalry."