Border War revival delivered. Now, let’s return KU-Mizzou to its annual status
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- Missouri defeated Kansas 42-31 in the first Border War football clash since 2011.
- Quarterbacks Jalon Daniels and Beau Pribula led strong offensive performances.
- Players and fans expressed support for reviving the series as an annual event.
Here’s an idea: Maybe don’t wait 14 years between editions of an intense rivalry game that delivered like the Border War on Saturday
Missouri defeated its ancient rival Kansas 42-31 in a classic that wasn’t decided until KU coach Lance Leipold decided to punt down four with 2:48 remaining. The Jayhawks faced a fourth-and-7 from the 28.
The Jayhawks had their timeouts and the two-minute warning, so his call was not without merit. But on a day when Mizzou amassed 595 total yards, converted 4 of 5 fourth downs and got an excellent effort from first-year starting quarterback Beau Pribula, surrendering possession had to fill Kansas followers with a sense of dread.
It was realized moments later when Tigers running back Jamal Roberts motored 63 yards for a cushion-building touchdown.
At that point, a new Border War chapter was all but complete, and this one came with huge moments, plot twists, momentum swings, the works. It became everything a passionate rivalry game is supposed to be, but didn’t exist after 2011 when Missouri left the Big 12 for the SEC and Kansas wasn’t interested in the Tigers as a non-conference opponent.
Competitively, the discontinuation probably worked for Kansas, which won no more than three games in any season between 2010 and 2022.
But with the program’s trajectory shifting under Leipold, and Missouri coming off consecutive double-digit-victory seasons and bidding to become an SEC top-half regular, Border War meetings in this era should be competitive. Saturday’s was just that, as KU shocked the crowd into silence by jumping to a 21-6 lead
Then, the counterpunches. The Tigers evened the game by halftime and finished on a two-touchdown sprint after the Jayhawks had taken a 31-28 lead.
The play was high level, and both quarterbacks largely excelled. Kansas’ sixth-year man Jalon Daniels put superb touches on a pair of touchdown passes. Pribula recovered from a fumble that resulted in an early KU touchdown and finished with three touchdowns and 334 passing yards.
Everyone, it seemed, got a jolt from the first group of fans at a Border War at Faurot Field since 2006. Remember, the last five Missouri-Kansas games were played at Arrowhead.
“When we rolled up to the game today, I saw so many Mizzou fans, more fans than I’ve ever seen,” Tigers tight end Brett Norfleet said. “I think it’s good for both schools to play each year.”
Missouri safety Daylan Carnell said with the exception of a history lesson on the series that dates back to 1891, making it the oldest west of the Mississippi River, the game-week prep was business as usual.
The atmosphere, highlighted by KU players welcoming Missouri student’s R-rated version of “Mr. Brightside,” was anything but.
“The crowd ... that felt different,” Carnell said. “I definitely felt the energy from the crowd.”
To Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz, ear-splitting cheers and boos from the students and fan base should be an every game occurrence, like a big-boy SEC program.
“This was the Missouri that I’ve always believed in and dreamed of,” Drinkwitz said. “I’m going to challenge us. This is the expectation going forward. It’s not just about Kansas. It’s about being like this all the time in SEC play, and I’m going to encourage our fans to continue to do this.”
Assuring the continuation of this gem means finding spots on future schedules to place it. After next season, the schools are set to meet again in 2031 and 2032. But not in between or after.
Missouri already has a schedule issue with the SEC going to nine conference games. In several upcoming years, the Tigers have four non-league games on the slate and will have to boot or buy out some.
But it will be worth it. Older KU and MU fans will remember seasons so poor their rivalry was about the only motivation the programs had to finish the season, and more passion was felt at basketball games in each other’s gyms.
It’s not like that now. The Border War should once again become a regular on the calendar.
This story was originally published September 6, 2025 at 8:35 PM with the headline "Border War revival delivered. Now, let’s return KU-Mizzou to its annual status."