The Kansas Jayhawks get set for their third game in three weeks to start the 2025 college football season when they take on the Missouri Tigers on Saturday afternoon in the Border War. Kansas is coming off a 46-7 win over Wagner, and Missouri beat Central Arkansas 61-6 in their Week 1 matchup. Kansas finished the 2024 season with a 5-7 record, while Missouri went 10-3. The last matchup between the two rivals came in 2011, a game that Missouri won 24-10.
The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday on ESPN in Columbia, Missouri. The Tigers are favored by 6.5, and the over/under is set at 50.5 points. Here are two key players to watch in this game, followed by the top storylines for each team, and a prediction from Heartland College Sports.
Two Key Players to Watch
Beau Pribula, Missouri QB
Missouri’s quarterback position has been a rollercoaster in its own right, and it’s only been one game. The group started off the year with Sam Horn under center, who was fighting Pribula for the starting job. Horn got injured very early on in the Central Arkansas game, which opened the door for a dominant game for Pribula to explode in. The Pennsylvania native did just that, completing 23 of 28 passes for 283 yards and two scores. He also put together an incredible highlight on a long touchdown run, which was one of his 10 carries for 65 yards and two scores. The man can play.
Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Kansas WR
When transfer wide receivers hit, they really do. That’s been the case for Alabama transfer Emmanuel Henderson Jr., who is fresh off his best performance of the year. Against Wagner, Henderson posted six catches for 130 yards and two scores. He is one of multiple impressive wideouts in Lawrence and will need to be on the scouting report early and often for Missouri.
Top Storylines
Does Beau Go?
Look, Beau Pribula looked awesome in Week One; the issue was that it came against Central Arkansas. With a long-time rival coming to town, the new starter is going to have to try and adjust to the speed of Kansas’ defense, led by defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald, who recently left the NFL to join them. Both teams enter the contest relatively untested, but Pribula is certainly less game-ready than Jalon Daniels is, at least in terms of overall snaps taken.
Who Is Kansas?
On the flip side of things, the same argument can be used for Kansas. Are they Jayhawks legit? They’ve looked like a Big 12 title contender through two weeks with one of the hottest offenses in the country. The issue for them is that they’ll need to continue it against a stout SEC defense and not a middle-of-the-pack team in the Northeast Conference. Can they do it? Absolutely, and it will be must-see TV regardless of who comes out on top.
Prediction: Missouri 34, Kansas 27
It’s a rivalry game, so it’s going to be nasty. Faurot Field is going to be rocking, and the place will be jammed packed with Tigers fans. Now that won’t be the only thing working against Kansas, the Tigers have series history on their side, and on paper, the better team. In the end, Mizzou outlasts its rival and takes the game by a score.
