The Border War returned on Saturday between Kansas and Missouri on Saturday afternoon in Columbia. Kansas entered the game with a 2-0 record, while Missouri was hosting with a 1-0 record. It was the first game since 2011, when Missouri won 24-10. The Tigers entered Saturday with three-straight wins in the showdown. And on Saturday, it was a back-and-forth match up ,with ultimately the Tigers winning 42-31. Here are the top 3 takeaways from the game.
The End of the First Half
Kansas jumped out to a 21-6 lead thanks to its high-octane offense and a defense that was capitalizing, including a fumble return for a touchdown, all in the first quarter. But the second quarter saw the Tigers take advantage of their opportunities, including forcing KU into a safety thanks to its pressure defense, along with back-to-back field goals at the end of the half to go into halftime with the game tied at 21. But it was the second of those two field goals, that saw the Tigers take the ball 84 yards in four plays, that felt like a total backbreaker for the Jayhawks. The Tigers then had all the momentum which they carried into the second half and eventually pulled away in the fourth quarter for the win.
Kansas Couldn’t Stop the Run
Missouri got its way on the ground as the game went on. The Tigers finished with 47 carries for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Jamal Roberts led the way with 13 carries for 143 yards and one score, while Ahmad Hardy had 25 carries for 112 yards and one touchdown. It was Roberts’ 63-yard touchdown scamper that put the game away with under two minutes left to give the Tigers a two-score lead. The Jayhawks will need to figure out the run defense if they’re going to plan to compete atop the Big 12 this fall.
Welcome Back, Border War
Overall, the hype around the game, and leading up to it, met the moment. It was clear how much this game meant to those inside the stadium, and the coaching staffs and players seemed to embrace the history of this rivalry that was on a 14-year hiatus. Sports Illustrated described the rivalry as the oldest (Division I) rivalry west of the Mississippi River in 2011.
And if you need an example, a Missouri fan was brought onto the field to kick a 45-yard field goal for a chance to win $25,000. Instead, the fan pulled up his shirt to reveal “F KU” on his chest and kicked the ball at the Kansas sideline. Here’s the video.
These two teams will play again next fall, and then again in 2031 and 2032. But to the powers that be across both universities, these rivalries are what separate college football from the rest of sports. Let’s lean into them.
