Mizzou hosts a revamped Kansas roster in Border War return

Missouri and Kansas going at it in football is inevitable. The hostility between the respective states has existed before the telephone was invented, so it naturally bled into the college sporting world. Conference realignment couldn’t pull these two programs apart forever.

It has been 14 years since the Tigers and Jayhawks last clashed, on Nov. 26, 2011, at a neutral site in Kansas City. Mizzou earned a 24-10 win that marked the third straight over its rival — though no matchup has reached the legendary status of 2007. Back then, No. 4 Missouri defeated No. 2 Kansas to win the Big 12 North championship behind quarterback Chase Daniel’s 361 passing yards and three touchdowns.

Memorial Stadium won’t host a game of that magnitude at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Columbia. But the Tigers and Jayhawks seem equally confident heading into the matchup. Mizzou rolled over Central Arkansas in Week 1, 61-6. There are worries after kicker Blake Craig was lost for the season and quarterback Sam Horn was also injured and is expected to miss significant time, but Beau Pribula looked like the right fit as starting QB.

Kansas, looking to bounce back from a 5-7 campaign in 2024, notched a 31-7 win over Fresno State in Week 0. The Jayhawks then proceeded to defeat Wagner 46-7 in Week 1. The program has been revamped with the hires of offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski and defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald.

Missouri has enjoyed a more successful stretch over the last decade-plus since joining the Southeastern Conference, but Kansas isn’t to be taken lightly this year. For respective coaches Eli Drinkwitz and Lance Leipold, the pressure to win is enormous.

“It’s very deep, and it’s something that our team is very keenly aware of,” Drinkwitz said at SEC Media Days. “We understand the implications, the importance to our state and look forward to playing that game, especially having it at home.”

Same quarterback, different weapons

If one thing remains the same for the Jayhawks this season, it’s returning quarterback Jalon Daniels.

It’s the sixth year of college for Daniels. A shoulder injury in 2022 cut his season short and back injuries derailed much of his 2023 campaign, but 2024 saw the Lawndale, California, product finish a healthy season. While he accumulated a career-high 2,454 passing yards, he was rather turnover-prone, with a ratio of 14 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.

Daniels is on pace to improve that area in 2025. He boasts 456 passing yards with 80% completion and seven touchdowns through two games — only throwing one interception, against Wagner in the second quarter. Dynamic on the run when needed, the experienced signal-caller is one the Mizzou defense can’t afford to lose sight of.

The targets Daniels has at his disposal are vastly different than in 2024. The receiving corps was mostly put together through the portal, with Alabama transfer Emmanuel Henderson Jr. being the biggest addition. While he never found much of a role with the Crimson Tide — only accumulating 84 receiving yards last season — he’s already jumped up to 154 yards and two touchdowns through the Jayhawks’ two wins.

Coming over from Ball State, Cam Pickett also has made an early impact. He leads Kansas with three receiving touchdowns and has the second-most receiving yards with 106. While Columbia transfer Bryson Canty has only two receptions thus far, he’ll be yet another new target for Daniels this year.

Star running back Devin Neal has moved on to the New Orleans Saints, leaving returning senior Daniel Hishaw Jr. as the No. 1 option. It’s worked so far, as Hishaw has reached 158 rushing yards on 27 carries and a touchdown. Behind him, Iowa transfer Leshon Williams brings added experience of 1,381 yards on the ground in his career.

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Missouri’s defensive front must set tone to slow Kansas offense

Kansas’ offensive line has been a consistent group over the last few seasons, but much like Missouri’s, it had some question marks throughout fall camp. It hosts just two returning starters in center Bryce Foster and guard Kobe Baynes, so the first two games have been a feel-out period for the group. Against Fresno State, the line was flagged eight times — a concern given it only had 24 total last season. The position still projects to be one of the program's strengths.

New-look defense

The Jayhawks took a step back on defense in 2024. They finished No. 10 in the Big 12 in scoring defense (26 points per game) and No. 12 in total defense (392.4 yards per game). Whether it be on the ground or in the air, they were in the bottom half of the conference.

Through a plethora of transfers, Kansas has a refurbished unit that has more depth than a year ago. The Jayhawks have only allowed 14 points in their first two games — holding Fresno State to just 216 total yards and Wagner to 143.

The Kansas linebacker room has three additions: South Carolina transfer Bangally Kamara, West Virginia transfer Trey Lathan and Bowling Green transfer Joseph Sipp Jr. Lathan has already notched 12 total tackles on the season, while Kamara picked up a sack against Fresno State. However, Kamara will not be available Saturday with a non-contact knee injury he suffered in practice. 

The defensive line has five newcomers coming into a talented group. The defensive tackles will rely more on returners and experience, while the defensive ends were primarily snagged from the transfer portal. Returning tackle D.J. Withers and Chattanooga transfer EDGE Leroy Harris III have two sacks each.

The secondary took the biggest hit from last season, but the Jayhawks filled in the missing pieces with transfers and returners. Safety Lyrik Rawls is an experienced transfer out of Oklahoma State that picked up an interception against Fresno State, while returners Taylor Davis and Devin Dye aim to be in the top of the rotation. The latter also had a pick off the Bulldogs.

The absence of Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson is felt in the cornerbacks group, though the portal additions were plentiful. Georgia Tech transfer Syeed Gibbs and Utah State transfer DJ Graham II each bring a wealth of experience to the position. Alabama transfer Jahlil Hurley serves as an intriguing option, though he lacks that same mileage.

Kansas might present more challenges for Missouri on the offensive end, but its defense is by no means a pushover in this matchup.

What should Mizzou expect?

On both sides of the football, Kansas should be respectable again. A matchup last year might’ve swung heavily in the Tigers’ favor, but this version of the Jayhawks poses a decent challenge in Week 2 at Memorial Stadium.

ESPN Analytics favors MU with a 64% chance of winning. Mizzou fans no doubt will view anything less than a win as an immeasurable disappointment. Across college football, few rivalries can match the Border War for history and hostility.

Missouri can certainly take care of business in the return of this feud, but Kansas is no slouch.