Inside the Border War: Shocking Secrets Missouri Fans Must Know About Kansas Before Game Day

After a 14-year gap, the historic Border War rivalry between Missouri and Kansas is roaring back to life this Saturday in Columbia—an event that’s got everyone buzzing. Missouri’s Tigers kicked off their season with a commanding 61-6 victory over Central Arkansas, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the most electric games in recent memory. Meanwhile, Kansas has hit the ground running with a perfect 2-0 start, but their absence from Faurot Field since 2006 makes this reunion all the more intense. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and fans on both sides are brimming with anticipation as these old foes clash once again under the ESPN2 spotlight at 2:30 p.m. Kickoff’s coming fast—expect fireworks both on and off the field. LEARN MORE

Missouri football and Kansas will end a 14-year hiatus when the Border War returns to the football field this upcoming Saturday in Columbia. The game will air on ESPN2 and is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff.

The Tigers (1-0) beat Central Arkansas 61-6 last Thursday on Faurot Field to open their 2025 campaign, and now immediately roll into one of the most highly anticipated matchups in recent Mizzou history.

Kansas (2-0) has opened its season with wins over Fresno State and Wagner. The Jayhawks have not played in Columbia since 2006.

To help Mizzou fans get to know more about this current KU team, we reached out to the Topeka Capital-Journal’s Kansas beat writer Jordan Guskey with five questions about the Jayhawks:  

Previewing Missouri football vs Kansas with Jordan Guskey

Question: Where has Jalon Daniels improved the most since his struggles early last season?

Jordan Guskey: Overall, Jalon Daniels just appears more comfortable within the offense and with his teammates than he did at this point a year ago. That’s led to better decision-making and play-making ability from the Jayhawks’ starting quarterback, and allowed him to better help the offense develop the rhythm it lacked too often early on in 2024.

For a player who’s dealt with injuries throughout his college career, Daniels is surely benefiting from being healthy again. KU just needs to protect him well against Missouri and moving forward.

Q: Who are the other playmakers MU fans should know before gameday?

Guskey: Daniels can certainly make plays with his feet, but when it comes to making a difference through the air, there are playmakers at tight end and wide receiver that Missouri’s defense can’t lose sight of. At wide receiver, especially, Emmanuel Henderson Jr. and Cam Pickett are two with big-play ability.

Running back features a one-two punch of Daniel Hishaw Jr. and Leshon Williams. Williams didn’t play this past week, but could be back to play the Tigers.

Q: If Kansas wins in Columbia, what has it done to make that happen?

Guskey: Kansas has to win the turnover battle, which it didn’t do this past week in the win against Wagner. It’s hard to see the Jayhawks overcoming two red zone turnovers against an FBS-level, Southeastern Conference program in Missouri, with as much ease as they did against a FCS opponent like Wagner.

Kansas also has to hold its own along the line of scrimmage. If the Jayhawks get pushed around, that limits how much time Daniels will be able to distribute the ball to his playmakers and puts pressure on a KU defense that is dealing with injury concerns at linebacker.

Q: How significant a loss is Bangally Kamara to the defense, and who is next up?

Guskey: This is a very significant loss for Kansas, losing a veteran linebacker like Bangally Kamara to a non-contact injury in practice and it being unclear when Kamara will return. The Jayhawks have already been dealing with multiple other injuries at the position that have affected their depth there.

Next up is Jon Jon Kamara. The linebacker has garnered a lot of praise during the early parts of his career at KU, and he has a lot of potential, but as a redshirt freshman ,this will still be the biggest test he’s faced since coming to college.

Q: Some Mizzou fans will call this the most important game of their season. Is that the same in Lawrence?

Guskey: If Kansas fans had to pick out one game on the schedule that matters to them most, it’s hard to see them picking any matchup other than Missouri. It’s the renewal of a rivalry with deep historical ties.

As former star Kansas running back Devin Neal told me recently, Kansas State is indeed the program’s in-state rival. But there’s more hatred for Missouri, and he wishes the series had come back earlier so he’d been able to play in at least one of these games against the Tigers.