Missouri Rallies Past Kansas 42-31 in Electric Return of the Border War

Lily Mantel / Missourian

For the first time in 14 years, the Border War returned to the gridiron—and it didn’t disappoint. In front of a raucous, sold-out crowd at Faurot Field, the Missouri Tigers stormed back from a 15-point deficit to defeat longtime rival Kansas 42-31, rekindling one of college football’s fiercest rivalries with a game full of drama, momentum swings, and late-game heroics. Quarterback Beau Pribula led the charge for Missouri, throwing for 334 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Jamal Roberts sealed the win with a 63-yard touchdown sprint in the final minutes. Wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. hauled in 10 catches for 126 yards and a touchdown, as the Tigers (2-0) outgained the Jayhawks by over 200 yards in a rollercoaster contest.

“I thought that was one of the coolest things,” said Mizzou head coach Eli Drinkwitz. “It wasn’t our players folding in the moment that caused us to have issues—it was players making plays in the moment that elevated us.”

A Rivalry Renewed

First played in 1891, the Missouri-Kansas rivalry stretches beyond football, rooted in political and territorial conflicts dating back to the Civil War era. Saturday marked the first football meeting since 2011, when Missouri departed the Big 12 for the SEC—a move that paused the rivalry and heightened the animosity between the programs.

That tension was evident from the opening kickoff.

After Missouri struck first on a 32-yard touchdown run by Ahmad Hardy, Kansas (2-1) responded with authority. Quarterback Jalon Daniels orchestrated a touchdown drive, then watched his defense return a fumble for a score moments later. A quarterback sneak made it 21-6 in favor of the Jayhawks early in the second quarter.

But instead of folding, Missouri rallied.

The Tigers dominated the second quarter, holding Kansas to just four plays for minus-18 yards while clawing back with a touchdown, a safety, and two field goals to tie the game at halftime—despite Kansas not trailing once before the break.

Trading Blows Late

After a third-quarter Kansas field goal gave the visitors a 24-21 lead, Missouri responded with a meticulous 75-yard touchdown drive. Daniels answered with a pair of deep throws and a second touchdown pass to tight end DeShawn Hanika, putting Kansas back on top 31-24 with under nine minutes remaining.

But Pribula and the Tigers weren’t done.

Twice converting on fourth down, Missouri marched down the field and found tight end Brett Norfleet for his second touchdown grab of the day, giving the Tigers a 35-31 lead with 4:14 to play. After forcing a Kansas punt, Roberts broke free for the game-clinching score, sending black-and-gold faithful into a frenzy.

“Growing up a Mizzou kid, you always heard about this game and how big it is,” Norfleet said. “It’s playing for the guy to the left and the right of you, and it’s also playing for the past teams that have played KU, and not letting them down.”

The Takeaway

• Missouri: Showed toughness, poise, and execution in high-pressure moments. Pribula continues to evolve as a confident leader, while the Tigers’ ability to adjust defensively in the second quarter turned the tide.

• Kansas: Played aggressive football early but couldn’t hold the line late. Defensive breakdowns on fourth down and a failure to contain Missouri’s late push proved costly. Still, the Jayhawks remain a dangerous team entering Big 12 play.

Up Next

• Missouri continues its six-game homestand next Saturday against Louisiana.

• Kansas opens Big 12 play at home against West Virginia on September 20.