Kansas coach Lance Leipold hasn’t experienced his school’s rivalry game against Missouri yet, but he will in a Saturday showdown in Columbia, Mo.
The Jayhawks (2-0) and Tigers (1-0) will meet for the first time since 2011, when Missouri won 24-10 in the 110th meeting between the teams.
Before Missouri left the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference in 2012, this Border War game was an annual event that fired up boosters on both sides.
“You can tell people are excited, and it’s good,” said Leipold, who took over at Kansas in 2021. “I think that’s what makes college football what it is. We believe in doing things the right way. Compete hard on the field, have it settled there, not in a parking lot or in the stands or all those different things that may happen at times. We want to make sure that we’re at our best when our best is needed.”
Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz admired the rivalry from afar, before he got into college coaching, and remembers watching the games on television.
“Anything that stirs the passion of your fan base is important, especially when you ask your fans to do so much,” he said. “… Any time you get a chance to stir their passion, I think it’s important that your team is ready to play.”
Kansas won its first two games this season, topping Fresno State and Wagner by the combined score of 77-14. Quarterback Jalon Daniels completed 36-of-45 passes for 456 yards and seven touchdowns.
His top targets are Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (nine catches, 154 yards, two touchdowns) and Cam Pickett (eight catches, 106 yards, three touchdowns).
Daniels also rushed for 65 yards, giving the Jayhawks another weapon to go with running backs Daniel Hishaw Jr. (158 yards, one touchdown on 27 carries) and Leshon Williams (57 yards, one TD) in the ground game.
Williams is expected back against Missouri after sitting out the Wagner game with an injury. On the downside, linebackers Bangally Kamara and Joseph Sipp Jr., as well as punter Finn Lappin, are not expected to play due to injury.
Missouri opened its season by routing Central Arkansas 61-6. Penn State transfer Beau Pribula had a successful debut, completing 23-of-28 for passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns.
He also ran 10 times for 65 yards and two touchdowns.
“He’s very good quarterback and he’s difficult to defend because he’s a really good dual-threat guy,” Leipold said.
Sam Horn was competing with Pribula for the quarterback job, but he suffered a long-term leg injury on his only play in the game. Missouri also lost standout kicker Blake Craig to a season-ending knee injury.
Robert Meyer will handle placekicking and freshman Matt Zollers will serve as the No. 2 quarterback.
Ahmad Hardy (10 carries, 100 yards, one TD) is the lead running back for the Tigers, and Marquis Johnson (five catches, 134 yards, one touchdown) and Kevin Coleman (six catches, 48 yards) are Pribula’s top targets.