3 Things to Watch in Mizzou's Border War Matchup against Kansas

The Tigers have their first big test of the season against a longtime border state rival.

Aug 28, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers tight end Brett Norfleet (87) celebrates after scoring against the Central Arkansas Bears during the first half of the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The Missouri Tigers will play one of their biggest and most impactful games in recent memory on Saturday. They'll kick off with the Kansas Jayhawks for the first time in 14 years in a game that will test both teams early in the season.

The Tigers sit at 1-0 on the season after a 61-6 victory over Central Arkansas in Week 1, while the Jayhawks have made easy work of their first two opponents as well. Both teams are set up for solid seasons, but a loss for either squad would put a damper on those plans.

The Jayhawks are replacing two players now on NFL rosters in cornerback Cobee Bryant and running back Devin Neal. So far, the players to rise into those spots have been good. But, similar to the Tigers, this is the first time they can prove themselves this season against real competition.

"They've got some really good players, they did an excellent job rebuilding the roster from last year," Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz said to the media on Tuesday.

With all that and more, here are a few stories to watch as the Jayhawks travel to Columbia.

First test of 2025

It's only Week 2 of the season, but the Tigers already have a huge test. Despite what outsiders, especially Missouri fans, might say, the Jayhawks have a solid, well-balanced roster. They've blown out both of their first opponents in Fresno State and Wagner, and given some of the mistakes the Tigers made against Central Arkansas, the two teams match up well.

This will be an excellent gauge to see how the Tigers handle a better opponent and, in general, high-pressure moments.

READ: Upon Further Review: Mizzou 61, Central Arkansas 6

At the same time, the Tigers have to manage the stakes that comes with the rivalry. It adds another level of pressure on the final result of the game, on top of wanting to stay set up for a successful season.

"We got our hands full between understanding the rivalry and the intensity of the game, and understanding that the game is played on the field," Drinkwitz said.

This may be the first pressure-packed game of this magnitude for many players on Missouri's roster. A guy like Ahmad Hardy, who spent his first season at Louisiana-Monroe, certainly hasn't been in a game like the one he's about to play in. Multiple young players on the roster likely haven't, either.

That will make leaning on players like center Connor Tollison, defensive end Zion Young, wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. and other veterans important.

Beau's first big moment

Aug 28, 2025; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Beau Pribula (9) cocks the ball back to find a receiver in a matchup against the Central Arkansas Bears in Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. | Cal Tobias/MissouriOnSi

Let's get one thing clear, this isn't Beau Pribula's first big game of his career.

He was in multiple ridiculous environments for Penn State over his last two seasons and helped win many of those games. He made appearances against Ohio State and Oregon, won the Nittany Lions the game against Wisconsin and contributed some rushing yards in a win over No. 19 Illinois.

That being said, it will be his first time manning a team in a big game like this one. It'll be a nerve-wracking one for the team, based on the history of the matchup alone, but Pribula and the Tigers have a plan to go through their game plan.

"We need to approach this game just like any other game, even though it's it's not," Pribula said on the Tiger Talk radio show Tuesday. "I think taking the emotion out of it, and like any game, it's not going to be perfect. How do we respond to adversity? Just playing our game and focusing on one play at a time."

This will be one of the largest tests of Pribula's career so far. He showed he can sling the ball around against Central Arkansas. He now has the chance to show that off against valid competition for the first time as a starting quarterback.

Shutting down an explosive Jayhawk offense

Aug 29, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) passes during the first half against the Wagner Seahawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | William Purnell-Imagn Images

Even if their first two opponents aren't the best teams they'll face all season, the Jayhawks posted 1,014 total offensive yards through those first two games. 631 of those yards came in Week 2 against Wagner.

Quarterback Jalon Daniels threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns against the Seahawks. Wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. made up 130 of those yards and two of those touchdowns. That will certainly be a duo that defensive coordinator Corey Batoon will be focused on stopping.

A wide variety of running backs and wide receivers got in on the fun against the Seahawks. Kansas was in a similar situation, facing Wagner as the Tigers were with Central Arkansas, trying to prevent injuries and giving many faces a chance to get on the field. It was still a glimpse of how explosive the Kansas offense can be.

This is the first time the Kansas offense will be facing a legitimate defense, so they will also have to deal with those challenges. Both teams are truly in similar spots at this very moment in the season and the outcome will affect the trajectories for both teams.