Well, the sport is cruel. After what went down as one of the best starts in Kansas history, the Jayhawks stumbled for the rest of the first Border Showdown since 2011, as Kansas fell to Missouri by a heartbreaking 42-31 score.
After jumping to a 21-6 lead over the Tigers, Lance Leipold’s team looked in cruise control. Yet the SEC side had a second-quarter reset where they compiled 15 straight points to tie the game at 21-21.
By the end of the third, after each team traded shots, Missouri saw a 28-24 lead with 15 minutes to go.
Kansas would strike next with a touchdown to go up by three with 8:45 to play yet, the Jayhawks would stutter in the slightest fashion with two Missouri touchdowns sandwiching a three-and-out to put the game to bed, giving Missouri a 42-31 lead that would ultimately close out the game.
There will be a number of stats thrown out about this game. A few worth noting for one is the massive rushing differential, which saw Missouri outgain Kansas 249-31
Another being the time of possession disparity. While this stat has been questioned over its effectiveness in the game but it will always hurt when your opponent totals 39:21 of time with the ball in its hand.
But possibly the stat that will hurt the most is that tonight marked Missouri’s biggest comeback win since 2016, as that 15-point squandered lead painted an ugly picture for the Jayhawks’ return to the Border Showdown
The Jayhawks will have a bye week next week before beginning Big 12 play with a stout West Virginia set to visit the Jayhawks on September 20th.