Week two will see one of college football’s most exciting matches from last season repeat itself as the Kansas Jayhawks are set to take on the No. 25 Missouri Tigers in the Border Showdown. For the Jayhawks, they will be one week off from what should be a tune-up fixture against the LIU Sharks, an FCS side. Meanwhile, Missouri will be dealing with their own FCS opponent in Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
The longtime rivalry that is heating back up
These two schools went an astounding 14 years without playing one another. From what was an every-year staple to a completely abandoned fixture. However, last season saw the two meet in what was an exhilarating 42-31 matchup that ended with Missouri outlasting Kansas, as the Jayhawks’ high-powered offense eventually ran out of gas and their defense gave up one too many big plays.
The last time Kansas walked away with a win against Missouri was in 2008, when the two put a classic together that ended with KU winning 40-37. Over the last 10 fixtures, the Jayhawks are 4-6.
Missouri continues to churn under Eli Drinkwitz
Since Drinkwitz took over ahead of the 2020 season, the Tigers have been slowly ascending. Drinkwitz has notched at least eight wins in his last three seasons, and Missouri has peaked as high as No. 6 in the country under the former Appalachian State head coach.
While last season saw a bit of a drop-off from the previous two years, winning just eight games, it is worth mentioning that Missouri did face five teams ranked in the AP Top 25, where they held an 0-5 record, sustaining losses against No. 8 Alabama, No. 10 Vanderbilt, No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 8 Oklahoma, and No. 20 UVA in the Gator Bowl, but this is a team with a lot of turnover.
The Tigers have had to reshape their roster and coaching staff
Via the NCAA Transfer Portal, Mizzou reeled in 30 transfers, including 15 on defense, 13 on offense and two special teams acquisitions. Missouri also lost its former offensive coordinator, Kirby Moore, who took the Washington State head coaching gig, and replaced him with former Michigan offensive coordinator Chip Lindsay.
The most talked-about transfer on this team throughout the offseason was quarterback Austin Simmons. Simmons was deemed Ole Miss’ starter last year under former head coach Lane Kiffin, but when he got injured in stepped Trinidad Chambliss and Simmons quickly fell to the second string. Simmons brings 1,026 passing yards, 6 touchdowns and 5 interceptions with him, but any quarterback who Kiffin deems good enough to play for him has plenty of credit in the bank. Simmons was rated as a 93 overall transfer according to 247Sports.
Of course, it is also worth mentioning that the status of star running back Ahmad Hardy is still unknown. Hardy was shot in early May in the upper leg while at a concert, but has since been medically cleared and is expected to make a full recovery. Earlier this month, Drinkwitz ruled Hardy out for Missouri’s season-opener, saying, “Hopefully, he can keep working and try to get back as soon as possible. Really don’t have a timetable on that. It’s up to his body and his response.”
This will be a tough game for the Jayhawks; the Booth will have to be loud and KU will need to keep the mistakes to a minimum. Drinkwitz is tallying a highly-rated transfer class, but with this matchup being so early in the season, both sides will still be ironing out their respective kinks.
While Missouri will likely ented into this match as heavy favorites, it will be a great litmus test for Kansas' revamped squad.
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