No. 23 Missouri did not just beat Kansas on Friday night. The Tigers took the Border War back across the state line, weathered a sloppy start and a hostile crowd, then used two second-half takeaways and a sharp passing night from Austin Simmons to pull away 38-21 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
It was Missouri’s fifth straight win in the series and the first trip to Lawrence since 2005. The Tigers improved to 2-0. Kansas fell to 1-1 and has not beaten Missouri since 2008.
The first quarter was scoreless and ugly. Both offenses stalled. Missouri even had a field-goal attempt blocked. Kansas turned that into the game’s first score when Austin Alexander scooped it and raced 88 yards for a touchdown, putting the Jayhawks up 7-0 early in the second.
Missouri answered immediately. Jamal Roberts broke free for a 64-yard touchdown run to tie it. Kansas went back in front on Isaiah Marshall’s 20-yard strike to Nik McMillan. Simmons answered again, finding Cayden Lee for a 27-yard score with 30 seconds left in the half. The teams went to the locker room tied 14-14.
The third quarter belonged to Robert Woodyard Jr. and the Tigers’ defense. Woodyard recovered a Marshall fumble. Simmons needed only a few plays to hit Donovan Olugbode for an 8-yard touchdown and a 21-14 lead. On Kansas’ next snap, Woodyard dropped into coverage and intercepted Marshall, setting up Xai’Shaun Edwards’ short touchdown run. Suddenly it was 28-14.
Kansas answered with a long drive and a Marshall touchdown pass to make it 28-21 late in the third. That was as close as the Jayhawks would get. Blake Craig drilled a 32-yard field goal early in the fourth to make it 31-21. Simmons then converted a fourth-down throw to Brett Norfleet from 13 yards out with just over two minutes left, putting the game away at 38-21.
Simmons finished 19-of-29 for 292 yards and three touchdowns. Roberts carried 28 times for 125 yards and a score. Olugbode (six catches, 121 yards, TD) and Lee (six catches, 120 yards, TD) both topped 100 yards. Missouri outgained Kansas 469-255 and forced three turnovers while committing one.
After the game, head coach Eli Drinkwitz did not hide his feelings about how Kansas framed the night.
“I was disappointed in the rivalry, the turn that it took today. I thought that was uncalled for. This is about two teams playing football, and especially on 9/11, when we need more unity now than ever. To be putting some stuff on your screen, celebrating — I mean, everybody’s got complicated pasts. To make that an icon was bizarre to me. I’m just glad that this whole right versus wrong bullcrap that was started just got settled on a football field, because it’s a football game. It’s an American football game that people love to come watch and cheer for their teams. It’s not even deeper than that. I get there’s a past to it, but why are we stirring that bullcrap up? It’s 9/11. This country needs unity now more than ever. I was embarrassed for them, to be honest, and that’s why I tried to embarrass them at the end.”
The Tigers did that. They took the late lead, added the field goal, converted fourth down for the final touchdown, and left Lawrence with the win and another chapter in a series they now control. Missouri hosts Troy next Saturday. Kansas heads to London to face Arizona State.
For one night on the border, the scoreboard — and the coach — made the point clear.
