Missouri and Kansas are set for another Border Showdown on Friday night, and both teams arrive after routine Week 1 wins over FCS opponents. This time, though, the rivalry gets the spotlight again in the 2026 edition, with Missouri carrying the edge both in the recent series and across the all-time ledger.
The Tigers have taken four straight against the Jayhawks and lead the series 57-55-9 overall. Last year’s meeting was the first between the programs since 2011, and Missouri now gets another chance to extend its run.
A big part of Missouri’s Week 1 success came from Donovan Olugbode, who looked like the Tigers’ most dangerous weapon. He finished with seven catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns, and he appears headed for a larger piece of the offense after posting 30 receptions for 401 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman.
The bigger-picture numbers also point Missouri’s way. The Tigers posted an adjusted EPA per play of +0.27 last season, which ranked 18th in the country, and the expectation is that they won’t fall off much in 2026. Kansas may improve from last year, but the Jayhawks still have work to do to close the gap.
Quarterback play was the main question hanging over Missouri’s offense entering the season, with Austin Simmons the player under the microscope. He answered that concern in Week 1 by throwing for 252 yards and four touchdowns, a performance that gives Missouri plenty of confidence heading into Week 2.
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
In Other News...
Missouri Faces A Rivalry Hurdle Fans Know All Too Well
Missouri heads into Friday night with a familiar kind of pressure attached to a rivalry game that has been a long time coming. The Tigers will be in Lawrence to face Kansas, and it is the first time in 25 years Missouri has had a chance to win a true road game there. The last time the Tigers did it was back in 2001, during Gary Pinkels first season, and these programs have not met in Lawrence since 2005.
The setting adds another layer to a rivalry that already carried a long break before it picked back up last season. Missouris departure from the Big 12 led to a 14-year pause in the series, so even the return of the matchup has felt like a reunion with unfinished business. Now the Tigers get another shot in one of the sports more familiar border battles, with the location alone making this one feel different from the first meeting after the hiatus. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzous Shot At No. 1 Nebraska Ended In A Frustrating Twist
Missouris volleyball showdown with No. 1 Nebraska in the unusual setting of Wrigley Field was shaping up to be one of those late-season spectacles that felt bigger than a regular nonconference match. Instead, dropping temperatures and rising humidity turned the floor slick enough to force repeated stoppages while crews tried to clean and reset the playing surface.
After nearly an hour of delays, the match was suspended and the teams were left with a frustrated wait for a make-up date. Both coaches said they want to find a future opening to finish what started in Chicago, leaving Missouri with the sting of an interrupted chance against the nations top team and no clear answer yet on when the rest will be played. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas Wrigley Showcase Just Turned Into A Strange Big Ten Problem
The Wrigley Field spotlight turned into an awkward early shutdown for Nebraska and Missouri, with their womens volleyball match halted just minutes into the first set after excessive moisture left the outdoor court unsafe. Coaches and staff tried to dry the surface, but officials ultimately chose player safety over continuing a showcase that had been built around the novelty of playing in a baseball stadium.
For Missouri, the bigger issue now is what comes next in a Big Ten scheduling wrinkle that has no easy fix. The league said the match cannot simply be rescheduled back at Wrigley, and a later decision will determine whether it gets finished at all and, if so, where that would happen. For a match that was supposed to be a one-of-a-kind event, the uncertainty is now the main storyline. [Read more 🡒]