Mizzou vs. KU football rivalry reignites
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Mizzou and KU will meet on the gridiron Saturday for the first time since 2011, reviving a football rivalry that's more than a century old.
Why it matters: As the unofficial middle ground between schools, Kansas City is a mixed bag of Tigers and Jayhawks.
- And if there's anything we know about KC, it's that we love our sports.
Context: The teams used to play each other regularly when they were both in the Big 12. That ended when the University of Missouri changed to the SEC (except for wrestling) in 2012.
- But the rivalry has roots deeper than sports.
Flashback: The rivalry between Kansas and Missouri dates back to the mid-1800s. In the years before the Civil War, the states were embroiled in violent clashes over slavery during a period known as "Bleeding Kansas." Armed groups on both sides — including anti-slavery "Jayhawkers" from Kansas and pro-slavery "Border Ruffians" from Missouri — carried out raids along the border.
- The legacy of that conflict lingered for decades. When the schools played their first football game in 1891, just a generation later, some cited that history to explain the rivalry's intensity.
What they're saying: "You can see that there's an extra intensity during the game," KU coach Lance Leipold told ESPN of recent border war basketball games.
- "This is deeply seated," Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said.
💬 Travis' thought bubble: As a Mizzou grad, I remember one of the first things we learned at summer orientation was that we hate KU — even though we were already in different divisions.
Stunning stat: This will be the teams' 121st matchup.
- Mizzou holds the lead in number of wins — but the actual record is disputed, the Kansas City Star reports.
Follow the money: Fans who pined for a renewed border war put their money where their mouth was; this game is fat with cash.
- Tickets sold out before they even made it to the general public, and as of Thursday, resale tickets started at nearly $200.
- And have you seen the cost of college concessions these days?
How to watch: Kickoff is at 2:30pm in Columbia. The game will stream on ESPN2.
Go deeper: Fans should be on the lookout for team designs on Boulevard cans.