LAWRENCE, Kan. – For the first time since 2011 and the 121st time overall, the Kansas Jayhawks and Missouri Tigers will face off on the gridiron Saturday in the return of the StorageMart Border Showdown. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m., at Faurot Field, with the action being televised by ESPN2 with Mike Monaco, Kirk Morrison and Dawn Davenport on the call.
The two programs met every season from 1919 to 2011, before the rivalry stopped when Missouri moved to the Southeastern Conference. The matchup reignites this week, with Missouri leading the all-time series 56-55-9. Missouri won the most recent matchup between the two schools in 2011, earning a 24-10 win at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Kansas last played in Columbia in 2006 and last won there in 2004.
Both teams are off to undefeated starts this season. The Jayhawks moved to 2-0 on the season on Friday night, beating Wagner 46-7. That win came on the heels of a Week 0 win over Fresno State, 31-7. The Kansas defense, under first-year defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald, has allowed just 14 points and 359 yards of total offense through two games.
Fresno State and Wagner have combined to rush for just 90 yards in two games. The 90 rushing yards allowed are the fewest allowed through two games since 2009 and the 14 points allowed are also the fewest allowed through two games since ’09.
Quarterback Jalon Daniels has had an explosive start to the season to lead the offensive side. Daniels has already thrown for 456 yards, seven touchdowns and just one interception in two games. The seven touchdown passes are the most by a Kansas quarterback through the first two games of the season since at least 1996. Daniels is one of just three Power 4 quarterbacks nationally to have 50-plus touchdown passes and 7,000-plus yards at one school in his career.
Daniels has gotten plenty of help on offense, including from running back Daniel Hishaw Jr., who has rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown so far this season and receivers Emmanuel Henderson Jr., and Cam Pickett, who have combined for 17 catches, 260 yards and five touchdowns in just two games. Daniels has completed passes to 15 different receivers through two games.
Missouri enters the game at 1-0 on the season, having beaten Central Arkansas, 61-6, last Thursday. Quarterback Beau Pribula, a transfer from Penn State, threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-28 passing in the opener. Running back Ahmad Hardy, a transfer from Louisiana-Monroe, rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Defensively, Missouri was led by linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, who had eight tackles and one tackle-for-loss against UCA. Trotter transferred from West Virginia, where he played with current KU linebacker and leading tackler, Trey Lathan.