The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Border War

Missouri56-48-8Kansas
Power Program III#27 of 138–National Program III#68 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →
1 player crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Missouri leads the all-time series 56-48-8. They've met 112 times since 1901. Missouri has won the last 5.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Missouri
Win total
7.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+2
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +13
What fans are saying · player performance
fans believe the team's kicker misses too many field goals
Well Army better score a TD cuz there’s no fucking way I trust that kicker again
Verified verbatim
Kansas
Win total
4.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+1
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +21
What fans are saying · player performance
fans argue the defense struggles to stop opponents on 4th-down attempts
This team can't compete for anything until they can learn how to win a close game, the amount of drops and the inability of our defense to get a stop on 3rd and 4th down is going to cost us several more games this season if they can't get it fixed
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1901–2026

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeMissouriKansasevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Missouri won, gray: Kansas won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Missouri has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Missouri led 12 and Kansas led 11.

more passmore runMissouriKansas2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262012Missouri 11.8 pts2004Kansas 7.4 ptsKansas won 31-142021Missouri 7.3 pts
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

Kansas once won 5 in a row. The biggest win was Missouri by 48 in 1969. The biggest crowd, 80,537, was in 2007.

The coaching duels

Dan Devine vs Jack Mitchell6-1-2
Gary Pinkel vs Mark Mangino4-4
Don Faurot vs Jules Sikes5-1
Bob Stull vs Glen Mason2-3
Don Faurot vs Gwinn Henry4-0
Dan Devine vs Pepper Rodgers2-2

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
116-85
Missouri leads
1st-rounders
19-6
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
MissouriKansas
1960s7-5
1970s20-32
1980s17-13
1990s5-10
2000s18-9
2010s24-8
2020s25-8

Best picks, either side

1968Russ Washington Offensive Tackle · San Diego ChargersRd 1, pick 4#4 overall
2001Justin Smith Defensive End · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 4#4 overall
1971John Riggins Running Back · New York JetsRd 1, pick 6#6 overall
2025Armand Membou Offensive Tackle · New York JetsRd 1, pick 7#7 overall
2011Aldon Smith Defensive End · San Francisco 49ersRd 1, pick 7#7 overall
1977Mike Butler Defensive End · Green Bay PackersRd 1, pick 9#9 overall
2011Blaine Gabbert Quarterback · Jacksonville JaguarsRd 1, pick 10#10 overall
1981David Verser Wide Receiver · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 10#10 overall

Recent meetings

2026Missouri38-21
2025Missouri42-31
2011Missouri24-10
2010Missouri35-7
2009Missouri41-39Kansas — decided by 2
2008Kansas40-37Missouri — decided by 3
2007Missouri36-28Kansas — both ranked
2006Missouri42-17
2005Kansas13-3
2004Kansas31-14
2003Kansas35-14
2002Missouri36-12
2001Missouri38-34
2000Kansas38-17

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Missouri’s chance to win through that meeting. The loudest meeting for fans was 2026: loud.

2026Missouri 38-21Missouri won 38-21 at Kansas. Chance to win started at 53%, low 29%, high better than 99%.Loud
2025Missouri 42-31Missouri won 42-31 vs Kansas. Chance to win started at 74%, low 19%, high 99%.Busy
“There is a God. And he hates Misery just as much as us!”
A Kansas fan
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2026
    “There is a God. And he hates Misery just as much as us!”
    A Kansas fan
  • 2025
    “Time to go on a Forrest Gump length run to let all of my rage out.”
    A Kansas fan

Share the loudest meeting

This season’s plays, Missouri and Kansas

Official highlights with our numbers, from the 9 plays on film when they met.

  1. Q2, 5:22 · Missouri down 7, ties itJamal Roberts runs 64 yards for a touchdownMissouri at Kansas, week 2Q2, 5:22 · Missouri 7, Kansas 76464-yard touchdown run6464-yard touchdown run64-yard touchdown runJ.Roberts rush middle for 64 yards gain to the KU00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN, kick goodWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  2. Q2, 1:48 · Kansas breaks the tieIsaiah Marshall finds Nik McMillan for a 20-yard touchdownMissouri at Kansas, week 2Q2, 1:48 · Kansas 14, Missouri 7Kansas took the lead in the second quarterKansas took the lead in the second quarterI.Marshall pass complete deep left to N.McMillan caught at MU00, for 20 yards to the MU00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN, kick goodWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  3. Q3, 11:40 · Missouri breaks the tieAustin Simmons finds Donovan Olugbode for an 8-yard touchdownMissouri at Kansas, week 2Q3, 11:40 · Missouri 21, Kansas 14Go-ahead score for Missouri in the third quarterGo-ahead score for Missouri in the third quarterA.Simmons pass complete short right to D.Olugbode caught at KU00, for 8 yards to the KU00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN, kick goodWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  4. Q2, 14:25 · Missouri tiedJ. Roberts fumbles and Kansas recoversMissouri at Kansas, week 2Q2, 14:25 · Missouri 0, Kansas 0▼11%Missouri’s chance to win, 57% to 46%▼11%Missouri’s chance to win, 57% to 46%J.Roberts rush middle for 4 yards gain to the MU35 fumbled by J.Roberts at MU31 forced by L.Harris III recovered by KU T.Davis at MU35, End Of PlayWatch from this playCFB ON FOX
  5. Q3, 11:28 · Kansas down 7Robert Woodyard Jr. intercepts Isaiah Marshall and returns it 27 yardsMissouri at Kansas, week 2Q3, 11:28 · Kansas 14, Missouri 217Kansas’s turnover led to a touchdown7Kansas’s turnover led to a touchdownKansas’s turnover led to a touchdownI.Marshall pass intercepted by R.Woodyard Jr. at KU39 R.Woodyard Jr. return 27 yards to the KU12 (C.Bruhn)Watch from this playCFB ON FOX
  6. Q2, 0:30 · Missouri down 7, ties itAustin Simmons finds Cayden Lee for a 27-yard touchdownMissouri at Kansas, week 2Q2, 0:30 · Missouri 14, Kansas 14Missouri tied the game in the second quarterMissouri tied the game in the second quarterA.Simmons pass complete deep middle to C.Lee caught at KU00, for 27 yards to the KU00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN, kick goodWatch from this playCFB ON FOX