Mizzou quarterback Beau Pribula threw three touchdown passes in the Tigers’ win over archrival Kansas on Saturday. (Photo: Ellie Parker)

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Kansas (2-1)2103731
Mizzou (2-0)61571442

Cedric Williams
Senior Editor

COLUMBIA, MO — Beau Pribula threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns, Jamal Roberts ran for 143 yards and the clinching score, and the University of Missouri football team rallied to beat archrival Kansas, 42-31, Saturday afternoon, in the first edition of the ‘Border War’ in more than a decade.

Missouri trailed by two touchdowns in the first quarter, but scored five touchdowns of its own in the final three quarters to pull off a thrilling comeback victory in front of a sold out Faurot Field crowd of 57,321.

It was Mizzou’ 10th victory in the last three seasons when trailing at some point during the second half, its 21st straight non-conference home win, and the Tigers’ 12th home win in a row overall, extending the program’s longest home winning streak in more than 80 years.

“I thought it was a great performance by all our guys,” Pribula said, after winning his second straight game as Missouri’s starting quarterback. “We had a great start. We went right down the field on them. But then they answered right back with three straight touchdowns. But we didn’t back down or get rattled or anything. We just kept playing our game and got ourselves a win. It was a great day.”

Several players contributed to the win. Both primary running backs had over 100 yards rushing — the first time two Mizzou backs have done that since 2017.

Ahmad Hardy had 112 yards on 25 carries and scored the first touchdown of the game, while Roberts added his 143 yards on just 13 carries, including a blazing 63-yard run late in the fourth quarter that helped put the game away for the Tigers.

Receiver Kevin Coleman Jr., had 10 catches for 126 yards and a touchdown, and tight end Brett Norfleet grabbed seven catches for 76 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns in the second half that gave Missouri the lead for good.

“I thought that was one of the coolest things: It wasn’t our players folding in the moment that caused us to have issues, it was players making plays in the moment that elevated us,” Mizzou head coach Eli Drinkwitz said.

Mizzou WR Kevin Coleman breaks for the goal line during Saturday’s game against Kansas. (Photo: Ellie Parker)

The series, which began in 1891 and remains among the most-played in Division I football, had been on hiatus since 2011, when Missouri left the Big 12 for the SEC. That move only added another layer of animosity to a rivalry between states that traces its history to the Civil War, and the bloody conflict between slave states and free states.

The tension amongst both teams was evident from the opening kickoff and lasted until to the final seconds ticked off the clock.

“There’s a lot around it,” Kansas head coach Lance Leipold said, “but at the same time, it’s two teams playing.”

Hardy got the action going with a 32-yard touchdown run on Mizzou’s first drive. The point-after attempt was blocked, so the Tigers led 6-0.

Kansas responded with a flurry of scoring plays to take the lead and early control of the game.

First, quarterback Jalon Daniels threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to receiver DeShawn Hanika that along with the PAT gave the Jayhawks a 7-6 lead. Then, on Missouri’s next possession, Pribula was hit from behind on a scramble and fumbled the ball. It bounced right to Kansas’ Austin Alexander, who returned it 28 yards for a touchdown that put the Jayhawks up 14-6.

Then on Kansas’ next possession, the Jayhawks went 53 yards on six plays, capped by a Daniels 1-yard run that pushed their lead to 21-6.

The raucous Mizzou crowd had been turned silent. In the second quarter though, the Tigers re-took control.

Missouri outgained Kansas 186 yards to -18 and fought back to tie the game at 21 by halftime.

Mizzou LB Nick Rodriguez tackles Kansas WR Emmanuel Henderson during Saturday’s ‘Border War’ game at Faurot Field. (Photo: Ellie Parker)

Missouri closed the gap with a 15-play, 75-yard drive on which they converted three third downs and scored on a three-yard, fourth-down pass from Pribula to Kevin Coleman Jr.

On the next play, Zion Young sacked Daniels for a loss of 25 yards and forced a fumble that bounded into the endzone where Kansas offensive lineman Kobe Baynes fell on the ball for a Missouri safety. After the free kick, Mizzou marched 63 yards in 17 plays and took another 8:40 off the clock, leading to a 25-yard FG by Robert Meyer — his first as a Tiger — to close to within 21-18.

Missouri forced a KU punt with 38 seconds left, and after Roberts dashed 39 yards and Pribula and Coleman combined on a 50-yard pass-and-run play, Meyer kicked a 20-yard field goal on the half’s final play to knot the score.

The Jayhawks re-took the lead with a field goal of their own midway through the third quarter. But Mizzou answered with an 11-yard touchdown toss from Pribula to Norfleet that sent the Tigers into the fourth quarter leading 28-24.

Kansas responded with the second Daniels-to-Hanika touchdown pass to regain the lead 31-28. But Mizzou answered right back, with a Pribula-to-Norfleet 27-yard touchdown on fourth down that gave the Tigers the lead for good.

“Growing up a Mizzou kid, you always heard about this game and how big it is,” Norfleet said. “It’s playing for the guy to the left and the right of you, and it’s also playing for the past teams that have played KU, and not letting them down.”

Mizzou DE Zion Young sacks Kansas QB Jalon Daniels during Saturday’s game at Faurot Field. (Photo: Ellie Parker)

Kansas had one last chance, but Missouri stopped them on a three-and-out, thanks to a big-hit tackle by linebacker Josiah Trotter, which gave the Tigers the ball back with just over two minutes left.

That’s when Roberts put the game away on a stretch play to the left, where he broke free and sped up the sideline for a 63-yard scoring run that left no doubt about who was going to win the ‘Border War’ on this day.

“We knew we needed a first down,” Roberts said. “But the O-line just caved everything in and I had all this room.”

Teammates celebrate with Brett Norfleet after his touchdown gave Mizzou the lead in its win over Kansas on Saturday. (Photo: Ellie Parker)

Mizzou is now 2-0 on the season, while Kansas suffered its first loss and fell to 2-1.

The Tigers will be back in action, next Saturday, when they’ll host the University of Louisiana. Kickoff at Faurot Field is slated for 3 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on SEC Network+.

SCORING SUMMARY

PeriodTeamTimeSCORING PLAYKUMIZ
1stMIZ10:53MIZ – Hardy, Ahmad 32 yd run (PAT blocked), 5 plays, 71 yards, TOP 02:0906
1stKAN08:09KAN – Hanika, DeShawn 15 yd pass from Daniels, Jalon (Marjan, Laith kick) 7 plays, 62 yards, TOP 02:4176
1stKAN06:53KAN – Alexander, Austin 28 yd fumble recovery (Marjan, Laith kick)146
1stKAN02:13KAN – Daniels, Jalon 1 yd run (Marjan, Laith kick), 6 plays, 53 yards, TOP 02:33216
2ndMIZ10:10MIZ – Coleman Jr., Kevin 3 yd pass from Pribula, Beau (Meyer, Robert kick), 15 plays, 75 yards, TOP 07:032113
2ndMIZ09:49MIZ – Safety2115
2ndMIZ01:03MIZ – Meyer, Robert 25 yd field goal
17 plays, 63 yards, TOP 08:40		2118
2ndMIZ00:00MIZ – Meyer, Robert 20 yd field goal
4 plays, 84 yards, TOP 00:28		2121
3rdKAN05:48KAN – Marjan, Laith 26 yd field goal
11 plays, 56 yards, TOP 04:29		2421
3rdMIZ00:24MIZ – Norfleet, Brett 11 yd pass from Pribula, Beau (Meyer, Robert kick), 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:242428
4thKAN08:45KAN – Hanika, DeShawn 6 yd pass from Daniels, Jalon (Marjan, Laith kick), 8 plays, 92 yards, TOP 03:513128
4thMIZ04:14MIZ – Norfleet, Brett 27 yd pass from Pribula, Beau (Meyer, Robert kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:313135
4thMIZ01:49MIZ – Roberts, Jamal 63 yd run (Meyer, Robert kick), 3 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:563142

2025 MIZZOU TIGERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DateTimeAtOpponentLocationTVRadioResults
August 28, 2025 (Thursday)6:30 pmHomeCentral ArkansasFaurot FieldTiger Radio NetworkW 61-6 (1-0)
September 6, 2025 (Saturday)2:30 pmHomeKansasFaurot FieldTiger Radio NetworkW 42-31 (2-0)
September 13, 2025 (Saturday)3 pmHomeLouisianaFaurot FieldTiger Radio Network
September 20, 2025 (Saturday)TBDHomeSouth CarolinaFaurot Field6 pm or 6:30 pmTiger Radio Network
September 27, 2025 (Saturday)TBDHomeMassachusettsFaurot FieldTBDTiger Radio Network
October 11, 2025 (Saturday)11 amHomeAlabamaFaurot Field11 amTiger Radio Network
October 18, 2025 (Saturday)TBDAwayAuburnAuburn, Ala. / Jordan-Hare StadiumTBDTiger Radio Network
October 25, 2025 (Saturday)TBDAwayVanderbiltNashville, Tenn. / FirstBank StadiumTBDTiger Radio Network
November 8, 2025 (Saturday)TBDHomeTexas A&MFaurot FieldTBDTiger Radio Network
November 15, 2025 (Saturday)TBDHomeMississippi StateFaurot FieldTBDTiger Radio Network
November 22, 2025 (Saturday)11 amAwayOklahomaNorman, Okla. / Memorial Stadium11 amTiger Radio Network
November 29, 2025 (Saturday)TBDAwayArkansasFayetteville, Ark. / Razorback StadiumTBDTiger Radio Network