Corinna Utterback
Missouri wide receiver Marquis Johnson flies through the air to catch the ball during Mizzou’s game versus Kansas on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. Missouri is 2-0 and will face Louisiana on September 13, 2025, at Farout Field.
After nearly 14 years without a matchup, the Border War series returned Sept. 6, and the Missouri Tigers were victorious once again.
“It meant everything to win this game,” senior wideout Kevin Coleman Jr. said.
The 42-31 win over the Kansas Jayhawks allowed the Tigers to retain their bragging rights, extending their win streak in the series to four and the all-time series record to 58-54-9. Missouri reigned victorious, kicking off a celebration in Columbia.
After a career-best performance across the board in week one, graduate quarterback Beau Pribula continued to build upon his success, setting a new career high in passing yards with 334. He finished 30-for-39 on passing attempts, along with dishing out three touchdowns.
Pribula relied on his veteran targets when it mattered most, as junior tight end Brett Norfleet and Coleman Jr. have begun to emerge as Pribula’s top options.
Norfleet finished with a career-high seven catches for 76 yards, along with two touchdowns. His two touchdowns bring him to a total of three on the season, already eclipsing his 2024 season total of two.
“I think it’s growing every day,” Norfleet said about his connection with Pribula. “We actually didn’t connect on our Wednesday practice, and then we connected today, so that was cool … he’s done a great job being our QB, and I’m just super excited to see where it goes.”
Coleman Jr. shined brightest for Missouri’s receiver corps, putting up a career-best performance in the biggest game of his young tenure with the Tigers. Coleman tied his career single-game receptions record in the first half alone with eight. He nished with 10, racking up 126 yards in the process.
“We definitely got chemistry,” Coleman said about his connection with Pribula. “We’re two hard-working guys, two guys that just want to be perfect all the time. We work for perfection.”
On the ground, sophomore Ahmad Hardy and redshirt sophomore Jamal Roberts combined for 26 carries, 248 yards and two touchdowns. Roberts broke free for a 63-yard run in the fourth quarter to put the Jayhawks away, helping add to his total of 143 rushing yards, and more than doubling his previous career high of 71 yards on the ground.
While many Tigers finished with impressive stat lines en route to the monumental victory, it wasn’t smooth sailing the entire way.
A Hardy touchdown to open the game put the Tigers up 6-0. However, a blocked extra point followed by three consecutive Kansas touchdowns put Missouri down 21-6 late in the first quarter.
“It’s a fight,” head coach Eliah Drinkwitz said in regard to the conversations at the time. “Now we gotta fight.”
A Coleman Jr. touchdown, Zion Young forced fumble turned safety and two Robert Meyer field goals later, the game was tied 21-21 entering the half. Missouri would keep up the fast pace, dropping 21 points in the second half to close out the game.
The crowd at Faurot Field was energetic to say the least, creating an electric environment for the Border War showdown, but Drinkwitz wants more.
“This was the Missouri that I’ve always believed [in],” Drinkwitz said in regards to the fans. “But I’m going to challenge them. This is the expectation moving forward. It’s not just about being Kansas. It’s about being like this all the time in the SEC play.”
The Tigers will host Louisiana Sept. 13 and will begin conference play against South Carolina Sept. 20.
Edited by Colin Simmons l [email protected]
Copy edited by Avery Copeland | [email protected]
Edited by Chase Pray | [email protected]