Transfers, Takeaways Power Tigers to Border War Win

Entering the 2026 edition of the Border War in Lawrence, Missouri had not exited the Jayhawks’ home with a win in nearly 25 years.

When the Tigers outlasted Kansas in a 38-34 final back in October 2001, Kirk Farmer was MU’s quarterback and Gary Pinkel was in his inaugural season at the helm in Columbia. It would be six more years before Mizzou’s breakout season of 2007 and its famous showdown with KU at Arrowhead.

The Tigers shattered that streak Friday with a 38-21 win over their bitter rivals to the west in the first matchup played between the two schools at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium since 2005.

Austin Simmons dazzled in his second game with Mizzou, completing 19 of 29 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns.

He also solidified his connection with both Cayden Lee and Donovan Olugbode, who formed a dangerous receiving duo that overpowered the Jayhawks secondary.

Lee and Olugbode both crossed the century mark in receiving yards and grabbed a touchdown. Olugbode reached triple digits before the half for the second straight game to open up his 2026 campaign.

Simmons’ early performance kept the Tigers afloat during a sloppy opening 30 minutes.

Kansas blocked both of MU’s field goal attempts during the first half, breaking the scoreless tie when Austin Alexander returned the second block 88 yards to make it 7-0 for the hosts mid-way through the second quarter.

Mizzou’s run game was lifeless for most of the opening half, picking up just 27 yards on its first 14 carries. Jamal Roberts gave the ground game a jolt of life on the Tigers’ 15th carry, taking it 64 yards to the house and knotting the score 7-7.

Isaiah Marshall put KU back ahead with an impressive throw on the run to Nik McMillan shortly after the two-minute timeout. The redshirt sophomore had a few highlight-reel passes but struggled with consistency, connecting on just 13 of his 30 passing attempts.

He was outclassed by MU’s southpaw slinger, who led his team downfield in the two-minute drive before connecting with a streaking Cayden Lee up the middle for a 27-yard score before the half and sending the teams to the locker room tied at 14.

Fellow SEC transfer Robert Woodyard Jr. provided the defensive spark coming out of halftime that allowed Mizzou to seize the upper hand.

The linebacker stripped and recovered the ball on a fumble by Marshall on the Jayhawks’ first offensive play of the half, giving Mizzou possession at the KU 35 yard-line.

The Tigers took advantage with a five play, 34-yard drive that culminated in a touchdown by Olugbode on the slant.

Woodyard wasn’t done turning defense into offense. He dropped back into coverage and picked off Marshall on the next drive, returning to the ball 27 yards to the opposing 12 yard-line.

The interception gave Woodyard a takeaway on consecutive snaps, the first two taken by the Kansas offense after the half.

Xai’Shaun Edwards cashed in on the interception, plowing into the end zone from 10 yards out to put MU ahead 28-14 less than five minutes into the third quarter.

The Jayhawks hung around for most of the second half, cutting their deficit back to one score on a 10-yard pass to Nahzae Cox late in the third quarter before surrendering three points on a Blake Craig field goal early in the fourth.

Brett Norfleet put the game to bed with a 13-yard touchdown reception on fourth down just before the two-minute timeout, making it 38-21.

Corey Batoon’s defense put its final stamp on the game with a Nicholas Rodriguez sack to turn the ball over with 34 seconds on the clock, the exclamation point on Mizzou’s 17-point victory.

Multiple issues from the Tigers’ season opener again reared their ugly heads in week two.

The pass rush struggled to get home until the final few minutes, when they collected all four of their sacks. And MU’s offensive line failed to get push until later in the second half, also getting flagged for three false starts.

But Mizzou still found a way to go into its rival’s home stadium and secure a multi-score win.

The victory moves Eli Drinkwitz’s squad to 2-0 on the season. The Tigers now turn their attention to Troy, who they host Sep. 19 in the Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary Game.