The Missouri Tigers (2-0) came from behind three times, rallying from deficits of 21-6, 24-21 and 31-28, on the way to a 42-31 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks (2-1) in the StorageMart Border Showdown at a sold -out Memorial Stadium.
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 over 80 years.
After Laith Marjan gave the Jayhawks a 24-21 lead with a 26-yard field goal in the third quarter, the Tigers moved 75 yards in 12 plays, and on a third-and-goal from the 11-yard line, Beau Pribula hit Brett Norfleet on a curl over the middle for a touchdown that put Mizzou up for the first time since early in the first quarter, 28-24.
KU went back ahead, 31-28, early in the fourth quarter on a six-yard pass from Jalon Daniels to DeShawn Hanika.
But the Tigers took the lead for good with 4:14 to play on another Pribula-to-Norfleet TD pass. On fourth-and-one at the KU 27, Norfleet snuck out to the left and caught a quick pass and ran 27 yards down the left sideline for a TD that gave Mizzou a 35-31 lead. On the day, Norfleet had career highs with seven receptions and 76 yards.
The Tigers forced the Jayhawks three-and-out, getting a big tackle for loss by Josiah Trotter. Then, Jamal Roberts, who rushed 13 times for a career-high 143 yards, iced the win on a stretch play to the left where he turned the corner and sped 63 yards to a touchdown. Daylan Carnell snuffed out KU's last gasp, intercepting Daniels at midfield with 1:42 to play.
Missouri has won the last four MU-KU games, six of the last seven, and leads the series, 58-54-9.
After taking a 6-0 lead on Missouri's first possession of the game, the Tigers fell into a 21-6 first-quarter hole. The Jayhawks scored twice in 1:16, scoring on a Daniels-to-Hanika 15-yard pass, then on an Austin Alexander 28-yard return of a Pribula fumble. After an MU three-and-out, Daniels hit Levi Wentz with a 50-yard pass down the right sideline on a third-and-nine to the two-yard line, and on third down, Daniels snuck over right guard for a TD and a 21-6 lead.
But a dominant second quarter in which Missouri ran 28 plays to KU's four, and outgained them 186 to -18, allowed the Tigers to fight back to a 21-21 halftime tie. Missouri closed the gap with a 15-play, 75-yard drive that spanned the first and second quarters 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 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.
Pribula completed 30-of-39 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns. For the second week in a row, Ahmad Hardy rushed for 100 yards – giving Mizzou two 100-yard runners for the first time since 2017 against Tennessee. Coleman led the receiving corps with 10 catches for 126 yards. It marked the first time since 2023 against Florida that MU had a 300-yard passer, 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver in the same contest.
Missouri out-gained Kansas 595-254, including a 261-3 advantage on the ground. The Tigers converted 14-of-24 third-and fourth-down plays, including 4-of-5 on fourth down, while the Jayhawks were 5-of-12. Missouri ran 86 plays to Kansas' 48 and led in time-of-possession 40:27 to 19:33.
UP NEXT
The Tigers remain at home next week to host the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns. Game time on Saturday, Sept. 13, is 3 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. The sold-out game will be televised on SECN+/ESPN+.
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