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College Football: Top 15 rivalry games we’d like to see return in 2020

By David Glancy

COLLEGE STATION, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Jeff Fuller #8 of the Texas A&M Aggies attempts to catch a pass against Carrington Byndom #23 of the Texas Longhorns in the first half of a game at Kyle Field on November 24, 2011 in College Station, Texas. The pass was incomplete. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)
COLLEGE STATION, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Jeff Fuller #8 of the Texas A&M Aggies attempts to catch a pass against Carrington Byndom #23 of the Texas Longhorns in the first half of a game at Kyle Field on November 24, 2011 in College Station, Texas. The pass was incomplete. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – NOVEMBER 26: Wide receiver Marcus Lewis #85 of the Missouri Tigers scores a touchdown as he evades cornerback Greg Brown #5 of the Kansas Jayhawks in a game at Arrowhead Stadium on November 26, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. Missouri defeated Kansas 24-10. (Tim Umphrey/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – NOVEMBER 26: Wide receiver Marcus Lewis #85 of the Missouri Tigers scores a touchdown as he evades cornerback Greg Brown #5 of the Kansas Jayhawks in a game at Arrowhead Stadium on November 26, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. Missouri defeated Kansas 24-10. (Tim Umphrey/Getty Images) /

13. Missouri vs. Kansas

Games played: 120
Series record: Missouri leads 56-55-9
Last played: 2011
Rivalry name: Border War, Border Showdown
Trophies: Indian War Drum, Lamar Hunt Trophy
Next meeting: 2025

The Border War, dating back to 1891, is one of college football’s oldest, most competitive, and most bitter rivalries. With 120 games played, the Border War has been played as many times as Army vs. Navy and is the fourth most played match-up in Division I.

The series was the second most played Division I matchup only behind Wisconsin vs. Minnesota when it ended in 2011. Even the record of the rivalry is contested between the two schools due to a 1960 forfeiture.

The rivalry predates the first football matchup between the schools when the two states openly fought over slaving in the newly founded state of Kansas. Even the nicknames Jayhawks and Tigers were adopted by the state university due to origins of each state’s militia. The two schools even went as far as having former Civil War veterans on each sideline during early matches which apparently resulted in fights between opposing sidelines.

While Kansas took an early lead in the series history, the two schools went back and forth in the series lead with Missouri ultimately winning the final three matchups and the overall lead. The Border War took place in Kansas City before alternating between Lawrence and Columbia. The two programs met again in Kansas City beginning in 2008 and the series ended in Kansas City with the Tigers winning the final matchup 24-10.

The most notable matchup between the schools was the 1960 game which resulted in the contested forfeiture. The No. 1 ranked Tigers at 9-0 faced a No. 11 Kansas team with two losses to former No. 1 ranked Syracuse and Iowa. The Jayhawks went on to win in Columbia, 23-7, clinching the Big 8 title and ending Missouri’s undefeated run.

However, the game was then forfeited by the Big 8 and Missouri was subsequently awarded the conference title due to a violation by Kansas halfback, Bert Coan. He was declared ineligible after the game due to an alleged plane trip paid by a Kansas alumni while he was a TCU player. While Missouri was given the conference title, the “undefeated” team fell in the polls and were left out of the national title game.

The two just recently announced the series would continue over a home-and-home in the 2025 and 2026 seasons with a five-year break until the 2031 season. The series is set to retire again 2032 in Lawrence.

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