For the 112th time ever, Missouri and Kansas will battle it out on the gridiron.
The 23rd-ranked Tigers (1-0) come into Friday with plenty of expectations. However, separating themselves in a top-heavy SEC conference won’t be easy. Taking care of business on the road against an ancient enemy would be a good start. As for the Jayhawks (1-0), this evening’s matchup presents an opportunity to make a statement. As we’ve seen before, anything can happen in a rivalry game. Who has the edge tonight during Week 2’s college football showdown?
The Tigers are listed as 5.5-point favorites over the Jayhawks, with the total set at O/U 50.5 points. Below is my full preview, prediction and best bet for Friday’s Missouri vs. Kansas matchup.
Missouri vs. Kansas prediction, preview
It all starts with Ahmad Hardy for the Tigers. The running back is one of college football’s best, coming off the heels of a terrific 2025 campaign. He led the SEC with 1,649 rushing yards, in addition to finding the end zone 16 times. However, an offseason gunshot wound has left the junior’s status in doubt coming into this season. He missed Missouri’s season opener vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, along with several practices this week. It’s a different story for left tackle Cayden Green (undisclosed), an NFL-caliber prospect. He’s trending towards suiting up on Friday.
Even if their running back sits out, the Tigers remain a force on offense. Former Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons is the big man on campus in Columbia. Injuries cut short the senior’s time with the Rebels, but he’s a passer with plenty of SEC experience. Last weekend, he threw for four touchdowns while completing 17 of 19 pass attempts. Simmons’ old teammate Cayden Lee is a problem on the outside. The wide receiver snagged five passes for 89 yards and a TD against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Out of the backfield, Jamal Roberts is more than capable of filling in for Hardy. The senior notched 894 yards from scrimmage and seven scores as a backup last season with Missouri.
For all of its weapons, Mizzou’s greatest strength comes on the other side of the ball. This defense was a terror last season, ranking seventh in college football with 281.6 yards allowed per game. Despite a slew of departing starters, this group should remain one of the nation’s best. That’s especially true up front, where the Tigers were fifth in sacks (36.0) and third in tackles for loss (89.0) among SEC schools. Defensive linemen Langden Kitchen, Jalen Marshall and Marquis Gracial should play a major role tonight.
If Kansas is going to pull off the upset, it’ll likely be due to its offense. During an otherwise forgettable 2025 campaign, KU still managed to average just over 28 points per game. Some of that comes with the territory of playing in the high-scoring Big 12 conference. Still, this group knows how to put points on the board. Former quarterback Jalon Daniels is gone, replaced by redshirt sophomore Isaiah Marshall. The dual-threat can make something out of nothing, as seen during last week’s win vs. LIU. Marshall racked up 246 passing yards, 49 rushing yards and two total touchdowns.
Head coach Lance Leipold has done a good job of surrounding his young passer with weapons. Yasin Willis is an underrated running back, churning out 72 yards last Saturday. Former Kansas State rusher Dylan Edwards helps to form a potentially lethal one-two punch. Buffalo transfer Nik McMillan is the headliner at wide receiver. The senior went off in Week 1, snagging six catches for 130 yards and a touchdown. However, one win against an FCS opponent isn’t enough to make any definitive statements. The Jayhawks lost three All-Big 12 offensive linemen this season; Friday’s matchup will be the first significant test up front. How Marshall performs under pressure may determine who emerges victorious.
KU’s defense isn’t anything special, although there’s reason to believe they’ll be improved. That’s not exactly saying much; opponents gained 387.2 yards per game against Kansas last season, sixth-most in the Big 12. The secondary was an issue, allowing 7.2 yards per pass attempt. Going up against an experienced signal caller such as Simmons doesn’t inspire much confidence. That’s without mentioning Missouri’s grinding emphasis on the run game. It’ll take a sixty-minute effort from these Jayhawks on Friday.
Best Bet: Missouri -5.5 (-112)
This is a spot where Kansas has struggled before. Since 2023, the program is 8-10 ATS coming off of a win. Even if Hardy doesn’t suit up, Missouri has more than enough pieces to keep things moving on offense. As for Marshall, there’s no telling how he’ll look against an SEC-caliber defense. At the end of the day, the Tigers have a more talented, experienced squad taking the field tonight.
