BLOOD ON THE BORDER
Gunnar Galloway - August 24, 2026
The Border War. A battle translated from bloodshed to big hits, bullets sprayed to bullets passed, people hurt to souls crushed, and yet still lays a hatred so thick an entire stadium radiates the same boot-stomping, mouth-watering, victor-hungry emotions given generations ago. Referencing the great battle between the states, Kansas and Missouri, in the 1850s, The Border War has seen many “rematches” since the original victor during the Civil War. The first of the wars battled on the field on Halloween, 1891, in Kansas City with a KU first strike of 22-8. Shortly after, the game became a staple in college football rivalries with 120 games played, Missouri leading the series 57-54-9.
Two trophies have ridden on the outcome ever since: the Indian War Drum, a five-foot, 100-plus-pound relic that Kansas City alumni bought at a pawn shop in 1935 to give the rivalry some teeth, and the Lamar Hunt Trophy, a silver football engraved with the series' history, awarded since 2007. The drum hasn't crossed back into Kansas since Mizzou claimed it in 2001, the last meeting before the Border War went dormant for over a decade, and it's sat in Columbia's Reynolds Alumni Center ever since.
This year, nothing has changed in the lead-up to the battle. Classes are just beginning at both schools, and the buzz is still nothing short of electric. The war will be fought in Lawrence, Kansas, home of the Jayhawks, for the first time since 2005, and that is definitely felt. The moment this game was announced at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, the city felt an air breathed into it that its football scene hasn't felt in years. It’ll mark the first time played in the new stadium as well, with The Booth expected to be packed upon the arrival of the ranked No. 25 Missouri Tigers.
It's no secret at all that Missouri has owned the rivalry in the latest battles, as KU's football struggles continue and Mizzou has continued to prove they're a bowl-hopeful, conference-competing school. Coming in as 7.5-point favorites in the Jayhawks' house, the media appears to expect similar results. Led by junior Ole Miss transfer Austin Simmons, the offense will be one not to take lightly. Named the starter in March, the lefty QB has fans and AP Poll voters alike optimistic in the team's future.
The Jayhawks' side of this is why the odds sway a bit more in Mizzou's favor. The QB room is going to be a battle to start on day one. The most likely candidate is Cole Ballard, the walk-on redshirt junior who started two games for the Hawks in 2023 and subbed in for Jalon Daniels in the years after, showing enough promise to “land” the job before the 2026 season. On the other end is redshirt sophomore Isaiah Marshall, used sparingly in packages through the 2025 season, who has shown confidence in coming for the job.
Either way, however this war shakes out on The Booth’s new turf, it will turn out to be one for the ages. A ranked, hungry Tiger team with eyes set on a prize higher and shinier than a drum and a football. And for the Jayhawks, a much-needed shake-up for the series in a new home in the same city for the first time in 20-plus years. A chance for two young men to prove they've got what it takes, and a fan base that knows a thing or two about being loud enough for it.
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