Border War Rides Again: Kansas Hosts Missouri in Week 2 Friday Night Broadcast on Fox

One of college football’s oldest rivalries renews Friday night when Missouri visits Kansas at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, with kickoff set for 7:00 PM CT. The all-time series sits nearly even at 57-55-9 in Missouri’s favor, and the Tigers took the most recent meeting, a 42-31 win in 2025.

The game will air nationally on Fox Corporation (FOXA), whose shares closed at $64.88, up 1.37% from the prior close of $64.00, valuing the entertainment company at roughly $26.85 billion. Tim Brando handles play-by-play alongside analyst Devin Gardner and sideline reporter Josh Sims, with streaming available through the FOX Sports App. Radio coverage comes via the Jayhawk Radio Network and SiriusXM Channel 84.

Early-Season Numbers

Both quarterbacks enter the Border War with strong opening stat lines. Missouri’s Austin Simmons, an Ole Miss transfer, completed 17 of 19 passes (89.5%) for 252 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions against FCS Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Kansas’ Isaiah Marshall went 14-for-19 (73.7%) for 246 yards and two scores without a pick.

On the ground, Kansas’ Yasin Willis has 72 yards on 11 carries (6.5 per attempt) with two touchdowns, while Missouri’s Jamal Roberts has 47 yards on 13 carries and one score. Donovan Olugbode leads Tiger receivers with seven catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns; Nik McMillan paces the Jayhawks with six receptions for 130 yards and a score. Defensively, Jeremiah Beasley tops Missouri with seven tackles and Jason Dowell has a sack, while Quincy Davis leads Kansas with six tackles and three Jayhawks — Bam Crouch, Trey Lathan, and Joseph Credit — each have a sack.

The Key Matchup

Missouri will again be without running back Ahmad Hardy, and Kansas is expected to test the Tigers’ protection with sustained pressure up front. The Jayhawks’ pass rush against Missouri’s offensive line could shape the game’s flow, while both offenses enter with plenty of big-play capability. Weather conditions call for 82 degrees, partly cloudy skies, a 40% chance of rain, and 5-10 mph winds in Lawrence.

What to watch

• Whether Kansas’ defensive front can generate consistent pressure on Simmons after his near-perfect Week 1 debut
• Missouri’s backfield production in Ahmad Hardy’s continued absence
• Quarterback play from Marshall on the Kansas side against a Tigers defense that recorded one sack in its opener
• Friday’s broadcast audience as a data point for Fox’s college football slate

Source: original release