Week 13: Kansas vs. Missouri

The Border War has reached a level none of the participants ever could have imagined.

If you have heard the phrase once-in-a-lifetime, you have heard it over and over this week in this region.

It’s not very often that the stakes have been this monumental. The national championship remains out there for both schools. That alone makes this so very rare. And so very special for so many people.

“KU, KU, KU!” MU quarterback Chase Daniel said moments after the Tigers dispatched of Kansas State last Saturday. “Finally we can talk about it.”

You’re a little bit late, Chase, because it’s been the talk of the town in KC for quite a while.

Even before both schools took care of business, MU with K-State and KU with Iowa State, hype for the Border War was in full swing. TV stations in KC already were doing live shots from Arrowhead more than 10 days before the game. Stories of MU husbands and their KU wives were aired. Governors for both states were making bets.

Well, it’s finally here. But who really planned on this, the KU Jayhawks the No. 2 team in the country?

“As far as milestones, we’re kind of getting used to that, and just sticking to the task at hand,” said the toast of Lawrence, coach Mark Mangino.

KU never had won 11 games until last Saturday. MU, ranked third, will try and do it for the first time in its school history.

The reward for the winner: The Big 12 North crown. Neither the Jayhawks nor the Tigers have won it since the conference started in 1996.

Long before the season began, it was decided to play this at a neutral site (KU was supposed to be the home team this year). It’s the first time since 1945 that KU-MU takes place in KC.

So what will happen? Both teams can score (KU is No. 2 in scoring nationally, MU is fourth) and both can play defense, although the Jayhawks are ranked much higher in total D (eighth compared to MU at 57).

Daniel, a Davey O’Brien Award finalist, has more experience than Jayhawks’ signal caller Todd Reesing. Daniel, though, has a loss and Reesing doesn’t.

If you’re looking for anything that truly separates these two rising programs, something that might decide who prevails, how about turnover margin? KU is No. 1 in the country at 1.91, and has not committed, get this, a turnover in its last five games. Wow.

This game is big enough for ESPN’s Game Day to show up. But the real question is who will show up on the gridiron? Daniel says the Tigers still have a lot to prove.

“In our minds, we haven’t done anything special yet,” he said. “Winning this game, hopefully, will be something special.”

BOTTOM LINE: KU has that team of destiny look. And you can bet Mangino will play the no-respect card because there are critics that still maintain the Jayhawks haven’t beaten anybody. Well, here’s their big chance.

Kansas by 3