Jayhawks gain valuable breathing room as the storied Border Showdown shifts to Friday, granting extra prep time before London showdown.
Border Showdown Date Change Gives KU Extra Breathing Room
Kansas’ rivalry game with Missouri just got a slight tweak, but the extra day matters.
The Border Showdown matchup in Lawrence is moving up one day, shifting from Saturday, Sept. 12 to Friday, Sept. 11, per the Big 12. Kickoff time and TV details are still TBD.
It doesn’t create a short week for KU, though. The Jayhawks open the season on Friday, Sept. 4 against Long Island, so they’ll actually start the year with back-to-back Friday games. Missouri opens a day earlier on Sept. 3.
This will be the second game in the renewed rivalry and the first time Kansas hosts Missouri since 2005. It’ll come with a different look, too — David Booth, Kansas Memorial Stadium will be at reduced capacity with construction still ongoing as part of the Gateway project.
Last year’s meeting was the first since 2011, with KU falling 42-31 in Columbia after leading big early. After this 2026 matchup, the rivalry goes back on pause until 2031 and 2032.
The date move also quietly helps Kansas. With the game now on Friday, KU gets an extra day before traveling to London for the Sept. 19 matchup against Arizona State.
Small change, but a smart one for the schedule.
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Transfer Portal Targets: Kansas Should Target TCU Transfer David Punch
Kansas should take a serious look at TCU transfer David Punch, who brings proven Big 12 production and physicality to the portal.
The 6-foot-7, 246-pound sophomore is coming off a breakout season where he averaged 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting over 50% from the field, earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors in the process.
Punch proved he can produce against high-level competition, highlighted by a 16-point, 13-rebound performance in the NCAA Tournament against Ohio State, and he elevated his game even further in the Big 12 Tournament where he averaged 25 points and 8.5 rebounds across two games.
What stands out most is his versatility, as he combines strength and size with the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor, giving Kansas a potential plug-and-play forward who already understands the physical demands of the conference.
With multiple years of starting experience and consistent production, Punch would offer a much higher floor than most portal options while still having room to grow within a structured system like Bill Self’s.
If Kansas is looking for a proven, physical forward who can score, rebound, and defend at a high level right away, Punch fits that profile as well as anyone currently available in the portal.