Football: Big 12 Game of the Week

On a week where many have already dubbed the game slate a stinker, a matchup between two undefeated rivals may save the day.

The rivalry between Kansas State and Missouri dates all the way back to 1909, and for much of its history, the Tigers have been the dominant team; Missouri leads the all-time series 60-33-5. Recently, however, the Wildcats have dominated, winning 15 of the last 20. 

The teams met last year, and to put it not-so-kindly, it was a terrible game. Kansas State beat down Missouri 40-12, and the much-anticipated renewal of the historic matchup was over before it even began. 

Missouri Tigers wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. celebrates a touchdown with his team in the game against Middle Tennessee State.  / © Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The Wildcats have not seen any real competition so far this season, but each of their wins has been commanding. The reigning Big 12 champs opened the season with a 45-0 win over Southeast Missouri State and followed that up with a 42-13 win over Troy. Quarterback Will Howard is the full-time starter for the first time in his career, and he has led the Wildcats well so far, throwing for 547 yards and five touchdowns in two games. 

Receiving what Howard throws are RJ Garcia II (150 yards, 1 TD), Phillip Brooks (134 yards, 1 TD), and Jadon Jackson (115 yards, 2 TDs). Kansas State lost its 2022 receiving leader in Malik Knowles, but similar to last year's group, this receiving attack is balanced, much more so than Missouri's (which we will get into shortly), making stopping it a difficult task. In addition, opposing defenses must worry about the run game.

Kansas State's offense is truly multi-dimensional, something offensive coordinator and Wildcat legend Collin Klein has done a great job creating. Last year it was Deuce Vaughn, the 5'6" running back who rushed for over 1,500 yards. This year, it is DJ Giddens, who was a key contributor on last year's conference champion team. Giddens backed up Vaughn and still ran for over 500 yards and six touchdowns, one of which he scored against the Tigers in last year's game. Giddens is already up to 180 yards this season, averaging 6.7 yards per attempt, thanks in large part to the offensive line; the same exact line that helped clear the way for Vaughn last season.

The unit features five returning starters, KT Leveston, Hadley Panzer, Christian Duffie, Cooper Beebe, and Hayden Gillum, and when healthy, is one of the best offensive line units in the country. Duffie, who has missed both games to start the season, is unlikely to play on Saturday, which could be something to watch for against a good Tiger defensive line. 

Now for Missouri's offense... After a disappointing 2022 campaign on offense and an extra disappointing bowl loss to end the season, the Tigers hired Kirby Moore, NFL offensive coordinator Kellen Moore's brother, and Eli Drinkwitz turned play calling duties over to him. Through two games this season, it doesn't seem like much has changed.

Missouri is 2-0 with wins over South Dakota and Middle Tennessee State, two opponents you would like to be able to beat handedly. The Tigers took care of South Dakota with little trouble, but Middle Tennessee walked into an SEC night game atmosphere and did more than hold its own. Missouri won the game, but by four points; Vegas set the spread of this game at -21.  

With returning starting quarterback Brady Cook, you have a pretty good idea of what you are going to get. Cook is not flashy, but he has been solid this year. He has yet to throw an interception and uses his feet well, but again, he's rarely going to surprise you. But his top receiver might. 

Luther Burden III came to Missouri out of St. Louis as a five-star recruit in 2021, and had a productive freshman year last year, catching 45 passes for 375 yards and six touchdowns while also rushing for 88 yards and two more touchdowns. Not the most fantastic numbers you'll ever see, but he was not the top wide receiver on the depth chart, and he was a true freshman. 

This year, he is the top receiver on the depth chart and has already hit 213 yards and a touchdown.  For those who are unfamiliar with Burden, you may want to tune in to this game just to see him play. He is one of those guys that has a chance to score every time he touches the ball. 

Cody Schrader and Nathaniel Peat make up the running back committee for Missouri. Schrader has 222 yards and a score so far this year, while Peat has 103 yards and a score on 19 fewer carries. The duo has been productive behind a line that struggled a little bit against Middle Tennessee State. A strong Week One performance was followed by a lackluster showing that may have caused a shakeup in the lineup. Drinkwitz mentioned in a presser this week that the starting five on the line may look different than it did in the first two weeks. 

The exciting thing about this game is that both defenses can play. Kansas State's defense features a collection of non-blue chip guys who play well together. It rushes just three and oftentimes gets to the quarterback anyway. First-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah is no longer wreaking havoc up front for the Wildcats, but guys like Khalid Duke and Brendan Mott are filling the void. 

Missouri's defense is considered to be one of the best in the country, in large part due to the rate of returning production. Blake Baker's unit returns one of the top cornerback duos in the country, featuring Kris Abrams-Draine, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., and Ty'Ron Hopper - a former Florida transfer who led Missouri in tackles a year ago. The defensive line has gotten off to a promising start behind some welcome production from Johnny Walker Jr. and Nyles Gaddy, who have one and two sacks, respectively. Figuring out Missouri is pretty simple; the defense will always give this team an opportunity to win, but it's always going to come down to the offense. 

Kansas State is rightfully the favorite, but Missouri should not be ignored. The pressure is on for the Tigers, and a win here would let players, coaches, and fans let out a collective sigh of relief. 

Missouri hosts Kansas State at 11 a.m. Saturday in Columbia. 

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