Before Missouri and Kansas renewed a historic rivalry, there seemed to be a mismatches in the trenches for both teams. Evaluators favored the Tigers’ defensive line to the Jayhawks’ offensive front. And in a 42-31 victory Saturday, Missouri became a talking point for Kansas coach Lance Leipold postgame.
“They have a fine football team with a lot of weapons just like we talked about all week, you saw all of them get utilized,” Leipold said. “Everything we thought they were you could see. Again, an excellent front seven that was physical. We struggled to get a running game going today.”
Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels and running back Daniel Hishaw Jr. accounted for only 28 total rushing yards. The Tigers posted a 91.5 run defense grade, according to Pro Football Focus.
Missouri posted a 77.8 team pass rush grade, an uptick from its 70.8 grade Week 1 against Central Arkansas. Starting jack Damon Wilson II led the team with a 78.3 grade, applying five quarterback hurries albeit not recording any other stats.
Zion Young, Darris Smith and Chris McClellan followed with grades of 75.5, 74.1 and 73.5, respectively. The Tigers’ front seven used its length to force 16 hurries and two sacks against the Jayhawks’ offensive line, which posted a 63.2 pass-blocking grade and 43.1 run-blocking grade.
“We both agreed that we wanted a good, clean football game that was going to be highly competitive and we keep our young men healthy,” Leipold said of his pregame conversation with Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz. “And I think we got it. I think it was intense. Obviously, there’s a lot of enthusiasm and emotions on both sides. But I thought it was a great atmosphere here. We’re just disappointed where it ended up on our side.”