KU graduate Ryan McReynolds, Overland Park, right, gives his friend Ryan Ammon, Leawood, a high-five Saturday at Jefferson's Restaurant, 743 Mass., after KU scored a touchdown against Missouri.

A sea of black flooded Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday for the game between Kansas University and archrival Missouri.

But a sea of crimson and blue was hard to find in Lawrence, a disappointment for local bar managers.

“Coming into this, we were preparing for absolute madness,” said Scott McDonald, bar manager of Zig & Mac’s, 1540 Wakarusa Drive.

He said the bar was staffed to handle a packed house, but about only three dozen people watched the game on his TVs. He described the atmosphere as being “subdued.”

“People are pretty glum about the game,” he said. Missouri beat KU 42-17.

Matt Llwellyn, managing partner of 75th Street Brewery, 3512 Clinton Parkway, said he was also hoping for a packed house.

He opened his bar early and even had a brunch menu for eager fans. But only two customers were in the bar a half-hour before the game began.

The loyal fans who did take in the game at local bars didn’t seem to mind, though.

“Great atmosphere,” said Susan Harvey, who watched the game with a handful of others at Henry T’s Bar & Grill, 3520 W. Sixth St.

Sabrina William said she and her parents were satisfied with the low-key atmosphere at Zig & Mac’s.

“This is as good as it gets for watching the away games,” she said, while eating a roast beef sandwich.

“The Jayhawk atmosphere, we enjoy it a lot,” said Dan William, her father.

Llwellyn blamed the limited turnout on people being out of town for Thanksgiving weekend.

McDonald suspects it had something to do with the time of the game.

“Eleven o’clock in the morning is a little too early for people to start drinking beer,” he said.

The managers hoped the crowd would pick up for the 10 p.m. KU basketball game against No. 1 Florida in Las Vegas.