photo by: Kansas Athletics

Kansas defensive tackle Kenean Caldwell and the KU line await the snap against Missouri on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Columbia, Mo.

The Kansas football game against Missouri in Lawrence, originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12, has been moved to Friday, Sept. 11.

The Big 12 Conference announced the change on Friday morning. Television and game time information has not yet been released.

KU will not be playing on a short week, as its season opener is on Friday, Sept. 4, against Long Island. Missouri opens its year on Sept. 3 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

This will be the second installment of the renewed Border War series and the first time the rivalry has taken place in Lawrence since 2005. It will occur at a reduced-capacity David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium as construction is ongoing on the second phase of KU’s Gateway project.

In the first overall meeting between Kansas and Missouri since 2011, which took place last year on Sept. 6, KU lost 42-31 at Faurot Field despite taking a 15-point lead during the first half. Following the 2026 season’s return date in Lawrence, the two rivals will not meet again until 2031 and 2032.

The all-time series currently favors Missouri, but the exact tally is disputed. KU lists the all-time total as 57-55-9 in the Tigers’ favor, while MU has it as 58-54-9.

After playing its first two games of the season on Fridays, the Jayhawks will be on Saturdays for the rest of the year. Moving the Missouri game a day earlier gives KU a somewhat greater buffer ahead of its trip to London for the Union Jack Classic against Arizona State on Sept. 19.