2007 Missouri vs. Kansas football game
Encyclopedia
The 2007 Missouri vs. Kansas football game was a college football
game held in Kansas City, Missouri
between the Kansas Jayhawks
and Missouri Tigers
, two Big 12
teams that have shared a long and bitter rivalry against each other. This edition of the series was especially important as it was the first time that both teams entered the game ranked in the top 5 of both the AP
and Coaches' Polls and thus had national championship implications. The game saw #3-ranked Missouri defeat #2 Kansas, upon which they earned a trip to the conference championship
, where they subsequently lost to
the Oklahoma Sooners
.
tried to remain unbeaten as they faced the one loss Missouri Tigers
to decide who would go on to play Oklahoma for the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship Game and potential #1 BCS ranking on the line following a loss by #1 LSU the previous night, the first #1 BCS ranking for either school. Lee Corso
used his famous mascot head selection to pick the Tigers over the Jayhawks. In the most hyped game ever of the historic rivalry, the Tigers triumphed over the unbeaten Jayhawks and went on to earn the #1 BCS ranking as expected.
Both teams came into the game with impressive statistics. The Jayhawks entered 11-0 and ranked 2nd in the both the AP and BCS polls. Missouri came in with a 10-1 record and ranked 4th in the BCS and 3rd in the AP. Starting their season with a six point win, the Missouri Tigers were undaunted, with only one 31-41 loss to Oklahoma at Norman. The Missouri Tigers were bound to go to the national championship, if they had won that game, although, they didn't, damaging their greatest season ever. The Kansas Jayhawks were unranked from the start of the season, and they were one of 2007’s biggest surprises. After routing the Nebraska Cornhuskers
76-39 at home (the most points ever scored on the Cornhuskers) they played the Iowa State Cyclones at home and beat them 45-7. The victory gave the their first 11-0 record in school history.
received the ball first. But, even though they had decent field position, they couldn’t score. The first quarter was mostly dominated by defense. Missouri held Kansas scoreless, and the Jayhawks only allowed one touchdown, a 1-yard pass to martin Rucker on 4th and goal. This put the Tigers up 7-0. The high-scoring Jayhawks were allowed 391 total yards, to Missouri’s 519.
During the second quarter, Chase Daniel
connected to Danario Alexander for an 11 yard touchdown, making it 14-0. Kansas kicker Scott Webb missed two consecutive field goals, vital points which could have made this an 8-point deficit going into halftime. Todd Reesing was sacked for an eleven yard loss, fumbled, but was recovered, staving them from total disaster. Scott Web missed his second field goal here, to the cheers of many Tiger fans. Mizzou's Jeff Wolfert however was perfect, with two field goals and four extra points which made the difference.
Early in the third quarter, Missouri running back Jimmy Jackson scored a 1-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 21-0. But the tide changed after a long pass from Todd Reesing down to about the one-yard line of Missouri. From here Brandon McAnderson ran to the left for a 1-yard touchdown. This made it a 21-7 deficit.
The last points scored in the third quarter were by the Missouri freshman Derrick Washington, with a three yard run, making it a 28-7 game, going into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Kansas mounted a comeback, trimming the lead to 34-28. The Tigers being forced to punt, punted down to the Jayhawk’s eleven-yard line. Todd Reesing took the snap, but was sacked in the end zone by the Tiger’s Lorenzo Williams. Reesing finished 28-49 for 349 yards and two touchdowns. Chase Daniel was 40-49, with three touchdowns and 361 passing yards.
were ranked 1st in both the BCS and AP polls, with Kansas falling to 5th and 7th respectively. The Tigers would go to San Antonio to play Oklahoma for the Big 12 Championship. Even though the Tigers won and played in the championship game, the Big 12 named the two teams co-champions of the north division and awarded both with trophies.
The Big 12 Championship Game was a 38-17 rout in favor of Oklahoma, who would play West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl. As a result of the loss, the Tigers would go on to play Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl Classic and beat them 38-7. Missouri tailback Tony Temple broke the all time rushing record in the Cotton Bowl Classic and ran for four touchdowns.
The Kansas Jayhawks
went to the 2008 Orange Bowl
(their first BCS bowl) and defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies
, 24-21.
The Missouri Tigers finished 12-2, while Kansas completed their season 12-1. These were the two coaches' best seasons, and one of the most memorable Border Showdowns since 1960.
MU 21 KU 7: TD Brandon McAnderson rushed to the left for 1 yard gain (Scott Webb made PAT)
MU 28 KU 7: TD Chase Daniel passed to Derrick Washington to the right for 3 yard gain (Jeff Wolfert made PAT)
rushed to the right for 5-yard gain (Scott Webb made PAT)
MU 31 KU 14: FG Jeff Wolfert kicked a 43-yard field goal
MU 31 KU 21: TD Todd Reesing passed to Dexton Fields to the left for 10 yard gain (Scott Webb made PAT)
MU 34 KU 21: FG Jeff Wolfert kicked a 43-yard field goal
MU 34 KU 28: TD Todd Reesing passed to Marcus Henry down the middle for 5 yard gain (Scott Webb made PAT)
MU 36 KU 28 SY Todd Reesing sacked for a safety
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
game held in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
between the Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas Jayhawks football
The Kansas Jayhawks football program is the intercollegiate football program of the University of Kansas Jayhawks. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference....
and Missouri Tigers
Missouri Tigers football
The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996...
, two Big 12
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
teams that have shared a long and bitter rivalry against each other. This edition of the series was especially important as it was the first time that both teams entered the game ranked in the top 5 of both the AP
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
and Coaches' Polls and thus had national championship implications. The game saw #3-ranked Missouri defeat #2 Kansas, upon which they earned a trip to the conference championship
Big 12 Championship Game
The Big 12 Championship Game was a college football game held by the Big 12 Conference each year between 1996 and 2010. The championship game pitted the Big 12 North Division champion against the South Division champion in a game held after the regular season was completed.The Big 12 South held an...
, where they subsequently lost to
2007 Big 12 Championship Game
The 2007 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship Game was held on December 1, 2007 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, and pit the divisional winners from the Big 12 Conference: the Missouri Tigers, winner of the North division against the Oklahoma Sooners, winner of the South division.Per Big 12...
the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
.
Prelude
ESPN named the game their game of the week and Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium hosted ESPN College Gameday, as the undefeated Kansas JayhawksKansas Jayhawks football
The Kansas Jayhawks football program is the intercollegiate football program of the University of Kansas Jayhawks. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference....
tried to remain unbeaten as they faced the one loss Missouri Tigers
Missouri Tigers football
The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996...
to decide who would go on to play Oklahoma for the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship Game and potential #1 BCS ranking on the line following a loss by #1 LSU the previous night, the first #1 BCS ranking for either school. Lee Corso
Lee Corso
Leland "Lee" Corso is a sports broadcaster and football analyst for ESPN. He has been featured on ESPN's College GameDay program since its inception and he appeared annually as a commentator in EA Sports' NCAA Football through NCAA Football 11...
used his famous mascot head selection to pick the Tigers over the Jayhawks. In the most hyped game ever of the historic rivalry, the Tigers triumphed over the unbeaten Jayhawks and went on to earn the #1 BCS ranking as expected.
Both teams came into the game with impressive statistics. The Jayhawks entered 11-0 and ranked 2nd in the both the AP and BCS polls. Missouri came in with a 10-1 record and ranked 4th in the BCS and 3rd in the AP. Starting their season with a six point win, the Missouri Tigers were undaunted, with only one 31-41 loss to Oklahoma at Norman. The Missouri Tigers were bound to go to the national championship, if they had won that game, although, they didn't, damaging their greatest season ever. The Kansas Jayhawks were unranked from the start of the season, and they were one of 2007’s biggest surprises. After routing the Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
76-39 at home (the most points ever scored on the Cornhuskers) they played the Iowa State Cyclones at home and beat them 45-7. The victory gave the their first 11-0 record in school history.
The game
The Missouri TigersMissouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of the University of Missouri, located in Columbia, Missouri, United States...
received the ball first. But, even though they had decent field position, they couldn’t score. The first quarter was mostly dominated by defense. Missouri held Kansas scoreless, and the Jayhawks only allowed one touchdown, a 1-yard pass to martin Rucker on 4th and goal. This put the Tigers up 7-0. The high-scoring Jayhawks were allowed 391 total yards, to Missouri’s 519.
During the second quarter, Chase Daniel
Chase Daniel
William Chase Daniel is an American football quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
connected to Danario Alexander for an 11 yard touchdown, making it 14-0. Kansas kicker Scott Webb missed two consecutive field goals, vital points which could have made this an 8-point deficit going into halftime. Todd Reesing was sacked for an eleven yard loss, fumbled, but was recovered, staving them from total disaster. Scott Web missed his second field goal here, to the cheers of many Tiger fans. Mizzou's Jeff Wolfert however was perfect, with two field goals and four extra points which made the difference.
Early in the third quarter, Missouri running back Jimmy Jackson scored a 1-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 21-0. But the tide changed after a long pass from Todd Reesing down to about the one-yard line of Missouri. From here Brandon McAnderson ran to the left for a 1-yard touchdown. This made it a 21-7 deficit.
The last points scored in the third quarter were by the Missouri freshman Derrick Washington, with a three yard run, making it a 28-7 game, going into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Kansas mounted a comeback, trimming the lead to 34-28. The Tigers being forced to punt, punted down to the Jayhawk’s eleven-yard line. Todd Reesing took the snap, but was sacked in the end zone by the Tiger’s Lorenzo Williams. Reesing finished 28-49 for 349 yards and two touchdowns. Chase Daniel was 40-49, with three touchdowns and 361 passing yards.
Impact
After this game, the Missouri TigersMissouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of the University of Missouri, located in Columbia, Missouri, United States...
were ranked 1st in both the BCS and AP polls, with Kansas falling to 5th and 7th respectively. The Tigers would go to San Antonio to play Oklahoma for the Big 12 Championship. Even though the Tigers won and played in the championship game, the Big 12 named the two teams co-champions of the north division and awarded both with trophies.
The Big 12 Championship Game was a 38-17 rout in favor of Oklahoma, who would play West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl. As a result of the loss, the Tigers would go on to play Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl Classic and beat them 38-7. Missouri tailback Tony Temple broke the all time rushing record in the Cotton Bowl Classic and ran for four touchdowns.
The Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas Jayhawks
The sports teams at the University of Kansas are known as the Jayhawks. They are one of three schools in the state of Kansas that participate in NCAA Division I. The Jayhawks are also a member of the Big 12 Conference...
went to the 2008 Orange Bowl
2008 Orange Bowl
The 2008 FedEx Orange Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Kansas Jayhawks on January 3, 2008, at Dolphins Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Spread bettors favored Virginia Tech by three points, but in a game dominated by defensive and...
(their first BCS bowl) and defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech Hokies
The Virginia Tech Hokies are the athletic teams officially representing Virginia Tech in college sports. The Hokies participate in the NCAA's Division I Atlantic Coast Conference in 19 varsity sports. Virginia Tech's men's sports are football, basketball, baseball, cross country, golf, soccer,...
, 24-21.
The Missouri Tigers finished 12-2, while Kansas completed their season 12-1. These were the two coaches' best seasons, and one of the most memorable Border Showdowns since 1960.
1st Quarter
MU 7 KU 0: TD Chase Daniel passed to Martin Rucker down the middle for 1-yard gain (Jeff Wolfert made PAT)2nd Quarter
MU 14 KU 0: TD Chase Daniel passed to Danario Alexander to the right for 11-yard gain (Jeff Wolfert made PAT)3rd Quarter
MU 21 KU 0: TD Jimmy Jackson rushed up the middle for 1-yard gain (Jeff Wolfert made PAT)MU 21 KU 7: TD Brandon McAnderson rushed to the left for 1 yard gain (Scott Webb made PAT)
MU 28 KU 7: TD Chase Daniel passed to Derrick Washington to the right for 3 yard gain (Jeff Wolfert made PAT)
4th Quarter
MU 28 KU 14: TD Todd ReesingTodd Reesing
Todd Reesing is a former starting quarterback for the Kansas Jayhawks.- High school career:Reesing attended Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas and was a good student and a letterman in football and baseball. In football, Reesing was named the Texas 4A Player of the Year as a junior...
rushed to the right for 5-yard gain (Scott Webb made PAT)
MU 31 KU 14: FG Jeff Wolfert kicked a 43-yard field goal
MU 31 KU 21: TD Todd Reesing passed to Dexton Fields to the left for 10 yard gain (Scott Webb made PAT)
MU 34 KU 21: FG Jeff Wolfert kicked a 43-yard field goal
MU 34 KU 28: TD Todd Reesing passed to Marcus Henry down the middle for 5 yard gain (Scott Webb made PAT)
MU 36 KU 28 SY Todd Reesing sacked for a safety