Kansas vs Missouri Halftime: Jalon Daniels shines early as Tigers seize momentum

The Border War came back from the deep freeze and instantly hit a boil. Tied 21-21 at halftime, Kansas vs Missouri has already swung from a Jayhawks blitz to a Tigers chokehold, with both sidelines certain they’ve solved the other—and plenty of proof they haven’t.

Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels lit the fuse early. He guided a sharp answer to Missouri’s opening punch, dropping a 15-yard touchdown to DeShawn Hanika, then watched the defense flip the field with a fumble that Austin Alexander scooped and ran back 28 yards. A quarterback sneak from Daniels made it 21-6, and Faurot Field went quiet fast.

Then everything flipped. Missouri didn’t just respond; the Tigers took the wheel and refused to give it back. They ran 28 plays to Kansas’ four in the second quarter, outgaining the Jayhawks 186 to minus-18. That lopsided stretch produced a safety and two field goals and made Kansas part of a weird slice of history—the first FBS team in about a decade to be outgained by 200-plus yards in a half and not trail at the break, per the in-game broadcast.

How the first half swung—and why

Early on, Kansas won with pace and space. Daniels looked comfortable, hitting rhythm throws and getting the ball out before Missouri’s pass rush could land. The 15-play script wasn’t needed; the Jayhawks were chunking yards and stealing points off sudden-change defense.

Missouri adjusted by squeezing every possession. Beau Pribula settled in and drove a methodical 15-play, 75-yard answer that bled across quarters. He finished it with a strike to Kevin Coleman Jr., but the drive mattered even more than the touchdown: three third-down conversions, one fourth-down conversion, and total control of tempo.

From there, the Tigers owned the line of scrimmage. They forced negative plays on early downs, pushed Kansas into long third downs, and pinned the Jayhawks in bad field position. Pressure near the goal line set up a safety, and Missouri’s special teams calmly cashed in drives with two field goals. Kansas, meanwhile, ran only four plays in the entire second quarter—no chance to build rhythm, no chance to give the defense a breather.

Daniels still flashed the spark that put Kansas up big. His third-and-nine rope to Levi Wentz down the right sideline for about 50 yards reminded everyone that one snap can tilt this game. But Missouri’s rush started winning stunts and edges, forcing Daniels off his spot and turning clean reads into scramble-mode decisions. When the pocket collapsed, the Jayhawks’ protection looked scattered.

Missouri’s offense also found something with formational shifts and motion. The Tigers layered run looks with quick game and kept Pribula ahead of the chains. That blend wore down Kansas’ front seven, which started missing tackles in space and losing contain. Once Missouri held the ball for long stretches, Kansas’ early explosion was a memory, not a threat.

What decides the second half

Both teams know the pressure points now. Kansas needs to get back to its early down rhythm and protect Daniels long enough to hit the intermediate windows that were there in the first quarter. Missouri wants to keep the game on its script—long drives, steady points, and a defense that forces Kansas into third-and-forever.

• Kansas protection: Slide help to the hot edge, use quick game and moving pockets. If the Jayhawks can steal back first down with short throws and option looks, Daniels’ deep shots reopen.
• Missouri on third down: The Tigers’ comeback hinged on conversions. Keep the playbook open by winning first down with efficient runs and high-percentage throws.
• Explosive plays vs. attrition: Kansas is built to strike fast. Missouri is happy to squeeze. The team that imposes its tempo probably wins the fourth quarter.
• Field position and special teams: Missouri turned hidden yards into points. Kansas needs a clean return, a pinning punt, or a takeaway to flip the map.
• Quarterback composure: Daniels has already hit big-time throws under pressure. Pribula’s poise on that 15-play march was obvious. One late mistake could swing the rivalry.

There’s also the emotional layer you can feel in the building. This is the first meeting after a long pause, and both fan bases showed up loud. Early, Kansas quieted the place. Late, Missouri’s line play and patience brought the noise right back. That ebb and flow is exactly what you expect in a game like this—every surge meets a counterpunch, and the clock suddenly moves faster than the play sheet.

For Kansas, the path is simple to say, hard to do: get Daniels comfortable again. That likely means tempo, quick reads, and a few designed keepers to punish overaggressive rush lanes. One more vertical shot to Wentz or Hanika could crack the lid if the protection holds for an extra beat.

For Missouri, it’s rinse and repeat: make Kansas defend 10, 12, 15 plays at a time and trust the defense to win the tackles in space. The Tigers don’t need fireworks if the chains keep moving. Another safety-level pressure or a strip sack would be the dagger they teased late in the second quarter.

Both teams have already shown they can land haymakers. The second half comes down to who can stack the quiet, efficient snaps in between—the boring downs that decide field position, fatigue, and the final drive. If the first half is any clue, don’t expect calm. Expect one more wild swing before this one gets settled.