As the Missouri/Kansas rivalry shifts to the post-Big 12 era, and the two athletic departments begin to schedule more matchups, a new generation of fans is cropping up. The ways in which students at each of the schools keep the rivalry alive are vastly different. However, whenever the two get together, it's still a marquee event. For previous generations, they have seen a shift in the nature of the rivalry now that the two are not in the same conference, but are excited to see the renewal of the competition.

In the early 2010s, instability in the Big 12 began to shake up the conference. As a result, four schools left the Big 12 to join other conferences, including Missouri. This effectively ended their century-old rivalry with the Kansas Jayhawks, seeing as the two schools would be out-of-conference opponents. The roots of the departure, and how that altered the rivalry both right before and right after Mizzou left for the SEC laid the groundwork for what the rivalry looks like over 10 years later.

This episode of "Beyond Mr. Brightside" is written, edited, and produced by Geoffrey Dean. Cover art by Alex West.

Songs by Audiorezout and Qanisqineq and is sourced from Free Music Archive. 

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In the early 2010s, instability in the Big 12 began to shake up the conference. As a result, four schools left the Big 12 to join other conferences, including Missouri. This effectively ended their century-old rivalry with the Kansas Jayhawks, seeing as the two schools would be out-of-conference opponents. The roots of the departure, and how that altered the rivalry both right before and right after Mizzou left for the SEC laid the groundwork for what the rivalry looks like over 10 years later.

This episode of "Beyond Mr. Brightside" is written, edited, and produced by Geoffrey Dean. Cover art by Alex West.

Songs by Audiorezout and is sourced from Free Music Archive. 

CC  BY-NC-SA

From the late-1980s to the late-2000s, Kansas and Missouri competed in some all-time classics on the men's basketball court and the football field. Multiple matchups between top 5 teams, including a legendary 2007 football game that left both sides feeling sour. Missed opportunities for Missouri resulted in great opportunities for Kansas, some of which still sting for Missouri fans.

This episode of "Beyond Mr. Brightside" is written, edited, and produced by Geoffrey Dean. Cover art by Alex West.

Songs by Alex-Productions, Audiorezout, and Kai Engel, and is sourced from Free Music Archive. 

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Mizzou and Kansas fans and players may not like each other now, but the matchups between the two are largely absent of extracurricular activity. That was not the case during a basketball game just over 60 years ago. Over the span of four months, a point of controversy bred resentment that was so intense, it spilled over into a physical confrontation. The fallout of that confrontation brought the rivalry to the brink, and almost led to the permanent suspension of the Border Showdown rivalry.

This episode of "Beyond Mr. Brightside" is written, edited, and produced by Geoffrey Dean. Cover art by Alex West.

Songs by Cherly KaCherly, Audiorezout, and Lobo Loco, and is sourced from Free Music Archive. 

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The modern iteration of the rivalry between the Kansas Jayhawks and Missouri Tigers often hearkens back to the 19th century conflict between the two states, Bleeding Kansas. This conflict is complicated and violent, with Missouri's bloody defense of slavery putting them on the wrong side of history. The effect of polarizing figures like John Brown and William Quantrill will shape the future of the rivalry forever, even if the truth gets blurred with time.

From Dr. Joe Beilein: "I'd like to make one shout out if that's possible to the the biggest Mizzou fan. I knew a guy named Jay Eveler who passed away not too long ago. Whenever I think of Mizzou Sports, whether it's the football team the basketball team, whatever, I think of Jay Eveler. He was a Mizzou fan for his whole life, and I bring this up because nobody hated the people of Kansas more than Jay Eveler .

This episode of "Beyond Mr. Brightside" is written, edited, and produced by Geoffrey Dean. Cover art by Alex West. 

Songs by Maarten Shellekens, Audiorezout, and Lobo Loco, and sourced from Free Music Archive.

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Missouri border 8 states, tied for most of any other state in the union. Why is Kansas the focus of their anger? The answer to that question lies in the foundations of rivalry. The attitudes of fans and how they perceive the opposition is what shapes any rivalry, but in this one in particular, those attitudes have deep roots. The history those roots have latched onto may not always be sound, and the teams may not longer be in the same conference, but that hasn't damped one of the most legendary rivalries in college athletics.

"Beyond Mr. Brightside" is written and produced by Geoffrey Dean. It is edited by Ellie Lin and Olivia Mizelle. Cover art is by Alex West.

Music sourced from Free Music Archive. Songs by Bio Unit and Anemoia

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Missouri and Kansas have one of the most storied rivalries in college athletics. "Beyond Mr. Brightside" is an exploration of the past, present, and future of the 150-year-old rivalry. It is a collection of stories from those who have studied the states' 19th-century armed conflict, to those who lived the through the rivalry, to those who are witnessing its renewal. The first episode of this limited series podcast will be available February 27, with new episodes available every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Music was created by amaksi and sourced from Pixabay.