Kristian Ferrell
The Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team has a long history of rivalry with Kansas State, which is also known as the Sunflower Showdown. The Jayhawks also have a notable rivalry with Missouri, officially named the Border Showdown in 2004. Since Missouri's departure to the SEC in 2012, the Jayhawks have been searching for a new rival, with Iowa State and Oklahoma being potential candidates.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Biggest Rival | Kansas State, Oklahoma, Iowa State |
| Rivalry Names | Sunflower Showdown, Border War/Showdown |
| Notable Rivalry Games | 1960 AP Poll upset, 1968 Orange Bowl-bound game, 1973 gridiron contest, 2003 contest, 2004 game, 2005 game, 2010 game |
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What You'll Learn
Kansas State rivalry
The rivalry between the University of Kansas (KU) and Kansas State basketball teams is known as the Sunflower Showdown. The rivalry began under Naismith, who was the only coach in the program's history to have a losing record.
While Kansas State is considered KU's biggest rival as a university, in terms of basketball, the rivalry is less intense. This is because Kansas has historically dominated the series, leading by nearly 100 games. However, the games between the two teams can still get intense, and Kansas State has won occasionally.
In recent years, there has been an effort to downplay the rivalry by Kansas State coach Jerome Tang, who urged fans to focus on supporting Kansas State rather than hating KU. Tang argued that a true rivalry requires competitive games that basketball enthusiasts across the country want to watch, which has not been the case due to Kansas' dominance.
Despite this, the Sunflower Showdown remains an anticipated event, with the two teams meeting in 2023 for one of the most anticipated games in recent memory. The rivalry game in 2025 also saw a solid victory for KU over their arch-rivals, with a final score of 84-74.
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Oklahoma rivalry
The University of Kansas (KU) men's basketball team has a storied history of intense rivalries, with the rivalry against the Oklahoma Sooners being a notable one. While Kansas State and Missouri are traditionally considered the primary rivals of KU, the departure of Missouri to the SEC in 2012 left a void in the rivalry landscape. This gap was filled by the emergence of Oklahoma as a new rival, with the two teams being the best in the Big 12 and putting on thrilling games.
The KU-Oklahoma rivalry is characterised by close matchups and exciting basketball. The triple-overtime thriller in Allen Fieldhouse and the close finish in Norman are testaments to the competitiveness of this rivalry. Both teams are among the elite in the NCAA, and their encounters are highly anticipated by fans and followers of college basketball.
The rivalry between KU and Oklahoma is not driven by bitterness or animosity but by a mutual respect for each other's talent and competitiveness. This rivalry is relatively new compared to KU's traditional rivalries, but it has quickly gained traction and is expected to continue to flourish in the coming years.
KU's rivalry with Oklahoma State, also known as the Oklahoma State Cowboys, is also worth mentioning. In February 2025, KU responded to a challenge set by their coach, Bill Self, and blasted Oklahoma State with a dominant performance, winning 96-64. This game showcased the determination and resilience of the KU team, further fuelling the rivalry between the two schools.
In summary, the University of Kansas men's basketball team has a dynamic and evolving rivalry landscape, with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State being significant rivals. While the rivalry with Oklahoma is defined by close games and mutual respect, the competition with Oklahoma State adds another layer of intensity and determination to KU's basketball programme.
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Iowa State rivalry
Since the departure of Missouri from the Big 12 in 2012, the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team has been searching for a new rival. While Kansas State and the Jayhawks have a historic rivalry, known as the Sunflower Showdown, with Kansas dominating the series, the games are still intense and Kansas State occasionally comes out on top.
Another potential rival is Oklahoma, with the two teams being the best in the Big 12 and putting on some great games. However, the rivalry with Oklahoma is not a bitter one and is simply two top-tier teams playing good basketball.
This brings us to Iowa State, the Cyclones. Iowa State is the only team in the Big 12 with a positive record against Kansas in recent meetings. The Cyclones have defeated the Jayhawks four out of the last five times the teams have faced off. Neither team has won against each other on the road since Kansas' victory in Ames, Iowa, on January 13, 2014.
The rivalry with Iowa State has all the ingredients of a classic rivalry: close matchups, passionate fans, and the potential for unpredictability. While Kansas has dominated other rivals, Iowa State presents a more even challenge, with every matchup being a highly anticipated 50-50 ball game.
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Missouri rivalry
The rivalry between the University of Kansas (KU) Jayhawks and the University of Missouri Tigers, dubbed the "Border War" and later renamed the "Border Showdown" in 2004, has a long and storied history. While the rivalry initially centred around football in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, by the last few decades of the 20th century, the focus had shifted to basketball.
The KU-MU rivalry has roots stretching back to "Bleeding Kansas", a prologue to the Civil War, which occurred well before the introduction of college football. The rivalry is characterised by frequent upsets, with the underdog often coming out on top. For example, in 2005, the Tigers were six-point favourites but lost to the Jayhawks 13-3. Similarly, in 1960, an 11th-ranked KU team upset the top-ranked Missouri squad in their backyard with a 23-7 victory.
The basketball rivalry between KU and MU has been intense, with both teams frequently fielding top-flight basketball programmes. The hardwood courts of Allen Field House and the Hearnes Center have regularly hosted close contests between the two schools. The rivalry took a hiatus in 2012 when Missouri seceded from the Big 12 union, and it remains on hold until the Kansas Athletics department decides to schedule games between the two schools again.
While the rivalry with Missouri is historic and significant, some sources argue that in the years following Missouri's departure from the Big 12, other rivals have emerged for KU in basketball. Iowa State, with a positive record against Kansas in recent meetings, and Oklahoma, with whom Kansas has played several thrilling and closely contested games, are both mentioned as potential new rivals.
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Texas rivalry
The University of Kansas' biggest rival is Kansas State. However, in basketball, Kansas State is not considered the biggest rival. While the games between the two schools get intense, Kansas leads the series by nearly 100 games.
Kansas' biggest basketball rival is considered to be the Oklahoma Sooners. The two teams are among the best in the Big 12 and have played some great games. However, some argue that Iowa State is Kansas' biggest rival in basketball, as they are the only team in the Big 12 with a positive record against Kansas in their last five meetings.
Historically, the University of Kansas' rivalry with the University of Missouri has been intense, dating back to the prologue of the Civil War, known as "Bleeding Kansas". The rivalry between the two schools was initially focused on football but shifted to basketball by the last decades of the 20th century. The rivalry has been on hold since Missouri seceded from the Big 12 union in 2012, but it remains a significant part of the history of collegiate sports rivalries.
In addition to these rivalries, Kansas has also had notable basketball games against Texas, with an overtime win in KU football being a memorable moment in their rivalry.
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Frequently asked questions
Since the departure of Missouri from the Big 12 in 2012, the Kansas men's basketball team has been searching for a new rival. While Kansas State and the Jayhawks have a historic rivalry, with Kansas leading the series by nearly 100 games, the games are not as competitive. Oklahoma is another potential rival, with the two teams being the best in the Big 12 and putting on some great games. However, Iowa State has emerged as a strong contender for KU's biggest rival, with a negative record for the Jayhawks in their matchups.
The rivalry between KU and Kansas State, also known as the Sunflower Showdown, began under Naismith, the inventor of basketball and a former coach at KU. The rivalry is particularly prominent in men's basketball, with the two teams competing against each other regularly.
The KU-MU rivalry, also known as the Border War or Border Showdown, has a long history that dates back to the 1890s and even has roots in Bleeding Kansas, a prologue to the Civil War. While the rivalry was initially focused on football, it shifted to basketball by the last decades of the 20th century. The rivalry has been on hold since Missouri left the Big 12 in 2012, but there is a history of close games and upsets between the two teams.
The KU-Oklahoma rivalry is not as bitter as some of KU's other rivalries but is known for producing good basketball games between two top-tier teams. The rivalry is relatively new but has the potential to develop into one of the best in college basketball.
Rivalries create excitement, uncertainty, and increased media coverage for KU Men's Basketball. They also bring out passion and intensity from the fans, with some rivalries, like KU-Kansas State, featuring drunken fans ranting at each other and engaging in constant Twitter battles.
