Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz blasted Kansas following a 38-21 rivalry win on September 12, 2026, criticizing the Jayhawks’ Civil War-themed hype video. Drinkwitz said he was embarrassed by the pregame marketing on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, capping the night with late offensive plays to make a point.
Civil War Imagery and the Pre-Game Hype Video
The tension traced back to a 90-second promotional clip released on Kansas social media accounts on Thursday. Titled Heroes and Villains and narrated by former nose tackle Gilbert Brown, the video reached back to nineteenth-century border skirmishes, splicing in images of historical figures like John Brown and William Quantrill while framing the matchup around themes of right and wrong.
The production drew immediate scrutiny from opposing sidelines. During the Civil War, Kansas entered the Union as a free state, while Missouri remained part of the Union but split internally. In August 1863, Confederate guerrillas led by Quantrill sacked Lawrence and killed approximately 150 men, an atrocity met with retaliatory violence from Kansas Jayhawkers along the contested state line.
Photo: thebiglead.com
That dark history formed the backbone of the Jayhawks’ marketing push, which was viewed more than 32 million times by the end of Friday’s game. But opposing coach Eli Drinkwitz found the framing inappropriate for an athletic contest, particularly given the calendar.
“I was disappointed in the rivalry, the turn that it took today. I thought that was uncalled for, and this is about two teams playing football, and especially on 9/11 when we need more unity now than ever before. To be putting some stuff on your screen, celebrating. I mean, everybody’s got complicated pasts, you know, and to make that an icon was bizarre to me.”
Speaking to reporters in Lawrence after the final whistle, Drinkwitz did not hold back his dissatisfaction with the direction the historical references took. The game fell on the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, a milestone marked across college football with tributes, moments of silence, and military flyovers.
Photo: sports.yahoo.com
“I’m just glad that this whole right-versus-wrong bullcrap that was started just got settled. … It’s a football game. It’s an American football game. People love to come watch and cheer for their teams. It’s not even deeper than that. And I get there’s a past for it, but why are we stirring that bullcrap up? It’s 9/11. This country needs unity now more than ever. And I was embarrassed for them, to be honest. That’s why I tried to embarrass them at the end.”
That closing sentiment translated directly onto the field during the game’s final minute. Up by 10 points inside the fourth quarter, Drinkwitz called for a fourth-down conversion, resulting in Austin Simmons connecting with tight end Brett Norfleet for a 13-yard touchdown that pushed the margin to 17 points at 38-21. With 34 seconds remaining, Missouri took over again at the Kansas 13-yard line and threw a pass toward the end zone before running out the clock on the next play.
Beyond the war of words, the Tigers built their victory on the ground and through timely defensive stops. Jamal Roberts rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown, while Robert Woodyard Jr. produced back-to-back turnovers after halftime that the Missouri offense converted into decisive points. Donovan Olugbode and Cayden Lee added touchdown catches as the Tigers moved to 2-0 on the young season.
Missouri Coach Blasts Kansas Over Political Hype Video After 38-21 Rivalry Win
The hostility did not end in the press room. Following his news conference, Drinkwitz took to social media to respond directly to Kansas athletic posts that categorized the teams as right and wrong.
“Man! Yall are weird. … Winners WIN!!! I know that’s RIGHT!!!!!”
Eliah Drinkwitz, Missouri head coach
After playing in Columbia last year and in Lawrence this week, the teams are not scheduled to meet again until the 2031 and 2032 seasons.
Daniel Richardson is the Editor-in-Chief of Archysport, where he leads the editorial team and oversees all published content across nine sport verticals. With over 15 years in sports journalism, Daniel has reported from the FIFA World Cup, the Olympic Games, NFL Super Bowls, NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tennis tournaments. He previously served as Senior Sports Editor at Reuters and holds a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. Recognized by the Sports Journalists' Association for excellence in reporting, Daniel is a member of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). His editorial philosophy centers on accuracy, depth, and fair coverage — ensuring every story published on Archysport meets the highest standards of sports journalism.
