On the field, the Missouri football program has been a case study of consistency vs Arkansas, winning eight of the last 10 games in a series that has developed into something approximating an actual rivalry despite the one-sided results.
Sheer proximity, of course, plays a role here, as does Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz’s dickish behavior.
A big reason for the budding rivalry, too, is the way the pendulum keeps swigning in the programs’ recruiting battles for high school recruits and transfers. A CliffsNotes version of the last 7 years alone would involve quarterback Kelly Bryant opting for Mizzou instead of Arkansas, Johnathan Nance transferring from Arkansas to Missouri, Barry Odom getting fired from Mizzou, only to land at Arkansas and later entice Markell Utsey and Tre Williams to follow him (inhale), and in the 2024 recruiting cycle, Drinkwitz raiding Arkansas for some its best high school talent in Courtney Crutchfield, Austin Dendy and Brian Huff.