Why didn’t Missouri win six games this season and earn a bowl berth on the merits of its record on the field?

Answer: The Tigers didn’t get to play Kansas, the laughingstock of college football.

That’s the answer Mizzou players and fans would like to give. But it doesn’t work this season — the Tigers went 4-0 in their non-conference schedule. So a non-league win over the hapless Jayhawks wouldn’t have improved their record.

But it’s a fun excuse, considering that for the first time in more than 120 years, none of Mizzou’s seniors will depart with game against the hated Jayhawks under their belt. Several Mizzou seniors were redshirts in 2011, but could only watch as the Tigers beat Kansas 24-10 on their way to a seventh straight bowl game.

Mizzou’s departure from the teetering Big 12 in 2012 gave Kansas the excuse it needed to break off from a rivalry the Tigers were poised to dominate for the next several years.

Beginning with No. 2 Mizzou’s 36-28 victory over No. 3 Kansas in the regular-season finale at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium in 2007, the Tigers won five of the last six games between the teams to take a 57-54-9 lead in the series, which Kansas claims as only 56-55-9, counting a forfeit in 1960 as a victory.

Either way, Mizzou has only a small edge in the series despite a much better record against common opponents. Kansas had a way of beating seemingly superior Mizzou teams.

In fact, the Tigers have much more to be angry about over the course of the series.

The 1960 Mizzou team was undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the national polls entering the season-finale against the Jayhawks, needing only a victory to claim the national title (final voting then was done before the bowls). Missouri beat No. 4 Navy in the Orange Bowl, but Minnesota claimed the national title.

But Kansas won 23-7, only to forfeit because speedy halfback Bert Coan, who played several seasons with the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs, was later declared ineligible by the Big Eight.

After the 2007 game, one-loss Kansas successfully lobbied the Orange Bowl for the Big 12 berth despite losing head-to-head to North Division-winning Missouri, which lost the Big 12 Championship Game to Oklahoma, the first of Mizzou’s two losses to the Sooners. Kansas didn’t play Oklahoma or Texas in conference play.

For Mizzou supporters, Kansas’ lobbying efforts for the Orange Bowl helped convince the school administration to look for a way out of the Big 12.

Mizzou holds the series edge against every old Big Eight opponent except Oklahoma and Nebraska. Kansas’ holds an edge against only Iowa State and Kansas State. In Big 12 play, Mizzou held an edge against Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Baylor. Kansas trails the series against each of those opponents.

The bad blood between the states dates back before the Civil War. The rivalry between the schools is heated in Kansas City, only 40 minutes from the Kansas campus. To soothe Mizzou fans in Kansas City, the Tigers played Brigham Young this season at Arrowhead.

Prospects for resuming the series in the near future are slim. Kansas claims it’s upset with the abrupt way Mizzou left for the SEC, though its president and athletic director admit there’s no incentive for the Jayhawks to play Mizzou in football.

Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State were in danger of losing their Power 5 football status until Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas decided not to leave. Though Colorado, Nebraska and Texas A&M also left the Big 12, Kansas holds its grudge against Mizzou.

Thus, the Kansas excuse for not playing Mizzou in any athletic matchup other than NCAA championship competition.

Mizzou, which has no in-state FBS football rival, has tried repeatedly to convince Kansas to resume the football series.

In time, the series will be resumed. Kansas probably will want to play again — when its program is stronger and Mizzou’s is not as strong.

If not, Mizzou can walk away forever in peace with the series lead.