| The Arch Rivalry game is the name given to the | | | | Mizzou football program is a member of the |
| annual football matchup between the University of | | | | formidable Big 12 Conference which is consistently |
| Missouri Tigers (commonly referred to simply as | | | | considered one of the top football conferences in |
| Mizzou) and the University of Illinois Illini. The | | | | the country. The University of Illinois is also a |
| always anticipated football game historically kicks | | | | proud member of a dominant football conference, |
| off every new season with a meeting between | | | | although not the Big 12. The University of Illinois is |
| two formidable opponents from opposing | | | | one of eleven teams in the Big Ten Conference. |
| conferences in the first week of the season. | | | | The Arch Rivalry game derives its name from |
| Week one of the college football season always | | | | the mutual site where the game is played. While |
| has fans chomping at the bit to dive into their | | | | the University of Missouri is located in Columbia, |
| beloved college football season. Unfortunately for | | | | Missouri and the University of Illinois is located in |
| rabid fans the first week of the season is | | | | Urbana-Champaign, Illinois the two schools kick off |
| predominately filled with blow outs as the top tier | | | | their college football season in St. Louis, Missouri, a |
| teams typically schedule significantly weaker | | | | location roughly in the middle of the two |
| opponents for the first two or three weeks of | | | | universities. The University of Missouri is 125 miles |
| the season to allow their programs to build | | | | west of St. Louis and the University of Illinois is |
| momentum as they enter the very important | | | | 185 miles northeast of St. Louis. The moniker |
| conference schedules throughout the heart of the | | | | Arch Rivalry is a play on words with the historic |
| regular season. Football fans from around the | | | | St. Louis Arch. The annual football game is actually |
| country mark their calendars and follow the | | | | held just a couple of miles from the St. Louis |
| primetime matchup between the Mizzou Tigers | | | | Arch at the Edward Jones Dome (home of the |
| and the University of Illinois in what is traditionally | | | | St. Louis Rams) in downtown St. Louis. |
| one of the best games opening weekend in | | | | Fans and alumni of the two schools very much |
| terms of pitting accomplished programs against | | | | look forward to the annual Labor Day weekend |
| one another. | | | | trip to St. Louis to watch their alma maters |
| The Arch Rivalry game (officially sponsored by an | | | | square off as part of a festive weekend that |
| insurance giant) is played on Labor Day weekend | | | | marks the end of summer and the beginning of |
| which is the first weekend of September. The | | | | fall. |
