The final of the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday will be a local affair and a reunion of an old conference rivalry, as Kansas State and Nebraska will square off for the championship after Thursday night victories.

Neither campus is more than 200 miles away from T-Mobile Arena, as Nebraska (196 miles) and Kansas State (122 miles) are also a mere 134 miles away from each other.

That proximity manifested in a long-running rivalry, primarily in the Big Eight and Big 12, dating back to 1906. The Wildcats hold a 129-94 record in the series and are 7-3 over the past 10, though the Cornhuskers took the most recent matchup, 62-46, in December 2023.

Beyond local bragging rights, the winner Friday will remain undefeated and pick up a key nonconference victory in this young seas

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