KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Coin flips have played a critical role in major world events.
It’s rumored coin flips decided how Portland, Oregon, was named; how Wilbur Wright got the first crack at flying; and how Ritchie Valens wound up on a doomed flight with Buddy Holly and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson Jr., a tragedy immortalized in Don McLean’s “American Pie.”
Now, a coin flip on Thursday will determine whether Missouri or Illinois hosts the 2020 Braggin’ Rights Game, which is normally played at a neutral site in St. Louis.
“The annual Braggin’ Rights game is one of St. Louis’ great sporting traditions, and I’m grateful that we have been able to work with Josh Whitman and his staff at Illinois to ensure that this meaningful game continues this season despite the challenges we are all facing due to COVID-19,” Mizzou Athletic Director Jim Sterk said.
Assuming the pandemic has abated by this time next year, the series will return to the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
But for 2020, the game will be played on one of the two campuses on Saturday, Dec. 12, this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The game will either be played at Mizzou Arena in Columbia or the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.
Former ESPN college basketball reporter Andy Katz will host the “Braggin’ Rights On Campus: Coin Flip Special” live at 6 p.m. on Thursday. The event will be streamed on Facebook, YouTube, MUTigers.com and FightingIllini.com.
Katz will flip a special coin with a Tigers logo on one side and Illini logo on the other. The logo that lands facing up will determine who gets the home game.
It wound up landing with the Mizzou logo up during the special, so the Tigers will host No. 8 Illinois on Dec. 12.
Fans will not be permitted at the game at either site.
Illinois leads the all-time series 32-18, but this will be only the 11th all-time meeting on a campus site.
Tipoff time and broadcast information will be announced at a later time.
