Top 3 Takeaways from Iowa State vs. Kansas State (24-21 Final)

The Iowa State Cyclones and Kansas State Wildcats kicked off the 2025 college football season from Dublin, Ireland on Saturday. The game was filed with things you would expect during a Week 0 game overseas: sloppy, rainy, foggy and dramatic. For one of the longest-running rivalries in college football, it was a chance for the Big 12 to take center stage in Week 0, with no competition across the college football landscape. And with that, here are the top three takeaways from Iowa State’s 24-21 win over Kansas State.

Sloppy Football in Ireland

I’m not here to criticize either of these teams, but this was some sloppy football on both sides. It started early in the game when Dylan Edwards muffed a punt that put Iowa State inside the K-State 10-yard line. But then, it was Iowa State fumbling just a couple of plays later, to give the ball back to the Wildcats. There were four fumbles, missed field goals, and sloppy plays across the board in the first half. Both teams struggled to find a rhythm, and understandably, playing overseas in the fog and rain, on a slippery field, did not help. Oh, and let’s not forget they were playing a week earlier than most of the country.

It just wasn’t pretty football. But if you were expecting that, that’s on you. After the two teams went into the half tied at seven, the game picked up in the second half with 24 total points scored in the fourth quarter alone, including a thrilling back-and-forth in the final 15 minutes that made for another classic Farmageddon.

Matt Campbell’s Gamble Pays Off, Chris Klieman’s Doesn’t

With Kansas State down 17-14 on their own 30-yard line, K-State ran Avery Johnson off tackle and was stopped. Four plays later, Iowa State punched it in with a Rocco Becht seven-yard score to make it 24-14. Kansas State did respond with a quick-strike touchdown from Avery Johnson to Jerand Bradley for a 65-yard touchdown.

However, on the next drive, Matt Campbell had a key decision on 4th and three from the K-State 16-yard line with just over two minutes left in the game. Campbell elected to pass on the field goal attempt and was rewarded by his players as Becht found Hansen for a 15-yard gain down to the one-yard line. Three kneel-downs later, the Cyclones were set to leave Dublin with a 24-21 win.

Farmageddon Must Be Protected

Whether this game is played in Manhattan, Ames, or across the pond, Farmageddon does not disappoint. It was a fourth-straight game decided by one score or less. And going back 12 years, that’s nine of those games decided by one score or less. That’s an unbelievable run.

The current Big 12 scheduling arrangement does not protect the Iowa State–Kansas State rivalry, meaning the two teams are not scheduled to play in 2027. This will be the first time since 1917 that the game is not played.

The Big 12 needs to correct this ASAP. I know no one wants to admit when they are wrong, but this would be just a blunder of an unforced error for a conference that is in desperate need of great rivalries. Farmageddon is one of them, along with the Holy War, and to lose this annually makes absolutely no sense.