In some ways, they’re as close to college football clones as you can get. Talented quarterbacks. Outstanding tight ends. Winning coaches. Great fans. Big 12 Conference rivals. It only makes sense that many people feel Saturday’s Iowa State-Kansas State football game will be decided by a field goal or less.
That, and the importance of the game is enough to overshadow the fact that it’s being played in Dublin, Ireland, and not on a campus (more on that later).
The Cyclones’ biggest game ever? Possibly, however let’s wait until after the season, before determining just where this ranks in what by then will be Matt Campbell’s 10 Iowa State seasons.
Cyclones-Wildcats is the biggest of this opening weekend’s five-game Week 0, for sure, considering it’s a Top 20 showdown of conference favorites that ESPN airs at 11 a.m. (Central time) – in a time slot all its own.
Wouldn’t Week Zero’s first Top 25 matchup be better-suited for a campus, where the respective communities reap financial benefits that accompany college football? And especially in a season-opener and on a day when it’s not snowing buckets?
Alas, it’s not, so let’s celebrate this Super Bowl-like experience for what it is:
A game that will go a long way toward who gets to the Big 12 playoff, and with a winner that will grab early-season attention of the College Football Playoffs.
Let’s hoist one to the fact that this game’s location is neat for both schools, while also being great advertising for the Big 12 Conference, and the College Football World Order. Cheers to this game being between two Big 12 legacy teams, not between schools rescued by expansion.
And let’s hoist “em while knowing that, other than the game’s location, this isn’t any sideshow type of entertainment gimmick.
This is the real thing, and if you don’t believe it, here’s the lead paragraph of a story last week in Dublin’s Irish Post:
“On August 23rd, Kansas State University’s Wildcats will face Iowa State University’s Cyclones in what’s being billed as the most competitive US college football game ever played outside of America.”
A total of 107 college games have been played outside the United States. No. 108, Saturday’s Iowa State-Kansas State headliner, is the first that has matched two Top 25 teams.
“This will be a historic moment for Iowa State, K-State, and the entire Big 12,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said at Big 12 Media Days. “All eyes will be on our league, both at home and around the globe.”
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IOWA EVERYWHERE WEEK 0 PREDICTIONS
IOWA STATE vs. KANSAS STATE in Dublin
11 a.m., ESPN
Randy Peterson: As Rocco Becht finds comfort with new receivers, it’s the dink-and-dunks to tight ends and the running backs that will do early-season damage. Campbell’s physicality mantra will come into play immediately – Kansas State’s front seven is as physical as they come. Kyle Konrardy comes through again. Iowa State 27, Kansas State 24.
Chris Hassel:K-State owes Iowa State for the last 2 years. I’m just not sure new Cyclone receivers will be ready to tackle this kind of challenge right out of the gate. Kansas State 24, Iowa State 23.
Chris Williams:What’s interesting here is in my big season prediction, I went with Kansas State. The main reason was that I thought Iowa State would go 9-3 and I needed to find that third loss. I actually like Iowa State head-to-head in this game. I know, weird. I expect a much-improved defense. A different look to the offense but I’m quite excited to see what Mouser has cooked up for us. Iowa State 27, Kansas State 21.
Andrew Downs: A rough first half for the Cyclones, whose comeback bid falls short in the second. Kansas State 31, Iowa State 28.
Matt Van Winkle:What a game this will be to kick off the 2025 season. Top 25 matchup. Rivalry. And two teams that have traded blows the past decade. K-State and Avery Johnson throw the last punch in a game that comes down to the final possession. Kansas State 27, Iowa State 24.
Jake Brend:While I do think Iowa State’s O-Line will be better in 2025, starting the season off against K-State’s dynamic front seven is not ideal. ISU plays an all-around good defensive game but Chris Klieman finds a way to overcome his woes against Matt Campbell. Kansas State 23, Iowa State 20.
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FRESNO STATE at KANSAS
Randy Peterson:Kansas 38, Fresno State 17.
Chris Hassel:Kansas 34, Fresno State 21.
Chris Williams:Kansas 42, Fresno State 30.
Andrew Downs: Kansas 35. Fresno State 20.
Matt Van Winkle:Kansas 30, Fresno State 20.
Jake Brend:Kansas 33, Fresno State 20.
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STANFORD at HAWAII
Randy Peterson:Stanford 31, Hawaii 18.
Chris Hassel:Hawaii 27, Stanford 17.
Chris Williams:Hawaii 30, Stanford 17.
Andrew Downs: Stanford 28, Hawaii 24.
Matt Van Winkle:Hawaii 34. Stanford 28.
Jake Brend:Stanford 24, Hawaii 23.
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IDAHO STATE AT UNLV
Randy Peterson:UNLV 34, Idaho State 24.
Chris Hassel:UNLV 40, Idaho State 7.
Chris Williams:UNLV 45, Idaho State 14.
Andrew Downs: UNLV 50, Idaho State 17.
Matt Van Winkle:UNLV 28, Idaho State 7.
Jake Brend:UNLV 40, Idaho State 17.
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FIRST DOWN: It’s safe to say past Farmageddon games have been weighing on the minds of some Kansas State players. They’re very aware the Cyclones have won four of the past five meetings. “It’s a big motivator for everybody,” Wildcats QB Avery Johnson said in a Kansas City Star story. “I think it will come to show that our guys are hungrier. We still have a bad taste in our mouths, not just from last year, but the year before and the fashion that we lost those games.” The past two games, ISU victories, have been one-possession games.
SECOND DOWN: This rivalry, which has been played consecutively since 1917, will drop off the regular-season schedule in 2027, thanks to the scheduling of a 16-team league. The streak won’t be interrupted, however, if both teams play in the 2027 postseason. Currently, it’s the fifth-longest rivalry in college football – behind Lehigh-Lafayette, Minnesota-Wisconsin, NC State-Wake Forest, and Kansas State-Kansas. Iowa State leads Farmageddon, 54-50-4.
THIRD DOWN: Some college football pundits feel Kansas State’s quarterback has a legitimate shot at winning the Heisman Trophy. Others, wonder if he’s even the best quarterback in the Big 12 Conference.
FOURTH DOWN: How hard-up for money is the Oklahoma athletic department, in this new age of revenue sharing, NIL and everything else that goes along with paying players? It’s selling tickets to postgame press conferences. For $692.11, per ESPN, two fans can sit in, as reporters question players and coaches after the Sept. 6 game against Michigan. The price drops to $576.86 for the Sooners’ SEC game against Auburn. For obvious reasons, this is ridiculous. Or maybe it’s a good thing, because it will provide fans proof that some reporters actually do ask tough questions.
(Columnist Randy Peterson, a former State of Iowa Sportswriter of the Year winner, can be reached at randypete4846@gmail.com or at any Okoboji-area beverage/food establishment between the hours of open and close.)
Randy Peterson