Rain. Fog. Smoked salmon and a stadium full of fans who probably didn't expect a Big 12 slugfest in the middle of Ireland. If you were looking for the iowa state kansas state score from their most recent football clash, the number you need is 24-21.
Iowa State took it. But man, it wasn't easy.
This wasn't your typical Saturday in Ames or Manhattan. Instead, the "Farmageddon" rivalry went international, kicking off the 2025 season at Aviva Stadium in Dublin for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. It was sloppy. It was weird. Honestly, it was exactly what you'd expect from two teams playing their first game of the year in a misty Irish downpour.
Breaking Down the Iowa State Kansas State Score
The 24-21 final tells a story of survival. Iowa State, ranked No. 22 at the time, managed to outlast No. 17 Kansas State in a game that felt like a 1980s defensive struggle for the first thirty minutes. At halftime, it was tied 7-7. Both teams were fumbling the ball like it was covered in grease—four fumbles in the first half alone.
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Rocco Becht was the difference-maker. He didn't put up video game numbers, going 14-of-28 for 183 yards, but he made the plays that mattered. He threw two touchdowns and, perhaps most importantly, scrambled for a 7-yard score in the fourth quarter that basically put the game out of reach.
Kansas State didn't go away quietly, though. Avery Johnson, the Wildcats' flashy quarterback, connected with Jerand Bradley for a massive 65-yard touchdown late in the fourth. That cut the lead to three. You could feel the tension through the TV screen.
The game ended on a gutsy call by Matt Campbell. Instead of kicking a field goal to go up by six with two minutes left, he went for it on 4th and 3 from the K-State 16-yard line. Becht found Carson Hansen for a 15-yard gain to the one-yard line. Game over. Three kneels and the Cyclones headed back across the Atlantic with a 1-0 record.
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Key Stats From the Dublin Showdown
- Final Score: Iowa State 24, Kansas State 21
- Total Yards: K-State actually outgained ISU 383 to 313.
- The Ground Game: Carson Hansen led the Cyclones with 71 yards.
- The Turning Point: K-State's turnover on downs at their own 30-yard line in the fourth quarter.
Why This Specific Game Mattered
Farmageddon is usually a late-season tradition. Moving it to Week 0 in 2025 changed the entire dynamic of the Big 12 race. For Iowa State, it was Matt Campbell's 100th career win. For Kansas State, it was a "what if" game—mostly "what if Dylan Edwards hadn't gotten hurt?" Edwards, the dynamic K-State back, muffed a punt early and left with an injury, leaving a huge hole in the Wildcats' offense.
The rivalry is also facing a weird future. Because of the new Big 12 scheduling, these two aren't actually slated to play in 2027. That would be the first time since 1917 they haven't met. It makes every iowa state kansas state score feel a bit more precious to the fans who grew up on this game.
Switching to the Hardwood
If you're here because you saw a lopsided score recently and got confused, you might be thinking of the basketball matchup—or the wrong "Kansas" team altogether.
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Just this past Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the No. 2 ranked Iowa State basketball team went into Allen Fieldhouse and got absolutely thumped by the Kansas Jayhawks (not the Wildcats), 84-63. It's easy to mix them up when they're both in the same state and the same conference, but the Cyclones' undefeated streak ended in Lawrence, not Manhattan.
When it comes to the actual Iowa State vs. Kansas State basketball games from the 2024-25 season, the home teams held serve. Kansas State beat Iowa State 80-61 in Ames, while Iowa State returned the favor with a 73-57 win in Manhattan later that year.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're tracking the Cyclones and Wildcats, keep an eye on the transfer portal. Both programs have been vocal about the need for NIL support to keep their rosters intact after these high-stakes games.
For football bettors or stats junkies, remember that Farmageddon has been decided by one score or less in nine of the last twelve meetings. It's one of the most consistently tight rivalries in the country. If you see a spread larger than a touchdown for the next meeting, history says to take the underdog.
The 2025 football season started with a bang in Dublin, and while the iowa state kansas state score favored the Cyclones this time, the "Purple vs. Cardinal" battle remains the most underrated rivalry in the Big 12. Check the upcoming schedules for 2026, as both teams are expected to be at the top of the conference hierarchy again.