Jack Trice Stadium was freezing. Like, "can't feel your toes through your wool socks" freezing. On November 30, 2024, the air in Ames felt heavy with that specific late-November tension that only exists when two teams who genuinely dislike each other meet for the 108th time. People call it Farmageddon. It’s a nickname that feels a little corny until you’re actually there, watching two midwestern programs grind each other into the dirt for a spot in the Big 12 Championship.
Honestly, going into this game, nobody was quite sure if Iowa State could actually pull off a 10-win season. They hadn't done it in 133 years. Think about that. Since 1891, the Cyclones had never hit double-digit wins in a single regular season.
Kansas State wasn't just there to be a footnote in history, though. They came in ranked No. 24, looking to play spoiler. What we got was a messy, physical, and weirdly beautiful game that ended in a 29-21 Iowa State victory. It wasn't always pretty. In fact, for long stretches, it was kind of a slog. But if you’re a fan of old-school defensive slugfests and high-stakes drama, it was perfect.
The Historic 10-Win Milestone
Iowa State’s 29-21 win over Kansas State was about more than just beating a rival. It was the moment Matt Campbell officially broke the ceiling. The Cyclones finished the regular season 10-2. For a program that spent decades as the Big 12’s basement dweller, that number feels fake.
Rocco Becht didn't put up video game numbers. He went 13-of-35. That’s a completion percentage that usually gets a quarterback benched or at least heavily criticized on Twitter. But statistics are funny. Even with those numbers, Becht accounted for three touchdowns. He found Jayden Higgins for a 15-yard score early and later hit Jaylin Noel for a 9-yarder. He even tucked the ball and ran for a 5-yard touchdown himself right before halftime.
He was gritty. That’s the only way to describe it. He was under pressure, the wind was whipping, and he just made enough plays to keep the chains moving when it mattered.
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Iowa State vs Kansas State football 2024: The Turnover Battle
You’ve probably heard coaches say that turnovers are the only stat that matters. They aren't lying. Kansas State actually out-gained Iowa State in total yardage, 364 to 324. Usually, when you out-gain your opponent, you win. Not this time.
The Wildcats fumbled twice in the first half. Both times, Iowa State turned those mistakes into 14 points. That’s basically the game right there. Chris Klieman mentioned after the game that you simply cannot turn the ball over twice in the first half against a defense like Iowa State’s and expect to survive.
Kansas State’s Avery Johnson is a special talent. He’s fast, he’s got a live arm, and he threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns. His 65-yard bomb to Jayce Brown in the second quarter was a legitimate "wow" moment. It silenced the crowd for a second. But the mistakes were too heavy to carry.
A Defensive Masterclass in the Fourth
The fourth quarter was where things got really weird.
Iowa State was clinging to a 24-21 lead. Kansas State had the ball deep in their own territory. Avery Johnson dropped back, felt the walls closing in, and tried to throw the ball away while he was still in the end zone. The referees threw the flag: intentional grounding. Because he was in the end zone, it was a safety.
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Two points for Iowa State. The score moved to 26-21. It was the first safety the Cyclone defense had recorded since 2018.
Then came the drive that effectively ended the Wildcats' hopes. Iowa State got the ball back after the safety and went on a soul-crushing 14-play, 60-yard drive. They ran the ball nine times in a row. They just lined up and dared Kansas State to stop them. Abu Sama III, who seems to save his best performances for the Wildcats, finished with 81 yards on 15 carries. Carson Hansen added 58 yards of his own. By the time Kyle Konrardy kicked a 20-yard field goal to make it 29-21 with six minutes left, Kansas State looked gassed.
Why the "Farmageddon" Result Flipped the Big 12
Most people expected this to be a toss-up, but the way Iowa State controlled the clock was the differentiator. They held the ball for over 35 minutes. That’s ten minutes more than Kansas State. When you have the ball that long, the other team’s playmakers—like DJ Giddens—can't get into a rhythm. Giddens was held to 72 yards, well below his season average of 115.
Darien Porter also had a massive moment that people sort of forget. He blocked a 21-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter. That’s a chip shot. If that ball goes through, we might be talking about a completely different outcome. Instead, it was Porter’s fifth career block, and it kept the momentum firmly on the Ames side of the border.
What to take away from the 2024 Matchup
If you're looking for the "why" behind the result, it comes down to three things:
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- Opportunistic Defense: Iowa State scoring 14 points off two fumbles.
- The Run Game: Out-rushing K-State 187 to 144, specifically in the second half.
- Special Teams: A blocked field goal and a safety from a forced error.
This game didn't just give Iowa State their 10th win; it punched their ticket to Arlington for the Big 12 Championship against Arizona State. It was the culmination of a season where they found ways to win games that they used to lose.
If you want to understand the modern Big 12, you have to look at this game. It wasn't about flashy air-raid offenses or 50-point shootouts. It was about which team could survive the cold and the mistakes. Iowa State proved they were the tougher team that night.
For fans or bettors looking back at this season, remember that Iowa State's success was built on a 3-3-5 defensive structure that made life miserable for young quarterbacks like Avery Johnson. Even when the Cyclone offense sputtered, that defense provided a floor that most teams in the conference just didn't have.
If you’re tracking the progress of these two programs, watch how Kansas State responds to the turnover issues in the upcoming season. For Iowa State, the 2024 season is now the gold standard. The task for Matt Campbell now is proving that a 10-win season isn't a once-in-a-century event, but the new normal in Ames.