It was raining in Dublin. Not just a mist, but a heavy, soaking Irish rain that made the turf at Aviva Stadium feel more like a slip-and-slide than a football field. That was August 2025. Thousands of fans had trekked across the Atlantic to watch k state iowa state football kick off the season in a game people call Farmageddon. Most national pundits probably didn't get it. Why fly two land-grant schools from the Midwest to Ireland?
Because this rivalry is weirdly, consistently, and beautifully chaotic.
Iowa State won that one 24-21. It was the fourth straight game in the series decided by a single possession. If you look at the last 12 years of this matchup, nine of them have been decided by one score. Nine. That is a level of parity that most "big-name" rivalries like the Iron Bowl or The Game can’t actually touch.
What is Farmageddon?
The name "Farmageddon" isn't just a marketing gimmick dreamed up by a corporate suit. It’s a badge of honor for two fanbases that are basically the same people separated by a state line. You have Kansas State and Iowa State—both schools with deep agricultural roots, both in the Big 12, and both consistently overlooked by the national media.
Honestly, the "Farmageddon" moniker only started gaining real steam in the late 2000s when the schools played a couple of neutral-site games at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Before that, it was just the game you went to because your cousin played for the other side or your neighbor grew up in Ames.
But here is the kicker: as of 2025, it is the longest never-interrupted rivalry in college football history. They’ve played every single year since 1917.
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Think about that. Through World Wars, the Great Depression, and a global pandemic that shut down the rest of the world, these two teams still found a way to kick a ball around a field every autumn.
The Snow Game and Recent Heartbreaks
If you want to understand k state iowa state football, you have to talk about the 2023 game in Manhattan. It was a literal blizzard. You couldn't see the yard lines. Players were sliding ten yards past the whistle.
In that game, Iowa State’s Abu Sama III basically became a legend. He had three touchdown runs of 60+ yards in the snow. K-State fans still have nightmares about those white jerseys disappearing into the white background of the stadium. Iowa State won 42-35, and it felt like a turning point for Matt Campbell's program.
Then came 2024. This one was personal. It was the regular-season finale in Ames, and a spot in the Big 12 Championship game was effectively on the line for the Cyclones.
Kansas State brought Avery Johnson, their lightning-fast young quarterback, into a hostile Jack Trice Stadium. He threw for three touchdowns, including a 65-yard bomb to Jayce Brown that briefly silenced the crowd. But Rocco Becht—Iowa State’s gritty, do-it-all QB—responded with a 5-yard touchdown run and a clinical second half.
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The turning point was a safety in the fourth quarter. K-State’s Johnson was pressured in his own end zone and called for intentional grounding. Two points for the Clones. That safety gave Iowa State the breathing room they needed to win 29-21 and secure the program's first-ever 10-win season.
Why the Continuity is Dying (And Why it Matters)
Here is the sad part. The Big 12 expanded. With 16 teams now in the mix, the conference decided to only "protect" four rivalries that would be played every year.
K state iowa state football did not make the cut.
This is arguably one of the biggest blunders in modern conference realignment. Because of the new scheduling matrix, the 2027 season is currently scheduled to be the first time since 1917 that these teams won't meet. The "longest never-interrupted" streak will die.
Fans on both sides are furious. You go to Reddit or message boards like CycloneFanatic or GoPowercat, and the sentiment is the same: the suits at the conference office don't value the history that makes college football special. They see metrics; fans see 108 years of tradition.
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What to Expect in 2026
We already know the 2026 matchup is happening in Ames. Since the 2025 game was a neutral-site "home" game for K-State in Ireland, the 2026 return to Jack Trice Stadium is going to be electric.
Expect Avery Johnson to be a seasoned veteran by then. K-State head coach Chris Klieman has built a culture of "toughness," but Matt Campbell has built a "five-star culture" that refuses to quit.
- Quarterback Battle: Becht vs. Johnson is becoming one of the best QB rivalries in the country.
- The Trenches: These games are almost always won by the team that can run for 150+ yards in the cold.
- The Stakes: With the 12-team playoff now the norm, this game is no longer just for Big 12 pride—it’s an elimination game for the post-season.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're planning on catching the next round of this rivalry, don't wait until the week of the game to find a hotel. Ames and Manhattan are small towns; they fill up fast.
- Check the 2026 Schedule Early: The Big 12 usually releases specific dates in late January or February.
- Layers are Mandatory: Whether it's a "Snow-mageddon" or a rainy night in November, the weather for k state iowa state football is notoriously fickle.
- Tailgate Etiquette: K-State fans bring the smoked brisket; Iowa State fans bring the "Cyclone Power" and a lot of Busch Light. They’ll usually share if you're wearing the right colors (or even if you're not).
The series record currently sits at 55-50-4 in favor of Iowa State. It is as close as a rivalry can get. Whether the conference protects it or not, the fans know what this game is: the heart of the Midwest, played on a grass field, usually in the freezing cold, where every yard feels like a mile.
Don't miss the 2026 installment at Jack Trice Stadium. It might be one of the last "guaranteed" ones we get for a while.
Next Steps for Your 2026 Football Prep:
To get ready for the 2026 season, you should bookmark the official Big 12 schedule release page and look for "Farmageddon" specifically. If the game is scheduled for late November again, start looking for lodging in the Des Moines/Ames area at least six months in advance to avoid the inevitable 300% price hikes. Also, keep an eye on the transfer portal this spring; both teams have been active in filling defensive gaps that proved costly in the 2025 Ireland matchup.