It was an explosive opening to the 2025 season as No. 22 Iowa State slipped past No. 17 Kansas State, 24-21, at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. On a rainy day layered with rivalry, the Cyclones persevered through a second half surge and took care of business on the road.
Game Highlights & Storylines
Rocco Becht led the offense with a pair of touchdown passes and a touchdown run. He showed his decisiveness and delivery when the Cyclones needed it most with a pin-point delivery to Dominic Overby and a timely touch throw to Brett Eskildsen in the third quarter.
Game-deciding gamble pays off—With Kansas State out of timeouts and the stadium alive with anticipation, the Cyclones opted for it on 4th-and-3. Becht found Carson Hansen and kept the offense going. ISU ran the clock down under a minute to execute a quarterback kneel at the 1-yard line.
Wildcats rallied late—Avery Johnson found Jerand Bradley (65 yards) on a monster bomb that brought K-State within striking distance. However, the clock ticked down too fast to finish the comeback.
Stats tell part of the story—Kansas State outgained Iowa State 383 to 313 total yards—but too many miscues, including turnovers and failures on 4th down, led to their demise.
Clutch Crunch Key Takeaways
Becht showcased his dual-threat capability: He set the tone and then finished strong while under duress.
4th down aggressiveness from Coach Campbell: The 4th down aggressiveness sealed the victory in hostile territory.
Rivalry does not take a back seat: Farmageddon showed up even in rainy Ireland. While both offenses struggled, both teams put on a show of will and grittiness.
Final Thoughts
Iowa State started the season the challenging way—and that is precisely what you’d want from a rivalry tone setter. With the steady presence of Becht, Campbell’s go-for-it mentality, and solid composure in crunch time, the Cyclones are ready for the long haul.