Iowa State Claim 109th Farmageddon as Yormark looks to take the Big 12 global.

The 2025 college football season kicked off in Week 0 with a bang, as two Top-25 ranked Big-12 teams faced off in Dublin for the 109th edition of ‘Farmageddon’, the historic rivalry game between the Kansas State Wildcats and the Iowa State Cyclones. Fans will need to savour this weekend’s clash as, due to conference realignment in 2027 and the Iowa State - K-State tilt not being designated as a protected rivalry, there may be lengthy gaps between subsequent meetings.

However, Dublin was awash with Purple and Cardinal as over 20,000 dedicated fans travelled from the US to watch their teams compete in a matchup that has significant Big 12 title implications. Far travelling fans may become more commonplace for Big 12 schools in the future.

Commissioner Brett Yormark stated in his press conference prior to the that ‘aspirationally, I had the vision to take the conference global. I think today’s game is the launch of that vision internationally.’ Yormark further expanded ‘globally, I think we have the chance to work as a conference…to raise our flag wherever we can.’ He noted that they have received interest from several countries about hosting football and other sports. This suggests that fans across the pond could be treated to more Big 12 athletics in the upcoming years.

The high expectations for the game were initially dampened in a rain lashed Aviva Stadium in a first half that was characterised by fumbles and dropped passes. Both teams had two turnovers apiece, plus a K-State turnover on downs in the first half. K-State suffered a significant blow early on as their standout running back Dylan Edwards suffered an undisclosed injury on his first punt return of the game, an attempt he muffed leading to a turnover. Continued struggles to run the ball and make significant completions through the air, with the half ending tied at 7-7.

Fortunately for the teams, and the fans watching, the weather cleared up and ball security improved, as did the performances of both quarterbacks. ISU’s Rocco Becht demonstrated composure and leadership to carve out a lead and hang on to it, Becht finished day with 183 yards and two TDs, plus a rushing score. K-State’s Avery Johnson put in a respectable performance with 273 yards and matching Becht’s two passing and one rushing touchdown.

However, bold coaching decisions late in the game decided the ultimate outcome. With eight minutes left on the clock, K-State head coach Chris Klieman took the risk to go for it on fourth down but, after review, Johnson came up just short. From the positive field position given up, the Cylcones put the ball in the endzone, giving them a 10-point lead. The previously raucous Wildcats fans were quietened until Johnson’s 65-yard bomb to Jerand Bradley caused them to erupt once more with renewed hope.

That hope was short lived as, Cyclone’s coach Matt Campbell also decided to attempt a fourth down conversion to preserve the drive and most importantly keep possession of the ball. Becht’s short pass on fourth and three appeared to result in a touchdown but Carsen Hansen’s gritty run through the opposing defenders was reviewed and he was judged to be down just short of the goal line. But this was enough for the Cyclones to kneel out the clock and ice the game.

Coach Klieman tried to look forward after the game “I mean that’s the thing, regardless of the outcome we have 11 games to play. We have our back against the wall, but now we’ve got to reset and regroup and get ready to play.”

Campbell was understandably more jovial, reflecting on five wins out of the last six meeting with K-State: “I think those are great wins, any time you can beat quality opponents that’s awesome. We got a long way to go, it’s only game one and there’s a lot of football left and we’re going to have to see if we’re tough enough as a program and team to go home and get ready for a good South Dakota team next week.”