Iowa State Upsets Kansas State in College Football Opener

The NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision season got underway on August 23rd with five games in the so called Week 0 of the season (basically starting a week ahead of every one else). And for the fourth year in a row, the season’s first game was in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland.

College football fans in Ireland, as well as American fans who made the trip over there, were treated to a pretty decent opener. This year’s matchup was between two Big 12 teams, both ranked in the AP Top 25, with #22 Iowa State and #17 Kansas State.

Iowa State took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, and Kansas State matched that with a touchdown in the second quarter on quarterback Avery Johnson’s 10 yard run for a 7-7 tie at the half. Iowa State took a 14-7 lead in the third, on QB Rocco Becht’s second touchdown pass of the game.

The Wildcats tied it up again early in the fourth quarter on a Johnson to Jayce Brown touchdown pass. Cyclones’ kicker Kyle Konrady booted a 34 yard field goal to make it 17-14 Iowa State. After Kansas State turned the ball over on downs, Becht led a four play, 30 yard drive ending with his own seven yard rushing touchdown. Johnson then unleashed a 65 yard touchdown pass to Jerand Bradley to bring the Wildcats to within three at 24-21, but Iowa State held onto the ball the rest of the way to secure the victory.

The college football season will begin in Dublin for at least two more years. North Carolina and TCU will play on August 29th, 2026, followed by Pittsburgh and Wisconsin on August 28th, 2027.