Ireland backdrop for K-State, Iowa State in international Farmageddon

Farmageddon is big enough when it’s played on the plains.
But when the Iowa State-Kansas State rivalry gets exported to Ireland with the honor of being the first game of the college football season.
The kickoff game of the 2025 season is also the first in a wide-open race for the Big 12’s presumed College Football Playoff berth, bringing a rare level of importance to this international Farmageddon.
When No. 17 Kansas State and No. 22 Iowa State meet on Saturday in the Aer Lingus Classic in Dublin, it marks the first matchup of Associated Press Top 25 teams in the Emerald Isle. The game marks the 11th in Ireland since college football made its debut in 1988.
With so much extra smoke swirling around this game, Iowa State coach Matt Campbell has tried to tell his guys to focus on the Cyclones instead of the Wildcats. He figures it’s a fool’s errand to do otherwise.
“We don’t know what K-State’s going to do,” Campbell said. “It’s a first game. You’ve got no idea. They’ve got a new offensive coordinator. Man, they’ve played multiple defenses for the last four to five years.”
But if the way the Wildcats and Cyclones closed out last season is any indication, defense might be optional. Iowa State edged Miami 42-41 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl — setting a school record with its 11th win — while Kansas State handled Rutgers 44-41 in the Rate Bowl.
Both teams return their quarterbacks, too, and several more skill-position players.
New Kansas State offensive coordinator Matt Wells gets to work with dual threat quarterback Avery Johnson, who piled up 2,712 yards and 25 touchdowns through the air and 605 yards and seven scores on the ground. The Wildcats retain last year’s No. 1 target in Jayce Brown (47 catches, 823 yards, five TDs) and No. 2 running back Dylan Edwards (546 yards, 7.4 yards per carry, five TDs), but the offensive line is in flux.
“I think we all probably look at (the offense) with a real critical eye at times,” said Wells, who coached the quarterbacks last year. “But when you look back, I see some areas where we’re probably better than last year. Then I think there are some areas that we all need Game Day to tell us some answers.”
Iowa State welcomes back Rocco Becht, who aired it out for 3,505 yards and 25 scores. He’s rejoined by top running back Carson Hansen (752 yards, 13 TDs), but the Cyclones have to replace their pair of star receivers — Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel — who combined for 167 catches, nearly 2,400 yards and 17 scores.
Carson Brown, a walk-on, is Iowa State’s leading returning wide receiver but the Cyclones hit the portal for a potential No. 1 wideout option. Chase Sowell (East Carolina) has 83 career receptions for 1,323 yards and averaged 19.9 yards per catch in 2024.