No. 22 Iowa State survived a late comeback from No. 17 Kansas State to win a 24-21 slugfest and capture the first victory of the 2025 season at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. The Cyclones converted on a critical fourth-and-3 to win a third straight game against Kansas State.

C hris Klieman and the Kansas State Wildcats open the 2025 football season in Ireland with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic against Iowa State at Aviva Stadium. A Week 0 showdown, the game will reverberate throughout the Big 12 regardless of the result, as quarterback Avery Johnson looks to leave his mark in Manhattan.

Here are five bold predictions for K-State’s upcoming season, plus game-by-game picks: Kansas State’s starting quarterback entered the record books last season when he threw for a program-best 25 touchdowns as a sophomore. This season, he could easily become the third player in K-State history to eclipse 3,000 passing yards.