The 2025 college football season officially kicks off Saturday afternoon when No. 17 Kansas State takes on No. 22 Iowa State in the year’s first matchup.
The Wildcats and Cyclones enter the opener as two of the Big 12’s top-ranked programs. Kansas State starts at 17th in the AP Poll, and Iowa State is close behind at 22nd.
Fans will see immediate playoff implications when the two meet in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. This international showcase highlights the season’s opening weekend, with ranked teams facing off outside the United States.
How to Watch the Aer Lingus College Football Classic: Kansas State vs. Iowa State
Game Details
Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. CT (10:00 a.m. MST)
Location: Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland.
How to Watch
TV: ESPN (Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, Taylor McGregor)
Live Stream: ESPN app (subscription required), FUBO
Radio: K-State Sports Network with Wyatt Thompson, Stan Weber, Matt Walters; SiriusXM 84; National call by Gregg Daniels, Chad Brown, Tim Cates; Audio on kstatesports.com.
Betting Line
Spread: Kansas State -3 (opened -3.5)
Total: O/U 49.5
Moneyline: Kansas State -155, Iowa State +130
Tickets
Team allotments are sold out. Ticketmaster Ireland lists restricted-view seats at €90 ($105) and median pricing around €105 ($122). Travel and lodging costs raise the overall expense for U.S. fans.
Notes
BetMGM lists Kansas State as a 3-point favorite, while DraftKings reflects the same line. Oddshark’s model projects a 36-20 Wildcats win, though recent preseason forecasts have been inconsistent.
Kansas State, Iowa State Set for Historic Farmageddon in Dublin
The 2025 college football season opens with No. 17 Kansas State (9-4, 5-4 Big 12 in 2024) meeting No. 22 Iowa State (11-3, 7-2) in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland. It marks the first Division I FBS game of the year and only the second time K-State has begun a season with a conference matchup.
The previous instance came in 1996 when the Wildcats beat Texas Tech in the inaugural Big 12 contest. This will also be Kansas State’s second-ever international appearance, following a 1992 game against Nebraska in Japan.
ESPN’s commercial for the Week 0 Ireland game between #22 Iowa State and #17 Kansas State. 🔥🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/PcPH7PPL1M
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) August 15, 2025
Kansas State has recorded 44 wins in the past five full seasons, consistently hovering around nine victories. Iowa State enters off its best campaign in school history, finishing 11-3 after edging Miami 42-41 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
The rivalry, dubbed Farmageddon or Farm O’geddon this season, has recently tilted Iowa State’s way, with four wins in the last five meetings. The Cyclones lead the all-time series 54-50-4. Both programs are also side by side in all-time FBS winning percentage, separated by only two total victories.
Predictions are tight. The Arizona Republic picks Kansas State 31-28, while Dimers.com projects a 27-23 Wildcats win, giving K-State a 60% win probability.