A TRUE RIVALRY IN DUBLIN

As every year, Dublin dressed up to host a new edition of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. Shop windows and pubs across the city were adorned with the vibrant colors of the universities: the red of Iowa State and the purple of Kansas State blended into every corner. Yet this time there was something truly special in the air: for the first time, the Aviva Stadium would host a game officially considered a rivalry — the storied Farmageddon.

This is one of the oldest and most enduring rivalries in college football. Since 1917, the Cyclones and the Wildcats have faced each other without interruption, keeping alive a tradition that has grown in intensity and symbolism. The name Farmageddon is no coincidence: both universities were born in agricultural heartlands, and that shared identity turned their meetings into a battle that electrifies the Midwest every season. Bringing that century-old rivalry to Europe, kicking off the season in the city that embraces American football more than any other on the continent, gave the event an even greater weight.

The fans knew it. For the nearly 30,000 Americans who traveled to Ireland, this wasn’t just sightseeing. It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see their team write history in an unprecedented setting, and to prove that college football is a truly global spectacle.

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THE TEAMS

On the red side, Iowa State arrived in Dublin with the confidence of a program that has grown steadily in recent years. Under Matt Campbell, the Cyclones have become a competitive force, and they carried into Ireland the momentum of a strong 2024 season. Their young quarterback Rocco Becht was the face of that project: still developing, but already calm and composed enough to thrive in big moments. Around him, a balanced offense and a tough defense had secured Iowa State a place among the nation’s best. Ranked No. 22, their presence in the Top 25 was no accident — last season wasn’t an exception, it was a statement.

Facing them, Kansas State came in as one of the Big 12’s established powers. Guided by Chris Klieman and carrying the label of favorites in many preseason predictions, the Wildcats arrived ranked No. 17, determined to show why they belong among the elite. Their hope rested on Avery Johnson, a young and dynamic quarterback with the talent to lead the program into the future. Johnson embodied the ambition of a team built to attack both through the air and on the ground, ready to punish any mistake.

For the first time in more than a hundred years of rivalry, both schools entered their matchup ranked in the Top 25 — and did so outside the United States. Farmageddon 2025 was not just another chapter in the series: it was an international test of maturity, with two programs determined to show from day one that they could aim for the top of the conference.

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THE MATCH

Sunday dawned gray over Dublin. A light rain accompanied the opening drives, as if the Irish weather wanted to add an extra layer of challenge to the season opener. Both teams started cautiously, adjusting to the slippery conditions. In the stands, two seas of red and purple roared with every snap, fully aware they were witnessing something historic.

The first strike came from the Cyclones. A steady march, combining Becht’s poise on short passes with Carson Hansen’s power on the ground, ended in the game’s opening touchdown. The roar of the red half of the stadium made it feel like Ames had been transplanted to Ireland. Kansas State, however, struck back quickly. Johnson, unflustered, found his receiver in the end zone to level the score before halftime. The 7-7 tie at the break reflected both the balance and the nerves of a rivalry renewed.

The second half shifted the momentum. Iowa State adjusted better, and Becht began to shine. With a rushing touchdown of his own, he tilted the game toward the Cyclones. Kansas State wobbled, and Hansen broke through with a run of nearly half the field, setting up another score. Soon after, a pass to Brett Eskildsen stretched the lead to 24-14. The Aviva roared as though it were Jack Trice Stadium.

But Farmageddon never comes easy. With time running out, Johnson shouldered the Wildcats’ hopes. First with a deep pass that cut through Iowa State’s secondary, then with a scramble into the end zone that reignited the purple crowd. The touchdown narrowed the gap and set up a dramatic finish.

The fourth quarter became a test of nerves. Kansas State pushed until the end, but Iowa State managed the clock with intelligence, burning down precious seconds. On the final drive, the Cyclones reached the one-yard line. They didn’t need to cross it: one knee, the clock expired, and an explosion of red joy shook the Aviva. The final score, 24-21 for Iowa State, confirmed a victory that will be remembered as one of the most remarkable chapters of this century-old rivalry — this time written in Europe.

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A FESTIVAL IN DUBLIN

If the game was spectacular, the atmosphere was unforgettable. Nearly 30,000 fans who had flown from the U.S. packed the stands, creating a stadium split perfectly in two: chants, flags, and a mosaic of colors more reminiscent of a bowl game than a neutral site in Europe.

The marching bands paraded through Merrion Square, mascots roamed among the fans, and Temple Bar’s pubs turned into extensions of the stadium. For an entire week, Dublin became a football carnival: pep rallies, concerts, parades, and even cultural exchanges, with players trying their hand at Gaelic sports like hurling. It was, in every sense, a celebration that crowned Dublin as the European capital of college football.

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LOOKING AHEAD

Farmageddon in Dublin was far more than a game. It proved that a century-old rivalry can cross oceans without losing any of its intensity. Iowa State emerged victorious, but the real winner was the global spectacle of college football.

Dublin once again confirmed itself as the perfect host and is already looking forward. In 2026, the Aer Lingus College Football Classic will welcome TCU and North Carolina, with the promise of repeating the magic and solidifying Ireland as the epicenter of college football in Europe.