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After falling one win short of the College Football Playoff a season ago, Associated Press No. 22 Iowa State Cyclones (1-0, 1-0) began its 2025 season by once again establishing itself as a Big 12 contender in a 24-21 win over No. 17 Kansas State Wildcats (0-1, 0-1).
Iowa State overcame a sloppy start to the annual kick-off game in rainy Dublin, with the two teams combining for four fumbles lost.
Quarterback Rocco Becht came on strong in the second half, going 8-of-13 for 105 yards and a touchdown on a beautifully placed ball to wide receiver Brett Eskildsen.
— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) August 23, 2025
Becht closed the game with five consecutive completions, including a massive 4th-and-3 completion that allowed the Cyclones to end the game in victory formation.
Afterward, head coach Matt Campbell discussed his gutsy fourth-down call, praising Becht.
“Our quarterback gives me a lot of confidence,” Campbell told ESPN. “He’s a great football player… It wasn’t perfect all day long, but when we needed it the most, it was really good.”
Arguably more impressive than Becht’s performance down the stretch was Iowa State’s defense in short-yardage situations.
The Cyclones stopped two Wildcats drives on 4th-and-1, the first in the red zone early in the second quarter and the next midway through the fourth at the Kansas State 30-yard line.
K-State fails to convert on 4th and 1 and Iowa State gains possession back
The refusal of programs to not just QB sneak with less than a yard to go always confuses me#Cyclones #EMAW pic.twitter.com/SAAKwChC8v
— College Football Carter (@BigTenBadgers) August 23, 2025
A HUGE FOURTH DOWN STOP FOR THE CYCLONES! pic.twitter.com/zmHlyicoOM
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) August 23, 2025
Iowa State is coming off one of the best seasons in program history, setting a program record for wins in a season and finishing the year 11-3. It reached the Big 12 championship game with an opportunity to earn an automatic CFP bid but lost handily to No. 11 Arizona State, ending the year with a thrilling 42-41 Pop-Tarts Bowl win over No. 10 Miami.
Despite the excellent season, Iowa State entered 2025 seventh in odds (+1100) to win the Big 12, and its over/under win total was set at 7.5. But thanks to a huge conference win in its opener, it could be just as legitimate a contender this year.
Eric Smithling
Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans
