Augustus 17, 2025
I just want to make it perfectly clear that I don’t typically cover college football games involving teams from the Big 12 Conference, however, since the 2025 season begins with a major Big 12 matchup, I decided to come out of my Big Ten comfort zone. Just this one time though.
We are six days away from the start of the 2025 college football season. The very first game is scheduled for a 12 o’clock kickoff on the afternoon of Saturday, August 23rd, and for whatever reason, this game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Kansas State Wildcats will be played at a neutral site in Dublin, Ireland.
When Iowa State met Kansas State during the 2024 season on November 30th, which was almost nine months ago, the Cyclones were 9-2 and ranked 18th nationally, and the Wildcats were 8-3 and ranked 24th nationally. Iowa State won that game, 29-21, and they went on to beat Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl 42-41, to cap off their first ever eleven-win season.
Kansas State met Rutgers in the 2024 Rate Bowl. They won 44-41 and recorded their 5th Bowl victory in seven postseason Bowl appearances. Both teams finished on a high note, but Iowa State was the better team last year. This year, Kansas State begins the season ranked 17th nationally, and Iowa State sits at #23, but the Wildcats are the Big 12 favorites.
Kansas State Wildcats
Apparently, 2024 was a little bit of a rebuilding year for K-State, but 2025 is filled with high hopes and big expectations as their offense features the return of four high profile juniors, QB Avery Johnson, RB Dylan Edwards, TE Garrett Oakley, and WR Jayce Brown.
Joe Jackson gives the Wildcats depth at the running back position, so that position figures to be a strength, but there are questions elsewhere. Wide receivers, Jerand Bradley (senior) and Jaron Tibbs (junior), are both transfers, so they’ll be expected to step in and step up immediately. If they can, it will change the entire dynamic of the K-State offense.
Johnson will get three targets to toss the ball to, and opposing defensives will have a hard time trying to figure out how to cover three threats at the wide receiver position, an excellent Tight End, and a super-fast running back.
On the offensive line, the Wildcats appear to be okay. Center, Sam Hecht, and Guard, Taylor Poitier, anchor a unit that returns three seniors.
Defensively, Kansas State has arguably the best defensive line in the conference, and junior linebacker, Austin Romaine, is expected to earn All-Big 12 honors.
Iowa State Cyclones
Do you want to hear something interesting about Iowa State? Their best linebacker, Caleb Bacon, missed the entire season after suffering a leg injury in the first game, and their second-best linebacker, Will McLaughlin, missed a bunch of time as well.
They’re back, they’re healthy, and they join stud mic linebacker, Kooper Ebel, to form arguably the best unit in the conference.
Nose tackle, Dominique Orange (senior), is not only the best in the Big 12, but he’s one of the best defensive linemen in all of college football. Junior defensive ends, Ikenna Ezeogu and Vontroy Malone, are expected to have breakout seasons.
The defensive backfield features two guys that will probably play on Sunday, senior safety, Jeremiah Cooper, and All-Big 12 junior cornerback, Jontez Williams.
Defensively, the Cyclones will be better this year.
Offensively, at running back, Iowa State has a true one-two punch in Carson Hansen and Abu Sama. At quarterback, the Cyclones have a real star in junior, Rocco Becht. Becht has passed for 6,690 yards and 48 touchdowns in three seasons!
Wide receiver, Chase Sowell is red-shirt junior and transfer from East Carolina. He played and started nine games for the Pirates, and he finished the season with 34 receptions for 678 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Cyclones expect big things from Sowell, and Sowell is pushing for a breakout year.
In general, the Cyclones don’t seem to be very strong at the wide receiver position. They return fifth year senior, Daniel Jackson, who was injured and missed all of last season, and junior, Xavier Townsend, who started three games and then used his redshirt.
6’4″ Sowell is definitely the go-to-guy for Becht, and hopefully he can add a spark and revitalize the unit.
Iowa State has two very good tight ends. Benjamin Brahmer (junior) is 6’7″ 250 pounds, and Gabe Burkle (junior) is 6’6″ 260 pounds. They’re both big targets with good hands.
Iowa State had a lot of injuries last season on both sides of the ball, but we don’t have to worry about any of that now since their game against Kansas State is the first game of the season. With a healthy roster, I think they can do a lot better than their predicted fourth place finish in the Big 12.
Oh my gosh. Ya know what guys? I’m doing two things I don’t normally do. I’m writing a preview for a Big 12 game, and I’m betting on a college football game that’s being played during the first week of the season.
Conclusion
So, this game is being played in Dublin, Ireland. That means home-field-advantage is a nonfactor. Kansas State is not only favored to win this game, but they're being picked to win the Big 12 Conference and finish no lower than 13th nationally.
I think the Iowa defense is going to step up, show out, and play a lot better than a lot of people expect them to play. Carson Hansen and Abu Sama will help Rocco Becht control the clock, but Becht will make the big plays when he needs to. The addition of Chase Sowell will keep the Kansas State defense honest.
My Pick to win: Iowa State Cyclones
My Pick Versus the Point Spread: Iowa State Cyclones +3
Nooz Buffet 