The 2025 college football season begins overseas, where No. 17 Kansas State and No. 22 Iowa State clash in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on Saturday at Aviva Stadium. It marks the first-ever Big 12 conference game played abroad and the first meeting between two ranked teams in this annual Dublin showcase.
For Iowa State, it is the program’s first game outside the United States. The Cyclones arrive after an 11–3 season capped by a Pop-Tarts Bowl win, while the Wildcats bring back a roster brimming with experience from another nine-win campaign. The stage is set for a rivalry known as “Farmageddon” to unfold in front of more than 40,000 fans, with thousands traveling across the Atlantic.
Head coach Matt Campbell captured the moment this week. “The opportunity to take your program over to Ireland, what a great experience for the fan bases, the universities, the schools”, Campbell said (si.com).
Dublin’s Week of College Football
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic has evolved into more than a kickoff game. In Dublin, the week leading up to it feels like a citywide festival. Supporters pack local pubs, alumni groups stage meetups, and fan events spill into the squares. University bands have even brought their sound to Trinity College in prior years, where historic courtyards turn into impromptu stages. Pep rallies run late into the evening, blending Irish hospitality with the color of American college football.
Thousands of U.S. visitors make the trip annually, adding to the international crowd that now marks the event. Aviva Stadium, long known as the home of Irish rugby, transforms into a football venue dressed in school colors. While ESPN’s College GameDay made headlines with its broadcast from Dublin in 2024, no national pregame show is scheduled for the 2025 edition. Instead, the focus shifts squarely to the fan experience, with a slate of cultural activities, receptions, and community events filling out the week.
For players, the trip mixes practice with exploration. In previous years, teams have scheduled walking tours, museum stops, and campus visits around the city. For fans, the trip feels like a hybrid of a bowl game and a holiday abroad. The buildup makes the opener feel larger than a single matchup, with Dublin’s landmarks framing every moment.
Kansas State Wildcats Preview
Kansas State enters the season with stability and confidence under head coach Chris Klieman. The Wildcats have posted at least nine wins in three straight years and return a core of veteran playmakers.
Quarterback Avery Johnson directs the offense after throwing a program-record 25 touchdown passes last season. Johnson’s dual-threat ability makes him the centerpiece of a unit that blends speed and power. Running back Dylan Edwards provides explosiveness in space, while transfer wideout Jerand Bradley joins returning target Jayce Brown, who produced 823 yards and five touchdowns in 2024. That passing attack will be a challenge for any defense, especially in the early weeks.
Defensively, Kansas State relies on physicality. Linebacker Austin Romaine, the team’s leading tackler with 96 stops, anchors the middle. Safety V.J. Payne is the lone returning starter in the secondary and is regarded as an NFL-caliber talent. Along the line, veterans such as Damian Ilalio provide strength and experience. Klieman praised the opportunity his team has been given. “We couldn’t be more excited to be chosen to play in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic,” he said. “Our players and staff are excited to expose our program to a global audience, and the cultural experience will also be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all of Wildcat Nation” (kstatesports.com).
Iowa State Cyclones Preview
Iowa State makes the trip to Ireland fresh off one of the best seasons in program history. The Cyclones won 11 games in 2024, reached the Big 12 Championship Game, and closed with a bowl victory over Miami. Campbell’s teams have long been known for their toughness, and this group arrives in Dublin carrying that identity.
Quarterback Rocco Becht returns for his third year at the helm. He has topped 3,000 passing yards in back-to-back seasons and currently holds the nation’s longest streak of consecutive games with a touchdown pass (On3.com). His leadership has guided the program through close battles, though this fall he will be working with a retooled receiving corps. After losing two NFL-bound wideouts, Iowa State turns to tight ends Benjamin Brahmer and Gabe Burkle, along with transfers Chase Sowell and Xavier Townsend, to fill the void.
The run game offers balance, with Carson Hansen and Abu Sama III combining for more than 1,000 rushing yards last season. They benefit from a veteran offensive line that has logged more than 100 career starts. On defense, Iowa State continues to lean on coordinator Jon Heacock’s system. Nose tackle Domonique Orange, cornerback Jontez Williams, and safety Jeremiah Cooper provide proven playmaking ability. The linebackers, hit hard by injuries a year ago, return at full strength, giving the Cyclones more depth across the field.
Becht knows what this stage means. “Not a lot of teams get this opportunity, and we were chosen to do it,” he said. “I think it’s going to be huge for us to go out there and compete against a good team in Kansas State, and I think it’s something for us to prove” (si.com).
Matchups to Watch
The game’s intrigue begins with Kansas State’s passing attack against Iowa State’s secondary. Johnson will test the Cyclones’ defensive backs early with deep routes to Brown and Bradley. Cooper and Williams lead a group that must replace several veterans. If the Cyclones can contain explosive plays, they will force Kansas State into longer drives.
On the other side, Iowa State’s ground game could dictate the outcome. Hansen and Sama III provide balance for Becht, but Kansas State’s front seven prides itself on stopping the run. Romaine and Desmond Purnell will look to shut down lanes, forcing Becht into predictable situations. The battle at the line of scrimmage will determine which team controls tempo.
Irish Scholarship Players and Football’s Growth
Neither Kansas State nor Iowa State lists an Irish-born player on scholarship this season, but Ireland’s connection to the sport continues to deepen. The Aer Lingus Classic highlights the rising presence of Irish athletes in American college football. The movement began with David Shanahan, a punter from County Kerry who became the first Irish-born player on scholarship at a Power Five school when he signed with Georgia Tech.
That pipeline continues to grow. Jack Scullion, from Lavey, joined Rutgers as a scholarship kicker and handled kickoff duties last season. In July, Adam McCann-Gibbs, a 17-year-old kicker from Newry, committed to Penn State as a five-star prospect. These players represent a wave of talent shaped by grassroots initiatives like Tadhg Leader’s Leader Kicking program, which has introduced Irish athletes to American football opportunities.
With the advent of NIL opportunities, Irish players now have greater incentives to pursue football careers abroad. They can earn scholarships and endorsements, ensuring that the Emerald Isle’s connection to the sport extends beyond one annual game.
Ireland Sets the Stage for Farmageddon
When Kansas State and Iowa State take the field at Aviva Stadium, they carry more than their own season aspirations. They represent a bridge between two cultures, bringing one of college football’s fiercest rivalries to Ireland. Regardless of the result, the Aer Lingus College Football Classic continues to prove itself as a special celebration – one that blends the roar of the gridiron with the spirit of Ireland.
As the bands play in Trinity College and fans pack the pubs of Dublin, the Emerald Isle again serves as the sport’s international stage, where Farmageddon is not just a game, but an unforgettable experience.
Main Image: College Football Ireland
