The 2025 college football season kicks off with a bang as the Iowa State Cyclones and Kansas State Wildcats clash in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic—a Week 1 showdown that promises fireworks before the leaves even turn. This isn’t just any opener; it’s a high-stakes Big 12 battle between two programs with recent histories of spoiling each other’s momentum. The Wildcats, fresh off a campaign that saw them flirt with conference contention, will look to assert their physicality early, while the Cyclones—ever the resilient underdogs—enter with something to prove after an offseason of roster refinement. With both squads hungry to set the tone for their seasons, expect a chess match of scheme versus grit in this neutral-site spectacle.

What makes this matchup must-watch? The answer lies in the contrast of styles. Kansas State’s trademark ground-and-pound offense will test Iowa State’s disciplined front seven from the opening whistle, while the Cyclones’ ability to stretch the field could expose a Wildcats secondary still finding its footing. Add the electric atmosphere of a season-opening international stage (Dublin’s Aviva Stadium), and you’ve got a recipe for drama. By the time the final whistle blows, one team will leave with a statement win—and the other with a long flight home to regroup. Buckle up: the Big 12’s 2025 story starts here.