Iowa State Cyclones (0-0) vs. Kansas State Wildcats (0-0)
Game Details: Saturday, August 23, 2025 @ 12:00 pm EST
Location: Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland
Where to Watch: ESPN
The 2025 NCAA Football season officially kicks off with a game at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, as we have a battle of ranked Big 12 opponents. The 22nd-ranked Iowa State Cyclones and the 17th-ranked Kansas State Wildcats are going to meet up in this exciting matchup on Saturday afternoon. Both teams are looking to take that first step forward as they both are looking towards a possible College Football Playoff berth this season. Let’s take a closer look at these teams and dive into the stats to make the winning pick.
Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Total Runs | Money Line |
 | +3 (-110) | Over 50.5 (-112) | +130 |
 | -3 (-110) | Under 50.5 (-108) | -155 |
Apex Tale of The Tape
| Team Stats (2024) | |
| 31.1 | Points Per Game | 30.8 |
| 255.7 | Passing Yards Per Game | 211.4 |
| 160.5 | Rushing Yards Per Game | 215.5 |
| 416.2 | Total Yards Per Game | 426.8 |
| 22.9 | Points Per Game Allowed | 23.4 |
| 16 | Sacks | 35 |
| 15 | INTs | 10 |
| +9 | TO Ratio | -1 |
| 31:58 | Time of Possession | 29:08 |
Key Stats
Iowa State Cyclones
The Iowa State Cyclones are looking to take the next step forward this season after an 11-3 season and losing in the Big 12 Conference Championship. The team enters the season as the 22nd-ranked program in the sport and are looking for junior quarterback Rocco Becht to take an additional step in his progression as he completed 59.4% of his passes with a 25:9 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
The defense stepped up after giving up 22.9 points per game last season. Iowa State does not have many new players, but one to highlight is defensive end Tamatoa McDonough, who recorded 6.5 sacks for the Yale Bulldogs in 10 games before transferring this offseason. If the Cyclones can improve at getting pressure in the trenches, they will be difficult to defeat in the Big 12.
Kansas State Wildcats
The Kansas State Wildcats are looking to get into the College Football Playoff after not making the Big 12 Championship Game last season with their 9-4 record. The program has some key additions in the NCAA Transfer Portal as they will have five new wide receivers as well as the right side of their offensive line. Quarterback Avery Johnson is returning after his first season as a starting quarterback and showcased his skills as he completed 217 of 372 (58.3%) of his passes for 2,712 yards with 25 passing touchdowns to 10 interceptions.
The defense stepped up last season as they were able to hold teams to 23.4 points per game allowed. However, their main transfer portal addition was free safety Qua Moss from West Georgia. The defensive front was a strong aspect for the program as they recorded 35 sacks and are hoping linebacker Austin Romaine can continue to be a force getting tackles. It will be interesting to see how the gameplan looks with the Wildcats this season.
Iowa State Cyclones vs. Kansas State Wildcats Betting Trends
| Betting Stats (2024) | |
| 11-3 | W/L | 9-4 |
| 8-6 | ATS | 4-9 |
| 8-6 | O/U | 6-6-1 |
Prediction
The Kansas State Wildcats are the better team heading into Week 0 as they have been able to significantly improve their roster. Kansas State’s ability to get pressure on the quarterback is something that will keep Rocco Becht uncomfortable in the pocket. Expect Iowa State to struggle to slow down the running game led by running back Dylan Edwards and go with the Kansas State Wildcats to walk out of Dublin with a 1-0 record.
