#22 Iowa State vs #17 Kansas State NCAAF Pick: Big-12 Brawl in Dublin (Aug 23)

• Iowa State finished as #15 and 11-3 last year after winning the Pop-Tarts bowl.
• Kansas State was hit with a bit of regression, posting an unranked 9-4 record.
• These teams last met on November 30, 2024, in a game Iowa State won 29-21.

To kick off the college football season, Iowa State and Kansas State meet in Dublin for a conference rivalry clash. Both teams are dealing with roster turnover, making this an key matchup in the wide-open Big-12.

Iowa State Seeks to Continue Success

Iowa State is flying under the CFP radar this year, despite coming off a a strong season. They hold the longest CFP odds of any top-25 team at +980, mostly due to a fair share of roster turnover. On the other hand, the Cyclones also retained some key talents such as QB Rocco Becht and RB Abu Sama III. A win in this game against Kansas State could very well set Iowa State up as the frontrunner to claim the Big-12 title.

Kansas State Fields New Line in 2025

Kansas State finished unranked last season, but had another bowl appearance and victory. Their program has been very consistent under Chris Klieman, though it’s now been a few years since they last sat atop the Big-12. Major changes on their offensive line will be the biggest area of concern for the Wildcats as they kick off this season overseas in Ireland. This game may be a deciding factor in the CFP race by November.

Iowa State vs Kansas State Pick

Two of the highest-ranked Big-12 teams clash overseas in this game, making it a very exciting start to the 2025 NCAAF season. As the most wide-open A4 conference, the Big-12 has the potential to field a variety of different teams into the CFP. The loser of this game won’t be eliminated, but they’d be facing a brutal path as the winner starts with a key victory. The consistency of Kansas State makes them the best bet to win it.