Iowa State Cyclones gained a narrow 24-21 win over the Kansas State Wildcats in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening.

The game produced six touchdowns – three per team – with a field goal from Cyclones’ kicker Konrardy the decisive score of the game.

The meeting of the Kansas State Wildcats and the Iowa State Cyclones was the opening game of Week 0 of the US College Football season.

Cyclones take lead

The designated away side, Iowa State, took the lead 3 minutes 26 seconds from the end of what was an error-prone opening quarter.

A 23-yard pass from quarterback Rocco Becht found wide receiver Dominic Overby in the corner for the game’s opening touchdown – the end result of four plays for 49 yards.

Becht to Overby for six!

ESPN pic.twitter.com/tKh3aEyHvY

— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) August 23, 2025

Kicker Kyle Konrardy was successful adding the extra score for a 7-0 lead for the Cyclones.

Wildcats level the score

The Wildcats struck back in the opening seconds of the second quarter. Avery Johnson raced in for a 10 yard touchdown at the end of eight plays and 65 yards. With Luis Rodriguez kicking the extra point, the sides were level at 7-7.

Avery Johnson uses his legs to tie up the game

ESPN pic.twitter.com/AJRtufbYDM

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) August 23, 2025

Kyle Konrardy had an opportunity to put Kansas back into the lead with a field goal attempt with 4:13 to play to half-time. After 12 plays, and on fourth and nine, the 49-yard effort was right and wide of the posts.

Half-time: Kansas State Wildcats 7  Iowa State Cyclones 7

Eskildsen’s composure in end zone

Brett Eskildsen showed excellent composure and great strength in the end zone when on the receiving end of a 24 yard pass from Rocco Becht.

First career TD catch for @EskildsenBrett was a beauty

ESPN pic.twitter.com/iVEs78gTWA

— Iowa State Football (@CycloneFB) August 23, 2025

The wide receiver caught the ball despite the Wildcats’ defensive presence. The touchdown from the sophomore was added to by Kyle Konrardy’s second successful kick of the game, coming after 11 plays and 67 yards.

As a result Iowa State had a double-score advantage, 14-7, in this Big 12 clash, at the end of the third quarter.

Back on level terms

Similar to earlier in the game, the Wildcats immediately responded on going behind to Iowa State.

On third down and three, quarterback Avery Johnson delivered an accurately judged 37 yard pass to Jayce Brown who raced into the end zone for his side’s second touchdown of the evening.

TOUCHDOWN BROWN#Big12FB | @KStateFB |ESPN pic.twitter.com/2wVTy0F6DR

— Big 12 Studios (@big12studios) August 23, 2025

Luis Rodriguez maintained his 100% success record when kicking a second conversion to level the score at 14-14 with slightly over 14 minutes remaining in the 2025 Aer Lingus College Football Classic.

Field Goal for Konrardy

With Cyclones’ next drive coming to an end, when fourth and five, Iowa State was forced to take a field goal attempt.

Konrardy’s effort was good from 34 yards, as he edged his team into a three-point lead, with 10:04 remaining on the game clock.

With the Wildcats only making 9 yards from four plays on their next drive, Iowa State was soon back in possession of the football.

The Cyclones had two first downs in their four-play drive before Becht ran in from seven yards for his side’s third touchdown of the game.

Konrardy again kicked successfully for a 24-14 advantage.

65-yard score

Just as many in the crowd thought the best action of the game was over, Kansas State again immediately replied with a converted touchdown.

With a first down on their own 35 yard line, Avery Johnson passed to his wide receiver Gerand Bradley who raced for a successful 65 yard touchdown.

IT’S A SECOND-HALF SLUGFEST IN DUBLIN @KStateFB swings right back as Avery Johnson zips it to Jerand Bradley for the 65-yard score.#Big12FB | ESPN pic.twitter.com/D7ELyv1fhv

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) August 23, 2025

Rodriguez was yet again perfect with his kicking, leaving just three points between the sides, a difference that would be maintained until the end.

Final score: Kansas State Wildcats 21  Iowa State Cyclones 24

First Big 12 game in Ireland

The long-running rivalry between the sides, known as “Farmageddon” was the first Big 12 clash in Ireland and the 13th time Dublin has hosted a US College Football game.

With more than 24,000 US visitors descending on the capital this weekend, the event is a major economic boost for the country, estimated at €130 million.

With the game live on ESPN in the USA, the US College Football audience’s attention was very much on the Emerald Isle on Saturday.

The Keough-Naughton College Football Ireland trophy was presented to the winners.

2026 and 2027 Dublin games

Games for 2026 and 2027 have already been confirmed for the Aviva Stadium.

Texas Christian University and the University of North Carolina will travel to Dublin next season.

In 2027, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin will open the season when they clash at Aviva Stadium.

The post Cyclones beat Wildcats 24-21 in Aer Lingus Classic appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

With 25,000 fans reportedly travelling from the USA, Dublin was awash with the gold and white of Georgia Tech and the garnet and gold of Florida State.

Background

The Florida State University Seminoles, who won 10 games in 2022 and 13 games in 2023, are the only team in the ACC and one of just 12 nationally to reach double-digit wins in 2022 and 2023. Prior to kick-off today, Florida State has won 12 consecutive conference games, the 3rd-longest active conference win streak in the nation.

Georgia Tech returned 16 starters from last year’s team, which went 7-6 overall, 5-3 in ACC play (good for a tie for fourth place in the 14-team conference standings), earned its first bowl berth since 2018 and its first bowl victory since 2016 with a season-ending 30-17 triumph over UCF in the Gasparilla Bowl.

The last meeting of the sides, at Tallahassee, Florida, on November 5^th 2022 saw the Mike Norvell-coached side come out on top, on a score line of 41-16. Florida State who lead Georgia Tech 2-0 in games played at neutral sites

Early lead for Florida State

A 28 yard rushing touchdown from Lawrance Toafili at the end of his side’s first drive of the game, put Florida State, the number 10 ranked US college team, into the lead. A two-point conversion attempt was successful when Brian Courtney successfully crossed to give his side an 8-0 advantage.

The designated home team, Georgia Tech, immediately responded with a 79 yard 6-play drive which saw quarterback Zach Pyron rush over from one yard out, before Aidan Birr had little difficulty in adding the conversion to leave just a point between the sides with 7:26 remaining in the first quarter.

Backup Q̶B̶ Bulldozer

@espn
pic.twitter.com/iJnFez6pRL

— Georgia Tech Football (@GeorgiaTechFB) August 24, 2024

Shanahan sees early action

Kerry’s David Shanahan came on to punt with just over a minute remaining in the opening quarter. The Georgia Tech kickers punt went 44 yards, to the Florida State 25, where it went out of bounds. A second punt later from the Irishman – in the third quarter – travelled further, this time 49 yards to the Florida State 33 yard line.

Exactly as they had done at the start of the game, Florida State began the second quarter sprightly. A scoring dive of 8 plays, covering 41 yards and taking 5:11 minutes gave Ryan Fitzgerald the opportunity to kick for points. He duly obliged, increasing the Seminoles’ advantage to 11-8 with 11:06 to play to half-time.

Georgia Tech take the lead

The Brent Key-coached Georgia Tech finally took the lead in the game with over three minutes to play to the half-time interval. Wide receiver Jamal Haynes was push over by his team for a rushing touchdown at the end of a 7:53 drive, which covered 75 yards and involved 14 plays. An Aidan Birr kick dissected the posts to put the Bobby Dodd Stadium-based side into a 14-11 lead with 3:13 still on the second-quarter clock.

Just when Georgia Tech looked as those they would head to the half-time locker room with the lead on the scoreboard, Ryan Fitzgerald kicked an incredible 59 yard field goal as they clock was running out, to level the scores. The Fitzgerald kick, his second successful attempt matching his haul in the last clash between the sides, was a fitting end to a 9-play 34 yard drive.

Half-time score: Georgia Tech 14 Florida State 14

The first and only score of the third quarter came early in the period saw an Aidan Birr field goal attempt for Georgia Tech from 51 yards drift right and wide of the posts, leaving the score at 14-14 heading into the deciding 15 minutes of the opening game of the 2024 college football season.

Final Quarter

Georgia Tech, who had ended the previous quarter camped on the Florida State line, ran in for a touchdown through Jamal Haynes on the resumption of play. His two yard run in touchdown was converted by Aidan Birr, to seven points [21-14] between the Yellow Jackets and the Seminoles.

HAYNES HAYNES@GeorgiaTechFB TAKES THE LEAD.

@ESPNCFB x @cfbireland

pic.twitter.com/v1lExEqYFf

— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) August 24, 2024

A one-yard rushing touchdown scored by Roydell Williams was the the final of 15 plays in an 8:18 drive by Florida State. Ryan Fitzgerald stepped up again to deliver a successful conversion, tying the sides with 6:33 minutes remaining in the game.

In the dying second of a tight game, Aidan Birr kicked a 44 yard field goal for Georgia Tech go give them a tight 24-21 win in a game which had a great atmosphere throughout.

Final score:  Georgia Tech 24  Florida State 21

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