The 2025 college football season officially began with Week 0, highlighted by a Big 12 matchup between No. 17 Kansas State and No. 22 Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland. The game, part of the Aer Lingus Classic, featured playoff stakes and was broadcast on ESPN with commentators Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek. Iowa State took an early lead with the first touchdown of the season, a pass from quarterback Rocco Becht to Brett Eskildsen. The Cyclones capitalized on key plays, including a goal-line fumble recovery and a strong defensive performance. Iowa State ultimately defeated Kansas State 24-21 in a closely contested game. This win improved Iowa State's record against Kansas State to 5-1 since 2020. The game drew 3.97 million viewers on ESPN, representing a 20% drop from the previous year's Aer Lingus Classic opener. The season's kickoff was widely celebrated by fans and analysts, marking the return of college football after the offseason.