The 2025 Kansas State Wildcats will kick off their season in style, traveling to Ireland for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic against Iowa State on Saturday, Aug. 23.
The game will air live at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN.
It will be Kansas State’s first season opener on ESPN since 2010 and only the second time the Wildcats have played a game outside the United States. The last time K-State ventured overseas was in 1992, when they faced Nebraska in Japan.
The matchup with Iowa State will be the third neutral-site game in the rivalry’s history. The Wildcats have won both previous neutral-site contests, played at Arrowhead Stadium in 2009 and 2010.
Kansas State Announces 2025 Home Game Themes
Back on the home front, Kansas State also revealed the themes for its six home games in 2025. The season opener at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium will feature a “Stripe Out” on Aug. 30. Other key dates include:
- Fort Riley Day vs. Army (Sept. 6)
- Celebrate Ag vs. Central Florida (Sept. 27)
- Homecoming vs. TCU (Oct. 11)
- Harley Day vs. Texas Tech (Nov. 1)
- Senior Day vs. Colorado (Nov. 9)
The game times for Kansas State’s non-conference games in 2025 will be announced in the coming weeks.
Wildcats Are on the Rise
Kansas State is already drawing plenty of preseason buzz heading into the 2025 season. The Wildcats were ranked No. 12 in USA Today’s preseason Top 25 and sit at No. 16 in Joel Klatt’s post-spring rankings on Fox Sports.
After a strong 9–4 finish to the 2024 season—including a 5–4 mark in Big 12 play—K-State capped the year with a thrilling 44–41 victory over Rutgers in a Dec. 26 bowl game.
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