Friday nights just got louder in Big 12 country — and not just because of football.
WWE and the Big 12 Conference are teaming up to bring Friday Night SmackDown to four cities during the 2025 season, tying in with some of the league’s most anticipated matchups.
It all kicks off Friday, Aug. 22, at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland, ahead of the Week 0 showdown between Iowa State and Kansas State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
WWE® & Big 12 Conference to Bring Friday Night Smackdown to Big 12 Markets During 2025 College Football Season
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) July 9, 2025
The game, set for Saturday, Aug. 23 at Aviva Stadium, marks the start of the Big 12’s 30th football season.
That matchup also revives "Farmageddon", one of college football’s longest-running and most underrated rivalries — the Cyclones and Wildcats have played every year since 1917.
The crossover highlights WWE’s growing footprint in the college sports world, combining its global entertainment brand with the energy and tradition of fall Saturdays across Big 12 country.
Here’s a look at the full SmackDown-Big 12 crossover schedule:
- Aug. 22 – SmackDown at 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland (Iowa State vs. Kansas State – Aug. 23)
- Oct. 3 – SmackDown at Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio (Iowa State at Cincinnati – Oct. 4)
- Oct. 24 – SmackDown at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona (Houston at Arizona State – Oct. 25)
- Oct. 31 – SmackDown at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah (Cincinnati at Utah – Nov. 1)
Wildcats Loaded for 2025
Kansas State enters the 2025 season with momentum — and a roster that’s drawing plenty of national buzz.
Junior quarterback Avery Johnson returns after a breakout campaign and will lead an offense built around explosive weapons like Dylan Edwards, Joe Jackson, and Jayce Brown.
On defense, Austin Romaine and V.J. Payne provide leadership for a unit undergoing a youth movement but showing major upside.
National outlets are taking notice. The Wildcats check in at No. 12 in USA Today’s Top 25, No. 16 in Joel Klatt’s post-spring rankings, and No. 21 in ESPN’s Football Power Index — the highest FPI rating among Big 12 programs heading into the season.
Coming off a 9–4 campaign capped by a thrilling 44–41 bowl win over Rutgers, Kansas State opens 2025 with Big 12 title aspirations — and the chance to make a statement in one of college football’s most uniquely named rivalry games.