College football returns today as Week 0 kicks off the 2025 season. While five games are on the schedule, all eyes are on the Big 12 matchup between No. 22 Iowa State and No. 17 Kansas State for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland. The two schools are longtime rivals, and their clash is known as “Farmageddon.” But where did that name come from?
The Origins of ‘Farmageddon’: Kansas State vs. Iowa State Rivalry Explained
Kansas State and Iowa State have been part of what is now the modern-day Big 12 for over 100 years. The two teams first met in 1917, with the Cyclones winning 10-7. All-time, Iowa State leads the series 54-50-4.
Despite their long history, the “Farmageddon” nickname didn’t emerge until 16 years ago, when the two schools faced off at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs.
During the game in 2009, the media began calling the matchup “Farmageddon” because both universities are land-grant schools, as they both received federal land in exchange for teaching agriculture.
From there, the name caught on, and the matchup has been known as “Farmageddon” ever since. In the 2009 game, the Wildcats won 24-23 and went on to win the next eight meetings, before Iowa State finally broke the streak in 2018.
Since 2020, Iowa State holds a 4-1 record in the series, including their 2024 win, which sent them to the Big 12 Championship Game and dashed Kansas State’s College Football Playoff hopes.
Although this season’s matchup takes place in Week 0, it is again expected to carry College Football Playoff implications, as both the Wildcats and the Cyclones are projected to be among the top teams in the Big 12. The winner will start the season 1-0 and secure their first conference victory, giving them an early boost.
While this matchup has been a staple of college football since the early 1900s, its future as an annual event is uncertain. The teams are slated to face off in 2026 and 2027 before possibly taking a break as the Big 12 revamps its scheduling.
In recent seasons, the conference added teams like BYU, Arizona, and Arizona State, while losing schools such as Texas and Oklahoma. As a result, the Big 12 is preparing to overhaul its entire scheduling system, putting Farmageddon’s continuity at risk.
It’s an unfortunate reality in today’s college football landscape, so fans should enjoy Farmageddon while it lasts.
This year’s matchup kicks off today in Dublin, Ireland, at 12:00 p.m. EST Â with coverage on ESPN.
