In the heart of America’s breadbasket, where vast fields of corn and wheat stretch under endless skies, a fierce college football rivalry simmers. Dubbed “Farmageddon,” the annual clash between Iowa State University Cyclones and Kansas State University Wildcats is more than just a game—it’s a battle of agricultural titans, blending tradition, grit, and a touch of apocalyptic flair. This moniker, a playful twist on “Armageddon,” captures the intensity of the matchup while nodding to the land-grant roots of both institutions. As the 2025 season kicks off with a historic opener in Dublin, Ireland, Farmageddon takes center stage, reminding fans why this underrated rivalry deserves the spotlight.
A game between two contenders in Week Zero. We will take it.
The rivalry dates back to 1917, when Iowa State edged Kansas State 10-7 in their inaugural meeting. Since then, the teams have played every year without interruption, making it one of the longest continuous series in FBS history—tied for the top spot with 110 straight games as of 2023. This streak, spanning over a century, underscores the deep ties between the programs. Iowa State leads the all-time series 54-50-4, a razor-thin margin that reflects the competitive balance. Early dominance swung like a pendulum: Iowa State won streaks of seven or eight games, followed by Kansas State’s surges. From 1989 onward, under legendary coach Bill Snyder, Kansas State flipped the script, going 26-9 against the Cyclones. Yet, recent years have seen Iowa State reclaim momentum, winning five of the last seven contests since 2018, including the past two.
The name “Farmageddon” emerged around 2009, coinciding with a bold experiment to elevate the game’s profile. Seeking to boost revenue and visibility, the schools scheduled neutral-site matchups at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City for 2009 and 2010. Fans and media latched onto “Farmageddon” as a catchy label, blending “farm” for the agricultural heritage with “Armageddon” for the do-or-die drama. Both universities are land-grant institutions founded in the 19th century—Iowa State in 1858 as Iowa Agricultural College, Kansas State in 1863 as Kansas State Agricultural College. Their identities are steeped in farming: Iowa State symbolizes corn country, while Kansas State represents wheat fields. The nickname stuck, transforming a regional skirmish into a branded spectacle, even if attendance at those Arrowhead games hovered around 40,000 and the experiment ended after two years.
What makes Farmageddon special isn’t just the name—it’s the nail-biting action on the field. Games are often decided by slim margins, with five of the last six before 2020 settled by five points or fewer. The 2009 debut at Arrowhead epitomized this: Iowa State scored late to pull within one, but Kansas State’s Emmanuel Lamur blocked the extra point for a 24-23 win. In 2011, Kansas State staged a stunning comeback in Ames, recovering two late fumbles to kick a game-winning field goal as time expired, leading to Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads’ firing the next day. More recently, the 2023 snowy showdown in Manhattan—dubbed a “snow game” classic—saw Iowa State prevail 42-35 amid blizzard conditions, adding to the rivalry’s lore of unpredictable elements. Kansas State dominated from 2008-2017 with 10 straight victories, but Iowa State’s resurgence under coach Matt Campbell has injected fresh intensity.
Beyond the gridiron, Farmageddon embodies shared values and mutual respect. Both programs have historically struggled— and in the past has often labeled “bad” in the Big 12—but recent success has elevated them. Since 2020, the winner has advanced to the Big 12 Championship three times. Coaches Chris Klieman (Kansas State) and Campbell emphasize the cultural parallels: hard-nosed, detail-oriented teams from rural heartlands. Fans clamor for a traveling trophy—perhaps a plow or windmill—to formalize the stakes, though none exists yet.
Looking ahead, the 2025 edition breaks new ground. For the first time, Farmageddon goes international, opening the season at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. With both teams ranked in the preseason AP Top 25, it’s the second-ever top-20 matchup in series history. However, conference realignment threatens the streak: Due to Big 12 scheduling in a 16-team league, the game skips 2027, ending the uninterrupted run at 110.
Farmageddon may rank low on national lists—63rd in one recent tally—but its charm lies in authenticity. It’s not flashy like the Iron Bowl or Bedlam; it’s raw, resilient, and rooted in the soil. As Iowa State and Kansas State clash overseas, Farmageddon proves that true rivalries thrive on history, heart, and a little chaos—whether in a snowstorm or under Irish skies.
