The highly anticipated season opener between No. 22 Iowa State and No. 17 Kansas State delivered all the drama and edge-of-the-seat action fans could hope for. This game was a gritty, back-and-forth battle that ultimately ended with Iowa State pulling off a narrow 24-21 victory. The turning point? Kansas State’s costly mistakes throughout the game. Offensively in the first half. Defense also had its share in the second half. The Wildcats had multiple critical fourth-down opportunities. They couldn’t convert, and once again, the Cyclones managed to add another win in the series.

In the post-game press conference, the Wildcats’ starting QB, Avery Johnson, took full responsibility for the Wildcats’ mistakes. “I mean, it was downpouring in the first half,” Avery said. “So it’s hard to get a grip of the ball, and then we just try to kind of rely on our run game a little bit, but [we] couldn’t really get anything started. Couldn’t get anything going. We’ve got to start faster if we want to win games, especially against good teams like Iowa State.” That night in Dublin wasn’t your usual football weather. It was pouring nonstop in the first half, turning the field into a slippery, slick mess.

This factor combined to stall Kansas State’s offense early on. Their drives sputtered, gains were minimal, and getting any real momentum going was a huge challenge. The wet ball led to a punt return muff by Dylan Edwards, gifting Iowa State prime field position early. That early turnover set an uneasy tone and put Kansas State on its heels, struggling to regain offensive rhythm. Later on, another turnover hampered Kansas State when Avery Johnson lost a fumble after taking a big hit, further disrupting their flow.

Of course, injuries didn’t help. Dylan Edwards was lost to injury early on and never returned. That removed a key weapon from the Wildcats’ arsenal. It forced Kansas State to adapt on the fly. That proved challenging against a disciplined Iowa State defense. Kansas State also showed signs of life, like Johnson’s impressive 65-yard touchdown pass to Jerand Bradley, but other costly moments were lurking. “Ball in my hand on fourth and one,” Avery said. “I’ve got to find a way to get a yard. Keep that drive alive and do not put our defense in a bad spot. So, take full accountability for that and just got to get back to the drawing board and figure it out next week.”

Late in the fourth quarter, Kansas State faced a critical fourth-and-one from its own 30-yard line. Johnson stopped short, turned the ball over, and handed Iowa State the chance to extend their lead with a touchdown drive. That missed conversion was basically the dagger. Kansas State was unable to convert those pivotal fourth-down chances that could have shifted the momentum back in their favor. While Johnson threw for 273 yards and scored both through the air and on the ground. The mistakes were major ones that undermined the Wildcats’ potential. This led the Cyclones’ QB Rocco Becht to capitalize on those mistakes with a clutch fourth-down conversion late in the game that secured the win.

Coach Chris Klieman stands behind the Wildcats

After the 24-21 heartbreaker in Dublin, Chris Klieman didn’t shy away from addressing his true feelings about the game. “But I’m like, we’re disappointed,” Klieman said. “Came here expecting to win and didn’t win.” Even Klieman acknowledged that the Wildcats’ inability to finish drives, especially on critical fourth downs, ended up being the difference-maker. And it’s something Kansas State will need to clean up moving forward.

Despite the tough loss, Klieman emphasized that the Wildcats showed resilience and kept battling until the very end. It’s something he values deeply. “We’re able to get up and score. Proud of our guys to come back and fight and get tied and go down again,” he said. A key element in the game was losing starting tailback Dylan Edwards early to injury, which Klieman admitted hurt their offensive rhythm and forced the team to adjust on the fly. But Klieman assured that the players will walk back fine.

“We’ve got to go back, get some guys healthy,” he added. Klieman also touched on the importance of this game not just for the immediate result but for the conference race down the line. “I’m proud of the guys, and like I told them in the locker room,” he said. “Regardless of what this game was, we have 11 more left.” The Cyclones now hold a tiebreaker advantage due to this win, but the season is long, and Klieman’s focus is set on learning from this experience and preparing his team to bounce back stronger.