Iowa State Stuns Kansas State 24-21 in Week 1 Thriller
Iowa State defeated Kansas State 24-21 in a tightly contested Week 1 matchup, with the Cyclones covering the spread as the away team. The game featured 14 lead changes and remained competitive throughout, with neither team pulling away decisively.
Kansas State's Avery Johnson led the Wildcats' offense with 273 passing yards. Johnson connected with J. Bradley for a 65-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter and found J. Brown for a 37-yard scoring pass later in the period. Jayce Brown led Kansas State receivers with 78 yards.
Iowa State struck first with a touchdown in the first quarter, then added another in the third. The Cyclones' defense made crucial stops, including a standout defensive play in the fourth quarter. Iowa State's R. Becht threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to B. Eskildsen in the third quarter.
The game stayed under the 51-point over/under mark, finishing with a combined 45 points. Despite Kansas State's second-half surge with 14 fourth-quarter points, the Cyclones held on for the road victory.
AI-generated recap · Aug 26, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Iowa State | 7 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
 Kansas State | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Iowa State | Kansas State |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 14-28 | 21-30 |
| Pass Yards | 183 | 273 |
| Rush Yards | 130 | 110 |
| Total Yards | 313 | 383 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| 3rd Down | 3-14 | 5-13 |
| Penalties | 1-5 | 6-48 |
| Possession | 33:52 | 26:08 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Carson Hansen run for 2 yds to the ISU 27
Carson Hansen run for 5 yds to the ISU 32
Rocco Becht run for 7 yds to the ISU 39 for a 1ST down
Carson Hansen run for 4 yds to the ISU 43
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Eli Green
Rocco Becht sacked by Jordan Allen for a loss of 4 yards to the ISU 39
Tyler Perkins punt for 53 yds , Dylan Edwards returns for no gain to the KSU 8 Dylan Edwards fumbled, forced by Tre Bell, recovered by ISU Aiden Flora
Carson Hansen run for a loss of 1 yard to the KSU 9
Rocco Becht sacked by Tobi Osunsanmi for a loss of 7 yards to the KSU 16
Becht, Rocco pass incomplete to Burkle, Gabe, PENALTY KANSASST pass interference (Payne, VJ) 13 yards to the KANSASST3, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN IOWAST.
Abu Sama III run for 2 yds to the KSU 1
Abu Sama III run for a loss of 6 yards to the KSU 7 Abu Sama III fumbled, recovered by KSU Austin Romaine
Joe Jackson run for 2 yds to the KSU 9
Joe Jackson run for 1 yd to the KSU 10
Avery Johnson pass incomplete to Jayce Brown
Simon McClannan punt for 46 yds, fair catch by Aiden Flora at the ISU 44
Carson Hansen run for 1 yd to the ISU 45
Rocco Becht pass complete to Dominic Overby for 6 yds to the KSU 49
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Brett Eskildsen
Jace T. Gilbert punt for 33 yds, fair catch by Sterling Lockett at the KSU 16
Avery Johnson pass complete to Terrence Enos Jr. for a loss of 3 yards to the KSU 13
Joe Jackson run for no gain to the KSU 13
Joe Jackson run for 5 yds to the KSU 18
Simon McClannan punt for 31 yds, downed at the KSU 49
Carson Hansen run for 1 yd to the KSU 48
Rocco Becht pass complete to Gabe Burkle for 10 yds to the KSU 38 for a 1ST down
Rocco Becht pass complete to Brett Eskildsen for 15 yds to the KSU 23 for a 1ST down
R. Becht pass to D. Overby for 23 yds for a TD (K. Konrardy KICK)
Jayce Brown run for 33 yds to the ISU 32 for a 1ST down
Kansas State Penalty, False Start (Garrett Oakley) to the ISU 37
Avery Johnson pass incomplete to Will Swanson
DeVon Rice run for 10 yds to the ISU 27
Joe Jackson run for 4 yds to the ISU 23
Joe Jackson run for 7 yds to the ISU 16 for a 1ST down
Avery Johnson pass incomplete
Avery Johnson run for 6 yds to the ISU 10
A. Johnson run for 10 yds for a TD (L. Rodriguez KICK)
Abu Sama III run for 1 yd to the ISU 26
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Gabe Burkle
Rocco Becht sacked by Qua Moss for a loss of 10 yards to the ISU 16 Rocco Becht fumbled, forced by Qua Moss, recovered by KSU Chiddi Obiazor , return for 0 yards
DeVon Rice run for a loss of 3 yards to the ISU 19
Avery Johnson pass complete to Garrett Oakley for 12 yds to the ISU 7
Joe Jackson run for no gain to the ISU 7
Joe Jackson run for no gain to the ISU 7
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Benjamin Brahmer
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Gabe Burkle
Rocco Becht pass complete to Carson Hansen for 4 yds to the ISU 11
Tyler Perkins punt for 48 yds, fair catch by Sterling Lockett at the KSU 41
Avery Johnson pass complete to Jerand Bradley for a loss of 2 yards to the KSU 39
DeVon Rice run for a loss of 1 yard to the KSU 38
Iowa State Penalty, Delay of Game (Cael Brezina) to the KSU 43
Avery Johnson pass complete to Garrett Oakley for 20 yds to the ISU 37 for a 1ST down
DeVon Rice run for a loss of 1 yard to the ISU 38
Joe Jackson run for 17 yds to the ISU 21 Joe Jackson fumbled, forced by Drew Surges, recovered by ISU Ta'Shawn James
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Dominic Overby
Abu Sama III run for 14 yds to the ISU 35 for a 1ST down
Rocco Becht run for 9 yds to the ISU 44
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Cooper Alexander
Abu Sama III run for no gain to the ISU 44
Rocco Becht run for 3 yds to the ISU 47 for a 1ST down
Abu Sama III run for 1 yd to the ISU 48
Rocco Becht pass complete to Benjamin Brahmer for 20 yds to the KSU 32 for a 1ST down
Abu Sama III run for 1 yd to the KSU 31
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Xavier Townsend
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Dominic Overby
Kyle Konrardy 49 yd FG MISSED
Joe Jackson run for 4 yds to the KSU 35
Avery Johnson pass incomplete to Jaron Tibbs
Avery Johnson pass complete to Joe Jackson for 7 yds to the KSU 42 for a 1ST down
DeVon Rice run for 4 yds to the KSU 46
Avery Johnson run for 4 yds to the 50 yard line Kansas State Penalty, Offensive Holding (Taylor Poitier) to the KSU 40
Avery Johnson run for 4 yds to the KSU 44
Avery Johnson pass complete to Jayce Brown for 15 yds to the ISU 41 for a 1ST down
Avery Johnson pass complete to Jaron Tibbs for 4 yds to the ISU 37
Avery Johnson pass complete to Jaron Tibbs for 7 yds to the ISU 30 for a 1ST down
Avery Johnson sacked by Kooper Ebel for a loss of 12 yards to the ISU 42 Kansas State Penalty, Intentional Grounding (Avery Johnson) to the ISU 42
Avery Johnson pass incomplete to Jayce Brown
Avery Johnson pass complete to DeVon Rice for no gain to the ISU 42
Simon McClannan punt for 38 yds, fair catch by Aiden Flora at the ISU 4
TEAM run for no gain to the ISU 4
End of 2nd Quarter
Jace T. Gilbert kickoff for 65 yds , Bryce Noernberg return for 19 yds to the KSU 19
Avery Johnson pass incomplete to Joe Jackson
Avery Johnson run for 8 yds to the KSU 27
Avery Johnson pass complete to Will Anciaux for 1 yd to the KSU 28
Simon McClannan punt for 30 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the ISU 42
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Chase Sowell
Rocco Becht sacked by Tobi Osunsanmi for a loss of 11 yards to the ISU 31
Rocco Becht run for 9 yds to the ISU 40
Tyler Perkins punt for 44 yds, fair catch by Sterling Lockett at the KSU 16
Joe Jackson run for 1 yd to the KSU 17
Joe Jackson run for 10 yds to the KSU 27 for a 1ST down
Avery Johnson pass complete to Jerand Bradley for 12 yds to the KSU 39 for a 1ST down
Avery Johnson pass complete to Jayce Brown for 9 yds to the KSU 48
Avery Johnson pass complete to Brayden Loftin for 18 yds to the ISU 34 for a 1ST down
Avery Johnson run for 1 yd to the ISU 33
Jayce Brown run for a loss of 4 yards to the ISU 37
Avery Johnson pass complete to Garrett Oakley for 4 yds to the ISU 33
Avery Johnson pass incomplete to Jerand Bradley
Abu Sama III run for 2 yds to the ISU 35
Rocco Becht pass complete to Eli Green for 10 yds to the ISU 45 for a 1ST down
Abu Sama III run for 2 yds to the ISU 47
Rocco Becht run for 4 yds to the KSU 49
Abu Sama III run for 3 yds to the KSU 46
Rocco Becht run for 4 yds to the KSU 42 for a 1ST down
Abu Sama III run for 7 yds to the KSU 35
Abu Sama III run for 8 yds to the KSU 27 for a 1ST down
Abu Sama III run for 3 yds to the KSU 24
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Gabe Burkle
R. Becht pass to B. Eskildsen for 24 yds for a TD (K. Konrardy KICK)
Jackson, Joe rush for 2 yards to the KANSASST27, PENALTY KANSASST holding (Swanson, Will) 10 yards to the KANSASST15, NO PLAY.
Avery Johnson pass complete to Jayce Brown for 17 yds to the KSU 32
Avery Johnson pass complete to Garrett Oakley for 24 yds to the ISU 44 for a 1ST down
Avery Johnson pass incomplete to Jayce Brown
Avery Johnson pass complete to Jaron Tibbs for 7 yds to the ISU 37
A. Johnson pass to J. Brown for 37 yds for a TD (L. Rodriguez KICK)
Simon McClannan kickoff for 60 yds , Aiden Flora return for 22 yds to the ISU 27
Rocco Becht pass complete to Eli Green for 7 yds to the ISU 34
Carson Hansen run for 15 yds to the ISU 49 for a 1ST down
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Chase Sowell
Carson Hansen run for 15 yds to the KSU 36 for a 1ST down
Carson Hansen run for 8 yds to the KSU 28
Carson Hansen run for 7 yds to the KSU 21 for a 1ST down
Rocco Becht pass incomplete
Abu Sama III run for 5 yds to the KSU 16
Rocco Becht pass incomplete to Chase Sowell
K. Konrardy 34 yd FG GOOD
Jace T. Gilbert kickoff for 63 yds , Bryce Noernberg return for 19 yds to the KSU 21
Avery Johnson pass incomplete to Jayce Brown
Johnson, Avery rush for 11 yards to the KANSASST32, PENALTY KANSASST holding (Pastore, John) 10 yards to the KANSASST11, NO PLAY.
Avery Johnson pass complete to Jaron Tibbs for 17 yds to the KSU 28
Avery Johnson pass complete to Garrett Oakley for 2 yds to the KSU 30
Avery Johnson run for no gain to the KSU 30
Carson Hansen run for 2 yds to the KSU 28
Rocco Becht pass complete to Benjamin Brahmer for 21 yds to the KSU 7 for a 1ST down
Carson Hansen run for no gain to the KSU 7
R. Becht run for 7 yds for a TD (K. Konrardy KICK)
Jace T. Gilbert kickoff for 58 yds , Bryce Noernberg return for 28 yds to the KSU 35
A. Johnson pass to J. Bradley for 65 yds for a TD (L. Rodriguez KICK)
Simon McClannan kickoff for 62 yds , Aiden Flora return for 34 yds to the ISU 37
Rocco Becht pass complete to Gabe Burkle for 4 yds to the ISU 41
Carson Hansen run for 10 yds to the KSU 49 for a 1ST down
Carson Hansen run for 2 yds to the KSU 47
Rocco Becht pass complete to Brett Eskildsen for 7 yds to the KSU 40
Rocco Becht pass complete to Gabe Burkle for 17 yds to the KSU 23 for a 1ST down
Carson Hansen run for 1 yd to the KSU 22
Carson Hansen run for a loss of 1 yard to the KSU 23
Rocco Becht run for 7 yds to the KSU 16
Rocco Becht pass complete to Carson Hansen for 15 yds to the KSU 1 for a 1ST down
TEAM run for no gain to the KSU 1
TEAM run for a loss of 1 yard to the KSU 2
TEAM run for a loss of 1 yard to the KSU 3