Big 12 in the Spotlight

The Big 12 took center stage Saturday, and it delivered.

Iowa State and K-State gave us a classic: bitter rivals, an electric atmosphere, wild weather, sloppy stretches, big plays, controversy, and a finish that went down to the wire.

Kansas backed that up by breaking in its shiny new stadium renovations with a dominant 31–7 win over Fresno State. Jalon Daniels looked every bit like the JD6 who burst onto the scene in 2022.

Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly from Week Zero.

Week One: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The Good

Iowa State’s Big 12 Title Chances

That was a massive win for Iowa State. With one of the most manageable schedules in the league, the Cyclones now have one of their toughest games already behind them.

They miss Texas Tech, Utah, and Baylor, and they host defending champion Arizona State in Ames.

Yes, it was sloppy at times — two first-half turnovers, including one from the K-State one-yard line, and Rocco Becht going just 6-for-15 in the half. But in a downpour, on a bad field, against a rival that knows them inside out, it’s forgivable.

The bones of a contender are still there. Becht continues to make clutch plays when it matters, and the team has that trademark grit and toughness.

The question is whether the offense can be explosive without Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins. Sophomore receiver Brett Eskildsen looked ready to step into that void Saturday.

Rocco Becht’s Clutch Gene

On paper, K-State QB Avery Johnson outplayed Becht. He had a higher completion percentage, nearly 100 more yards, the same TD/INT line, and a much higher PFF grade (85.2 to 69.4). Even his 117.6 NFL passer rating easily surpassed Becht’s 94.8. 

But Becht made the plays that decided the game.

Iowa State went 3-for-3 on fourth down. K-State went 1-for-4. That’s the ballgame.

One defining sequence: Becht fighting through contact to pick up three yards on fourth-and-one in the third quarter. Johnson? Stopped inches short on his own fourth-and-one in the fourth.

Johnson did throw a huge TD to wide receiver Jerand Bradley to make it a three-point game with just over six minutes left, but he never got a shot at a game-winning drive thanks to his defense letting him down.  

It would have been fascinating to watch that scenario play out, but Becht didn’t give him the chance. 

Jalon Daniels With New Offensive Coordinators

You couldn’t ask for a better debut. Daniels went 18-of-20 for 176 yards and three TDs, adding 47 on the ground. More importantly, he looked comfortable and confident again.

The scheme looked familiar too, which isn’t surprising, since co-OCs Jim Zebrowski and Matt Lubick both worked under former offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who fueled the Jayhawks' run in 2022 and 2023. When this system hums, there’s no more fun offense in the country.

Fresno State may or may not be any good under first-year coach Matt Entz, but it still could not have been a more encouraging season-opener for the Jayhawks. 

The Bad

K-State’s Missing Edge

K-State still looks like last year’s team: talented, athletic, but missing an edge.

On fourth down with the game on the line, Iowa State found a way. K-State didn’t. The Cyclones wore them down late, and the Wildcats didn’t have an answer defensively.

Who are the real ass-kickers on K-State’s roster that are going to get tough and knock somebody around on a crucial fourth-and-one in the fourth quarter? Maybe it’s too harsh to judge this after one game, but it sure felt familiar to anybody who watched 2024 K-State football. 

Teams reflect their coaches. Campbell’s Cyclones are tough and gritty. I think Klieman’s player-friendly style generally plays well in 2025, but a little more fire from the staff sure wouldn’t hurt.

Field Conditions in Ireland

If you’re hosting a marquee game overseas, the field can’t look like that.

Rain left the turf at Aviva Stadium a mess, with hash marks and yard lines barely visible. The broadcast even went without a yellow first-down line for stretches.

It played into a crucial late-game stop for Iowa State, and it contributed to the sloppy first half that drew plenty of online snark about Big 12 football.

Everyone deserved better: the teams, the fans, and the league. Do better, Aviva Stadium. 

The Ugly

K-State’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Weekend

It couldn’t have gone much worse for K-State.

They gave up a home game to play in Ireland, only to lose. Iowa State gets the win, skips a trip to Manhattan, and enjoys a sweet international trip. 

Then came the drama. Cell phone cameras caught Avery Johnson’s father and brother fighting after the game. They later issued an apology.

Athletic director Gene Taylor jabbed at ISU during Friday’s pep rally. Matt Campbell fired back after the game.

And Sunday, RB Dylan Edwards tweeted (then deleted) a notes-app statement defending himself against anybody questioning his injury.

Add it all up, and Wildcat fans had about as rough a weekend as possible.

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