Aug 23, 2025; Dublin, IRELAND; Iowa State player Dominic Overby celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the Aer Lingus Classic between Iowa State and Kansas State at Aviva Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO via Imagn Images
DUBLIN, Ireland — Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell joked about his quarterback, Rocco Becht, hollering at him.
He then issued a playful but pointed retort to Kansas State’s athletic director, Gene Taylor, who had wise-cracked at a pep rally that Campbell didn’t really “know’ the Cyclones’ school colors because of his affinity for the color black.
All in all, ISU’s winningest all-time coach seemed carefree and confident while speaking on a de facto open mic on Saturday night – and for good reason, after No. 22 ISU’s gritty 24-21 win over the 17th-ranked Wildcats before a crowd of 47,221 at Aviva Stadium.
“It’s about all of us,” said Campbell, mere minutes removed from hearing the familiar strains of ‘Sweet Caroline’ envelop and caress his players and fans. “The only way we have a chance to even win here is, it’s gonna take everybody — the fan base, the players, the coaches all pulling together in the same direction at the same time. I think you got to see that a little bit (Saturday) night.”
Indeed.
A drizzly and sodden day in Dublin turned into a raucous celebration at night, as around 11,000 Cyclone fans shared pints of Guinness and Smithwicks and shouted, ‘Sláinte!’ Into the wee hours of Sunday morning. But amid all that mirth, Campbell immediately began surveying the darkening clouds on the horizon. It’s already “game week” again — and ISU knows FCS power South Dakota will be no pushover in Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. home opener at Jack Trice Stadium.
“Flush it,” Becht said after Saturday’s win. “Whatever happened, happened. (Now we) focus on South Dakota.”
And the big picture, as well. Campbell said ISU has been “set up for failure” because of what he considers to be “the hardest schedule in the country.” That’s highly debatable, of course, but forgive Campbell for his bias. Just about every coach says the same thing and for mostly the same reason: To keep players humble and hungry.
“We play an incredible South Dakota team (No. 5 in the FCS rankings) that’s coming in and had a great (2024 season),” Campbell said. “You’re talking about a team that (was) in the (FCS playoff semifinals), right? Then, obviously, you play another huge rivalry game (against Iowa at home) that’s gonna have emotion, and then somehow we’re on the road at an Arkansas State team that we know is super-talented. That’s the first quarter of our football season.”
The first game of the season hinged on timely plays on both sides of the ball. Becht completed just 50 percent of his passes but accounted for all three of the Cyclones’ touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) against the Wildcats in the season opener. The defense made three critical fourth down stops — including one that set up Becht’s game-winning eight-yard jaunt to the end zone. And Becht’s touchdown tosses to young receivers Dominic Overby and Brett Eskildsen, were the first scoring grabs of their respective careers.
“You saw (Saturday) what those two guys can do,” said Becht, who now has thrown a touchdown pass in 19 consecutive games, the most by any active FBS quarterback. “Behind the walls, those two guys put in all of the work possible and I have the utmost confidence in each one.”
Maintaining that connection will be vital if ISU is to again be a top contender for a Big 12 title. Saturday’s win gave the Cyclones an edge, but all the Saturdays to come will tower over that fond, but fading memory. There’s an Irish saying that goes, “May the road rise up to meet you,” and it serves as a proper send off for ISU as it prepares to tackle another tough leg of a season-long journey.
“It’s gonna take everything we’ve got the ability to do to be our best in the moment,” Campbell said. “So I think it’s a great challenge.”
