Rocco Becht made his return to the spotlight on foreign soil count. The sophomore quarterback accounted for three touchdowns and delivered in the clutch as No. 22 Iowa State edged No. 17 Kansas State 24-21 in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on Saturday at Aviva Stadium.
Becht passed for 183 yards and two scores while adding a 7-yard touchdown run, guiding the Cyclones (1-0, 1-0 Big 12) to their fifth win in the past six meetings against the Wildcats. He finished 14 of 28 and consistently provided answers when his team needed them most.
“Rocco showed poise in a tough environment and in tough conditions,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said. “That last conversion is what this program is about—trust and execution.”
The Cyclones struck first when Becht hit Dominic Overby on a 23-yard strike in the opening quarter. After a first half plagued by turnovers and rain, Iowa State regained momentum late in the third when Becht connected with Brett Eskildsen in the corner of the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead.
Kansas State (0-1, 0-1 Big 12) responded early in the fourth as quarterback Avery Johnson found Jayce Brown on a 37-yard touchdown to tie the game. But Iowa State immediately capitalized on a short field after a Wildcats turnover on downs, with Becht powering in from seven yards out to make it 24-14 with 6:38 left.
Johnson answered quickly with a 65-yard bomb to Jerand Bradley to pull the Wildcats within three, but Becht and the Cyclones’ offense closed the door. On fourth-and-3 from the Kansas State 16 with just 2:26 remaining, Becht found Carson Hansen for a 15-yard completion that iced the win.
Johnson carried Kansas State’s offense, throwing for 273 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another. His 10-yard run in the second quarter kept the Wildcats close despite miscues. Kansas State committed two turnovers and a costly turnover on downs in the first half, which prevented them from capitalizing on Iowa State’s own early mistakes.
Hansen paced Iowa State on the ground with 71 yards on 16 carries, including the game-sealing catch on the final drive. Kansas State’s Joe Jackson managed 51 yards on 12 carries in a tough rushing battle.
Saturday’s clash also came with a quirky storyline: the meeting featured the past two winners of the Pop-Tarts Bowl. To celebrate, Frosted Wild Berry and Frosted Hot Fudge Sundae mascots were spotted on the sidelines, providing some extra color to the rainy Dublin backdrop.
With the win, Iowa State continues its recent dominance in the series, now holding five wins in six years over the Wildcats. The Cyclones head back to Ames with momentum and a top-25 road scalp, while Kansas State faces questions after letting a winnable game slip away.
“This is a huge win to start the season,” Becht said. “To come across the ocean, in these conditions, against a ranked team—it means a lot.”
