COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: No. 49

On November 25, Iowa State and Kansas State will do battle on the gridiron for the 101st time. In the 100 previous matchups, 49 of them have ended with the Cyclones on top.

The 49-47-4 series record between the two programs is one of the most even of any of Iowa State’s traditional opponents. Although, the “Farmageddon” rivalry has been owned by Kansas State, who has won the last nine games, and 10 of the last 11, in recent years.

The Cyclones won the first game between the two teams 10-7 on November 10, 1917 in Ames. Iowa State won four of the first five matchups, including a three-year stretch in which the Cyclones outscored the Wildcats 70-0 between 1919 and 1921.

Iowa State’s most dominant run in the rivalry came between 1974 and 1989 when they won 13 of the 16 contests. The momentum of the series swung significantly upon Bill Snyder’s arrival in Manhattan in 1989 as the Wildcats have won 23 of the last 28 games between the two teams.

Kansas State has won the last three games between the two teams by a combined 12 points and will enter the 2017 season as one of the Big 12 favorites. Will this finally be the year Iowa State turns the tide of the “Farmageddon” rivalry back in its favor?