No. 22 Iowa State converts a late fourth down to seal 24-21 win over No. 17 Kansas State

Brendan Moran via Getty Images

No. 22 Iowa State stuffed No. 17 Kansas State on multiple fourth-down attempts and converted a massive one itself on the way to a 24-21 win to kick off the 2025 college football season.

The Cyclones sealed the game with a huge fourth-down conversion from QB Rocco Becht to RB Carson Hansen. Instead of kicking a field goal from the K-State 17 yard-line to potentially go up 27-21 with plenty of time for Kansas State to get a touchdown, Iowa State and coach Matt Campbell went for it on 4th and 3. 

Hansen snuck out open into the left flat and nearly scored a touchdown as his right forearm hit the turf just before the ball got across the line.

Becht said after the game that he was given two play calls to run for the fourth down and had the ability to choose which one he liked better.

"We've worked on it in practice and it's been working for us and I felt more confident in it and had trust in my guys," Becht told ESPN.

With Kansas State out of timeouts, Iowa State was able to kneel out the clock from the goal line to secure the win. Hanson’s forearm hitting the ground was massive for bettors who had wagered on the game’s total. The over/under was 50.5 points for most of the week and over 80% of the money at BetMGM was on the over.

The Cyclones took a 10-point lead shortly after Kansas State failed on fourth down for the third time in the game. With Iowa State up 17-14 and 8:19 remaining, Kansas State went for it on 4th and 1 from its own 30. And QB Avery Johnson got stopped short of the sticks.

Four plays later, Becht scored on a seven-yard TD run. But Kansas State quickly responded with a 65-yard TD pass to Jerand Bradley on the first play of its next possession to cut the lead back to three.

Kansas State was just 1-of-4 on fourth downs throughout the game.