Top 25 Showdown: Kansas State vs. Iowa State

The **Kansas State Wildcats** are the intercollegiate athletic teams representing Kansas State University (K-State), based primarily in Manhattan, Kansas. Established in 1896, the Wildcats are a long-standing presence in NCAA Division I sports, particularly competing in the Big 12 Conference since 1996. Their official colors are Royal Purple with white and silver accents, and they are widely recognized by their iconic Powercat logo, which has been a symbol of K-State pride for over 100 years[4][5]. The Wildcats encompass 16 varsity teams and over 450 student-athletes, competing across multiple sports including football, basketball, and baseball. The football program, one of the most prominent, plays in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and has experienced notable success under coaches such as Bill Snyder. Snyder’s tenure (1989–2005) was marked by a remarkable turnaround, with 11 consecutive winning seasons, four Big 12 Championships, and multiple bowl game victories, including appearances in the Fiesta and Sugar Bowls. In 2022, under coach Chris Klieman, the football team won the Big 12 Conference and made their first Sugar Bowl appearance, underscoring the program’s competitive stature[1][3]. Kansas State Athletics has historically faced challenges, especially post-World War II when funding lagged behind peers. However, recent decades have seen significant reinvestment, making K-State’s athletics department one of the most profitable in the nation by 2012. That year, Kansas State became the second Big 12 school to win conference titles in football, men’s basketball, and baseball in the same academic year, highlighting their broad athletic excellence[4]. Supporting student-athlete success beyond competition, the Wildcats have embraced the NCAA’s Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era through Wildcat NIL, a program providing resources and compliance support to help athletes monetize opportunities while focusing on academics and sport. The

## Overview and Mission The Iowa State Cyclones represent the athletic department of Iowa State University (ISU) in Ames, Iowa, fielding 16 NCAA Division I programs that compete in the Big 12 Conference[6]. The organization’s mission is to enable student-athletes to excel both academically and athletically, fostering a culture of achievement and community pride[1]. Unlike many collegiate athletic programs, Iowa State Athletics operates as a financially self-sufficient entity, receiving no state funding and relying instead on donor contributions, ticket sales, and conference distributions[3]. ## History The Cyclones’ nickname originated in 1895 after a football victory over Northwestern, when a Chicago sportswriter described the team as “struck by a Cyclone”[2]. The football program, a cornerstone of Cyclone athletics, has a storied history that includes early leadership by Pop Warner, one of football’s pioneering coaches[2]. The Cyclones have played their home football games at Jack Trice Stadium, a 61,500-seat venue named in honor of the university’s first African American athlete[2]. ## Key Achievements Iowa State athletics has seen significant milestones across multiple sports. The football team enjoyed its most successful season ever in 2024, highlighted by a dramatic 42-41 victory in the Pop-Tarts Bowl[3]. Both men’s and women’s basketball programs have been nationally ranked, wrestling has returned to national prominence, and the men’s cross country team finished as national runner-up twice in three years[3]. Individual athletes have also claimed national championships, underscoring the depth of talent within the department[3]. ## Current Status and Notable Aspects Iowa State is navigating a period of transformation in college athletics, marked by conference realignment, changes to the College Football Playoff, and the advent of revenue sharing with student-athletes[3]. The athletic department’s annual budget is set to increase by over 20%

**CBS Sports** is a prominent American sports media organization specializing in **sports broadcasting, digital content, and multi-platform coverage**. Founded in **1955** and headquartered in **New York City**, it operates as part of the larger CBS Corporation under Paramount Global[4][5]. CBS Sports delivers extensive live sports programming including **NFL football, college football and basketball (notably the Big Ten Conference and NCAA tournaments), golf majors like The Masters, and global soccer competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and Serie A**[5]. It also offers innovative digital services like fantasy sports games, sports betting insights, and comprehensive statistics through platforms such as CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports app[4][6]. The **history** of CBS Sports is intertwined with the broader Columbia Broadcasting System, which dates back to 1927, originally focused on radio broadcasting before evolving into television and digital sports media[2]. A significant development was the acquisition and rebranding of College Sports Television (CSTV), which began in 2002 as a 24/7 college sports network. CSTV was purchased by Viacom in 2005 for $325 million and integrated into CBS Sports in 2008, expanding CBS Sports Network as a dedicated cable channel for year-round live college sports and original programming[1][3][5]. CBS Sports has been a pioneer in **broadband and streaming services**, launching over 100 broadband channels in 2006 dedicated to college sports and offering a subscription/pay-per-view service called CBS College Sports XXL. Their digital arm includes SportsLine for predictive analytics and SportsLive for streaming thousands of live events annually[1][6]. CBS Sports also runs the 24/7 streaming news network CBS Sports HQ and the free soccer-focused CBS Sports Golazo Network[5]. **Key achievements** include securing premier rights to major sports events across multiple disciplines and embracing digital transformation by integrating live streaming, fantasy sports, and data analytics to engage modern sports fans