Kansas State University and Iowa State University have been announced as the teams in the opening match of the 2025 American College Football Season, which will kick off next year at Aviva Stadium, Dublin.
“We are thrilled that Kansas State University and our football programme have been selected to play Iowa State in the annual Aer Lingus College Football Classic,” K-State Athletics Director Gene Taylor said.
“The opportunity for our student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and fans to visit one of the world’s top travel destinations and to showcase our football program and brand on a global stage was one we could not pass up. We appreciate the Aer Lingus College Football Classic team for making this unbelievable experience possible, and I know our team, coaches and fans are eager to begin preparations for the trip to Dublin.”
Minister for Tourism, Catherine Martin said: “I welcome the news that Kansas State University and Iowa State University have been chosen to play the fourth game in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic series. This event is now a firm fixture in the Irish sporting calendar and provides a huge boost to tourism and hospitality in Ireland and indeed creates a great atmosphere in Dublin for visitors and locals alike. We look forward to welcoming the teams and supporters to the Aviva Stadium in Dublin and beyond, as they go on to explore other parts of Ireland, in August 2025.”
As title sponsor, Aer Lingus is responsible for transporting the teams and their delegations to Dublin on dedicated chartered flights. Aer Lingus operates from 17 North America destinations direct to Ireland as well as offer seamless connections to Europe for US travellers via its hub at Dublin Airport.
“The Aer Lingus College Football Classic provides us with a unique opportunity to drive awareness of the Aer Lingus brand in our key North American market,” said Susanne Carberry, Aer Lingus Chief Customer Officer.
“We have a proud history of connecting the U.S. and Ireland – flying to 17 destinations in North America this summer – and we are committed to growing this transatlantic network so we can continue connecting North America to Ireland and Europe through our Dublin hub. The Aer Lingus College Football Classic draws substantial numbers of American visitors and gives the opportunity to showcase Ireland as a destination through this exciting event. We look forward to welcoming both the Kansas State University and Iowa State teams to Ireland for the game in 2025.”
This year’s Aer Lingus College Football Classic takes place at Aviva Stadium on Saturday, August 24, between Georgia Tech and Florida State.
