Both Iowa State and Kansas State have opted out of potential bowl bids following the 2025 college football season, and both are going to be paying a pretty penny for sitting on the sidelines.
The Cyclones and Wildcats were each fined $500,000 by the Big 12 Conference on Sunday for opting out of participating in the conference’s bowl pool – bringing into question replacement possibilities that went 5-7 teams with the highest Academic Progress Rates.
Iowa State (8-4) said its players met with school officials and elected not to play in a bowl game after coach Matt Campbell departed the program to coach at Penn State. Kansas State (6-6), which also lost its coach when Chris Klieman retired, said its athletic director Gene Taylor made the decision after speaking with the team’s leadership council and Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark.
“While the Conference acknowledges the difficult timing around coaching changes, the Big 12 is responsible for fulfilling its contractual obligations to its bowl partners,” the league said in a release announcing the fines. “The Big 12 considers the matter resolved and will have no further comment.”
Iowa State hired Jimmy Rogers to replace Campbell in Ames, and Collin Klein is set to replace Klieman in Manhattan. Rice, Auburn and Florida State are among the programs that could take the place of the Big 12 teams.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
