Big 12 fines schools for opting out of bowl games

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The Iowa State Cyclones and Kansas State Wildcats paid the price for deciding to opt out of a college football bowl game on Sunday.

The Big 12 Conference announced it fined the two schools $500,000 each for their decisions.

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Iowa State Cyclones running back Abu Sama III #24 in action against Kansas State Wildcats safety Logan Bartley #10 during the 2025 Aer Lingus College Football Classic match between Kansas State University and Iowa State University at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

"The Big 12 Conference is issuing a $500,000 institutional fine to Iowa State and Kansas State for opting out of their participation in the Conference’s bowl pool," the conference said in a statement.

"While the Conference acknowledges the difficult timing around coaching changes, the Big 12 is responsible for fulfilling its contractual obligations to its bowl partners."

Iowa State finished 8-4 and Kansas State was 6-6 to end the season. Both teams, because they reached six wins, were bowl eligible. But both schools found themselves in an inopportune position.

Wildcats head coach Chris Klieman announced his retirement earlier in the week and Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell decided to leave for Penn State.

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Avery Johnson, of Kansas State Wildcats, gestures during the 2025 Aer Lingus Classic match between Kansas State and Iowa State at Aviva Stadium on Aug. 23, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland. (Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)

Iowa State officials and the previous coaching