Bigger. Better. Newer. As The New Arrowhead continues to take shape, its reach into the collegiate sports platform continues to expand as well. NCAA Division I football returned to Arrowhead Stadium this afternoon as Kansas State and Iowa State met for the first time in Kansas City.

The contest was Kansas State’s fifth overall Arrowhead appearance and the school’s first since claiming a Big XII Championship Game victory 35-7 over Oklahoma in 2003. Iowa State made its second overall visit to Kansas City, with their initial trip taking place in a non-conference matchup with Florida State in 2002. The two schools are set to do battle once again on the Arrowhead turf next season.

It was an instant classic today at Arrowhead and arguably one of the most entertaining college contests to ever grace the KC turf. After playing virtually a dead-even first half that saw the scoreboard tied at 10-10, first downs tied at 10 per team and total yards for each club within eight yards of one another (KSU 192, ISU 184), Kansas State pulled out a 24-23 win after blocking an Iowa State extra point with 32 seconds to play. 40,851 fans witnessed the thriller and the victory gives KSU a 1-0 start in Big XII play.

Today’s game was part two of Arrowhead’s three-part college football series in 2009. NCAA Division II powerhouse Northwest Missouri State claimed a 30-10 victory over rival Pittsburg State in the Fall Classic VIII on September 12th. The Border Showdown between Kansas and Missouri is scheduled to take place on November 28th. Fans can purchase tickets to The Border Showdown by visiting www.ticketmaster.com/bordershowdown or by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.

Arrowhead Stadium has been a destination for football aficionados since it opened in 1972. In addition to serving as the “Home of the Chiefs,” Arrowhead has hosted or is scheduled to host 24 different college football contests. The first college game played at the facility was a SWAC contest on October 14, 1972 in which Grambling defeated Mississippi Valley State in front of a crowd of 9,833. The Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship, the annual Missouri vs. Kansas “Border Showdown,” a contest between Kansas State vs. Iowa State and “The Fall Classic” between Division II powers Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State are regular events. The facility also served as the site of the 1974 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl.

For more comprehensive coverage of the Kansas State and Iowa State game visit www.k-statesports.com or www.cyclones.com.