In its first significant challenge under head coach Brent Brennan, Arizona demonstrated potential for competing in the Big 12, but ended up on the losing side against Kansas State. The 20th-ranked Wildcats scored on their opening drive but failed to add any more points, resulting in a 31-7 defeat to the 14th-ranked Wildcats on Friday night. This loss snapped Arizona’s nine-game winning streak, which had tied the school record and was the longest active streak in the FBS.
The contest, a matchup of Wildcats, saw the home team dominate, handing Arizona its first loss since a triple-overtime match against USC last October. Kansas State’s quarterback Avery Johnson continued the trend of effective mobile quarterbacks, throwing for 156 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 110 yards.
Kansas State (3-0) amassed 235 rushing yards, marking the most Arizona has allowed since 2022. Arizona (2-1) could only manage 324 yards of total offense, their lowest output in over two years. Quarterback Noah Fifita, while completing 26 of 42 passes for 268 yards, suffered an interception and did not record a touchdown pass for the first time since the start of the winning streak. Receiver Tetairoa McMillan matched his career high with 11 receptions and accumulated 138 yards, while Montana Lemonious-Craig contributed six catches for 75 yards. However, the Wildcats struggled to establish a running game after their initial drive.
Arizona recorded a season-low of 56 rushing yards, with Quali Conley managing 48 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. The Wildcats also failed to score in double digits for the first time since a shutout against Colorado in 2021.
Penalties plagued Arizona once again, as they committed seven in the first half and nine total in the game, hampering offensive drives and aiding the opponent’s. Furthermore, the special teams struggled significantly, allowing a touchdown on a punt return.
Despite trailing 14-7 at halftime, Arizona fell further behind in the third quarter, conceding a 9-yard touchdown catch to Kansas State’s Brayden Loftin. This drive featured an important 48-yard pass conversion on third down, along with a face mask penalty that set the stage for more scoring.
A 1-yard run by DJ Giddens extended Kansas State’s lead to 28-7 late in the third, marking another scoring drive exceeding 80 yards. Arizona’s offense struggled as they turned the ball over on downs inside the Kansas State 40 early in the fourth quarter, which led to a 35-yard field goal for the Wildcats.
In the final quarter, Arizona would repeat their turnover on downs on two possessions, accumulating just 137 yards in the second half.
Arizona’s initial scoring drive marked the third consecutive game in which they scored first, going 73 yards on 14 plays and consuming nearly half of the first quarter to secure a 7-0 advantage with Conley’s 1-yard touchdown run.
Kansas State responded methodically, tying the game at 7 with a 15-play drive concluding in a 3-yard touchdown reception by tight end Will Swanson. A subsequent three-and-out by Arizona contributed to Kansas State taking the lead when Dylan Edwards returned a punt for a 79-yard touchdown, putting the score at 14-7 early in the second quarter.
Following an interception by Fifita in the end zone, Kansas State missed a chance to extend their lead with a failed 48-yard field goal. Arizona’s last drive of the first half fell short near midfield, having amassed 53 yards—30 of which were due to penalties. As the half concluded, Kansas State’s Johnson mismanaged the clock, running out of bounds at Arizona’s 14-yard line.
Arizona will take a break next week and is set to return to action on September 21 for its Big 12 opener against No. 12 Utah.