In its first significant challenge under head coach Brent Brennan, Arizona’s football team appeared ready for the Big 12 competition but suffered a disappointing defeat. The 20th-ranked Wildcats fell 31-7 to No. 14 Kansas State on Friday night, ending their nine-game winning streak, which was tied for the longest in the school’s history.
Arizona scored on its opening drive but struggled to find the end zone again, marking their first loss since a triple-overtime game against USC last October. Quarterback Avery Johnson of Kansas State proved to be a challenge for Arizona’s defense, throwing for 156 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 110 yards.
Kansas State amassed 235 rushing yards, the highest total allowed by Arizona since 2022. The Wildcats managed 324 total yards of offense, their lowest output in over two years. Noah Fifita had a passing total of 268 yards, completing 26 of 42 attempts, but was intercepted once and failed to throw a touchdown for the first time since the beginning of their winning streak. Receiver Tetairoa McMillan caught 11 passes for 138 yards, and Montana Lemonious-Craig added six receptions for 75 yards, but Arizona’s running game faltered after the initial drive.
Quali Conley managed 48 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries, contributing to the team’s season-low rushing total of 56 yards. This defeat marked the first time Arizona has scored fewer than ten points since a shutout against Colorado in 2021.
Arizona faced challenges with penalties, committing seven in the first half alone and a total of nine during the game, which hampered their offensive drives and extended K-State’s opportunities. Additionally, the special teams struggled, allowing a touchdown on a punt return.
Trailing 14-7 at halftime, Arizona fell further behind in the third quarter when Kansas State’s Brayden Loftin caught a 9-yard touchdown pass, following a series of pivotal plays that shifted momentum. A subsequent one-yard touchdown run by DJ Giddens put Kansas State up 28-7 late in the third quarter, culminating in two consecutive scoring drives exceeding 80 yards. Arizona turned the ball over on downs early in the fourth quarter, leading to a K-State field goal.
After scoring on their first possession, Arizona’s offense stalled significantly, gaining only 137 yards in the second half. The opening touchdown came after a meticulous 14-play drive that consumed nearly half the first-quarter clock. However, Kansas State quickly responded and took the lead midway through the second quarter, ultimately dominating the game.
Arizona’s final drive of the first half ended near midfield due to penalties, yet they narrowly avoided disaster when Kansas State’s Johnson let the clock run out during the final seconds of the half.
Arizona will take a break next week before resuming play on September 21 against No. 12 Utah in their Big 12 opener.