One drive into its first actual check of the Brent Brennan period, Arizona regarded prefer it was constructed to play within the Large 12. By the tip of the night time the Wildcats have been greater than glad to have this one not depend towards the league standings.
Twentieth-ranked Arizona scored on its first possession and never once more, falling 31-7 at No. 14 Kansas State on Friday night time. The loss ended the UA’s 9-game win streak, which was tied for the longest in class historical past and had been the longest energetic streak in FBS.
The battle of the Wildcats went convincingly to the house staff, which handed Arizona its first loss since a triple-overtime defeat at USC final October. Quarterback Avery Johnson made it three cellular passers in as many video games to present the UA suits, because the sophomore threw for 156 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 110 yards.
Okay-State (3-0) gained 235 yards on the bottom, essentially the most allowed by Arizona since 2022.
Arizona (2-1) had 324 yards of offense, its fewest in additional than two years. Noah Fifita threw for 268 yards on 26-of-42 passing however was intercepted as soon as and didn’t throw a TD go for the primary time because the first recreation of the win streak. Tetairoa McMillan tied his profession excessive with 11 catches, hauling in 138 yards, and Montana Lemonious-Craig had six catches for 75 yards, however the UA couldn’t do something on the bottom after the primary drive.
Quali Conley had 48 yards and a TD on 14 carries as Arizona ran for a season-low 56 yards.
The UA failed to achieve double figures for the primary time since being shut out at Colorado in 2021.
Penalties have been once more a difficulty for Arizona, which dedicated seven within the first half and 9 for the sport, a number of of which both stalled drives on offense or prolonged them on protection. And particular groups had one in all its worst video games in latest reminiscence, permitting a punt return TD.
Down 14-7 on the half, Arizona fell behind two scores halfway by means of the third on a 9-yard TD catch by Kansas State’s Brayden Loftin. It was the second TD to a good finish who had begun the play within the backfield, and got here on the finish of a drive that included Okay-State finishing a 48-yard go on 3rd and 12 and a face masks penalty that moved the ball into the crimson zone.
A 1-yard run by DJ Giddens made it 28-7 within the closing minute of the third, a second consecutive scoring drive of 80-plus yards for Okay-State. Arizona then turned it over on downs contained in the Okay-State 40 early within the fourth, resulting in a 35-yard discipline aim.
The UA would flip it over on downs its final two possessions, gaining solely 137 yards within the second half.
Arizona scored on its opening drive for the third straight recreation, going 73 yards in 14 performs and utilizing up almost half the first-quarter clock to get in the long run zone. Quali Conley scored on a 1-yard run for his fourth TD of the season to present the UA a fast 7-0 lead.
Kansas State was simply as methodical, and profitable, tying it at 7 with 1:01 left within the first on a 3-yard TD catch by tight finish Will Swanson to cap a 15-play drive.
A 3-and-out by Arizona and a line drive by kicker Tyler Loop—serving as punter, making that three in three video games—led to Kansas State taking a 14-7 lead when Dylan Edwards fielded the punt on a bounce and went untouched 79 yards for a TD and a 14-7 lead early within the second.
Fifita was picked off in the long run zone on the subsequent drive however Okay-State couldn’t capitalize, lacking a 48-yard discipline aim. Arizona’s closing drive of the primary half stalled close to midfield regardless of gaining 53 yards as a result of it had 30 on penalties, however once more it averted catastrophe when Okay-State’s Johnson didn’t acknowledge the clock working out and ran out of bounds on the UA 14 to finish the primary half.
The UA is off subsequent week, returning to motion Sept. 21 for its Large 12 opener at No. 12 Utah.