TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona Wildcats (3-3, 1-2) trek north for a matchup against the Washington State Cougars (4-1, 1-1) in Pullman, Washington this weekend.

Saturday's game kicks off at 4:00 p.m. MST and will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks and broadcast live on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM.

Arizona faces their third consecutive ranked opponent after fighting and narrowly falling in back-to-back top 10 matchups each of the last two weeks. The Wildcats fell in triple overtime to No. 9 USC last weekend after dropping a one-score contest to No. 8 Washington the week prior. The games were decided by a combined nine points.

The Wildcats defense has impressed all season, but especially in recent weeks when they held the Huskies and the Trojans, two of the top offenses in the entire nation, to their worst performances of the season.

A complete preview of the Wildcats week seven road test can be found below.

ARIZONA NOTES & NUMBERS

• Arizona (3-3, 1-2 Pac-12) heads to Pullman to face No. 19 Washington State (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12). Ted Robinson (PxP) and Yogi Roth (analyst) will have the call. Kickoff is schedule for 4 p.m. MST, and the game will be televised on Pac-12 Network.
• The Wildcats lead the all-time series 27-19 over Washington State dating back to 1963. Arizona has lost three in a row to WSU dating back to 2017.
• Arizona's last win over Washington State was a 58-37 victory in Tucson on Oct. 28, 2017. The Wildcats last win in Pullman was a 59-37 shootout on Oct. 25, 2014. 
• The Wildcats have dropped 5-of-6 against the Cougars including last season's matchup by a final of 31-20 at Arizona Stadium. 
• Arizona is 11-7 in Pullman with the two highest scoring games for the Wildcats (59 points) coming on the road.    
• The Wildcats went to three overtimes at USC. It was the first time since 2000 against Washington State that Arizona has played a triple overtime game. In that contest at home, Arizona outlasted Washington State 53-47 to secure a win. Running back Leo Mills rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries and QB Ortege Jenkins completed 15-of-30 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to their fourth win in a row, opening the 2000 season 5-1.
• Arizona Football named its captains tapping Treydan Stukes, Jayden de Laura, Jordan Morgan, Jacob Cowing, Michael Wiley, Jacob Manu, Gunner Maldonado, and Martell Irby to lead the 2023 Wildcats.

4 — WR Jacob Cowing set a program record last week against USC with four receiving TDs.

5 — QB Noah Fifita's five touchdown passes thrown against USC are the most by an Arizona QB against a ranked opponent in program history.

50 — WR Jacob Cowing extended his streak to 50 consecutive games with a reception, tied for the longest active streak in the nation. The NCAA record for consecutive games with a reception is 54, set by Bryan Anderson (Central Michigan) from 2006-09.

4,000 — Cowing recorded 88 receiving yards at USC to surpass the 4,000-yard mark for his career. He is the active leader in receiving yards among NCAA football players (4,018). 

3 — Saturday's three-overtime contest was tied for the longest game in Arizona Football history. 
 

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ABOUT LAST WEEK: Noah Fifita threw for 303 yards and five touchdowns, four TDs to Jacob Cowing, as Arizona falls in triple overtime 43-41 at No. 9 USC. USC QB Caleb Williams passed for 219 yards and accounted for four total touchdowns for the Trojans (6-0, 4-0 Pac-12), who botched a 25-yard field goal attempt on the final snap of regulation after Williams led a 59-yard drive in the last 2:08. The Heisman Trophy winner shook it off and coolly led USC to scores on each of its three overtime possessions. USC called an unorthodox play for the two-point attempt in the third OT, with the entire offensive line shifting out before Williams took the snap and ran the other way, stretching the ball to the pylon. The defense then finished it when linebacker Mason Cobb led a stop of D.J. Williams behind the line. Fifita passed for 303 yards and threw two of his five touchdown passes to Jacob Cowing in overtime, but the Wildcats (3-3, 1-2) blew an early 17-point lead and fell just short of a signature victory under third-year Head Coach Jedd Fisch. USC remained unbeaten at the Coliseum during Riley's 1 1/2 years in charge, but the Trojans needed another superlative effort from their star quarterback to survive the Wildcats' energized upset bid. After USC went up 28-20 on Caleb Williams' second TD run early in the fourth quarter, Arizona tied it with 8:17 to play on a gutsy TD pass and a two-point conversion pass by Fifita. The Wildcats forced a punt by USC and drove past midfield, but Tyler Loop missed a 50-yard field goal attempt with 2:08 to play. But the Trojans didn't get points after having first-and-goal with 24 seconds left. Williams misfired on a pass and fumbled another snap before a high snap on fourth down forced USC's holder out of his crouch, stunning the Coliseum into silence. Tanner McLachlan also caught a TD pass from Fifita, an Orange County native with a huge block of family and friends in the Coliseum stands while he filled in impressively for injured Jayden de Laura. Fifita went 25 of 35. Cowing caught 10 passes for 87 yards and four TDs, and Jonah Coleman rushed for 143 yards. USC's normally polished offense seemed weird from the start of the latest wacky night game in the Pac-12. The Trojans failed to score a touchdown on their opening drive for the first time this season and promptly fell behind in a game for the first time this season. Fifita's TD passes to Cowing and McLachlan put Arizona up 17-0 early in the second quarter, and Williams fumbled near midfield on USC's next possession. But Fifita threw an interception to Jacobe Covington, and Williams made a 4-yard run for USC's first points. Kyron Hudson caught a TD pass from Williams two seconds before halftime, and MarShawn Lloyd's TD run put the Trojans ahead in the third quarter. Williams fought through Arizona's Treydan Stukes and stretched the ball across the goal line to cap a 77-yard drive with 12:54 left in regulation, but Fifita made a cool TD throw to Cowing while getting clobbered by USC's Jamil Muhammad. Williams rushed 18 yards for a TD in the first overtime, but Cowing caught a TD pass from Fifita on Arizona's first OT snap. Cowing scored again to open the second overtime, but USC safety Calen Bullock swatted away Fifita's pass on the conversion attempt. Austin Jones then rushed for an 11-yard TD for USC, but Williams couldn't hit Brenden Rice for the win.

WILDCATS TRAVEL TO PULLMAN TO FACE COUGARS: Arizona (3-3, 1-2 Pac-12) makes its last conference trip to Washington State (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) for the 47th matchup in series history. The Wildcats hold a 27-19 lead over the Cougars in the all-time series, but the Cougars have won the last three matchups dating back to 2017. Arizona's last win over Washington State was a 58-37 victory in Tucson on Oct. 28, 2017. The Wildcats last win in Pullman was a 59-37 shootout on Oct. 25, 2014. The Wildcats have dropped 5-of-6 against the Cougars including last season's matchup by a final of 31-20 at Arizona Stadium. Arizona is 11-7 in Pullman with the two highest scoring games for the Wildcats (59 points in 2008 and 2014) coming on the road. Last season, QB Jayden de Laura threw for 357 yards on 28-of-46 passing with a rushing touchdown and passing touchdown. Dorian Singer led the Wildcats with 176 yards and one touchdown on nine receptions, WR Tetairoa McMillan made three catches for 75 yards, RB Michael Wiley rushed seven times for 50 yards, and safety Jaxen Turner led the team with 10 tackles (8 solo, 2 assist). Arizona then bounced back from this loss with a 38-35 win over Arizona State a week later in the Territorial Cup.

TOP PERFORMANCES AGAINST TOP-10 TEAMS: QB Noah Fifita has thrown eight touchdown passes in the last two games; three against No. 7 Washington and five against No. 9 USC. Despite back-to-back losses, the Wildcats have scored 65 points in the last two games against top-10 teams. WR Jacob Cowing set a program record against No. 9 USC (10/7) with four touchdown receptions. The previous record of three was accomplished 10 times, including once by Cowing in week one of the 2022 season at San Diego State. QB Noah Fifita made his second career start at No. 9 USC. Both of his first two career starts have come against AP top 10 ranked teams. Per ESPN research, Fifita is the 10th quarterback in the past 20 seasons to make his first two career starts against AP top 10 opponents. Fifita's five passing touchdowns and 303 yards were both career-high marks. It was Arizona's first five-plus passing touchdown performance since Jayden de Laura threw for six against Colorado in 2022. Fifita's five touchdown passes are the most ever thrown by an Arizona quarterback against a ranked opponent. Fifita is the first Arizona QB on record to throw for multiple touchdowns in each of his first two starts (3 vs. No. 7 Washington and 5 at No. 9 USC). It's the third time in the Pac-12 era that an Arizona quarterback has thrown for 300-plus yards against a ranked USC team. RB Jonah Coleman finished the game with a career-high 143 rushing yards. It was the Wildcats first 100+ yard rushing performance since Michael Wiley went for 214 on the ground in the 2022 Territorial Cup. WR Tetairoa McMillan recorded his third career game with 100-plus receiving yards (138 yards on 6 receptions) against No. 9 USC (10/7).

VS. RANKED OPPONENTS IN PAC-12: Arizona is one of two teams in the Pac-12 to play Top-10 teams in back-to-back weeks after playing No. 7 Washington and No. 9 USC on consecutive Saturdays. Colorado played No. 10 Oregon during Week 4 and then took on No. 8 USC during Week 5. As of now, with No. 7 Washington, No. 10 USC, No. 19 Oregon State, and No. 18 UCLA all ranked in the Top-25 poll by the Associated Press, the Wildcats are scheduled to play five consecutive ranked teams with two of those opponents in the Top-10.

FIRST START: Redshirt Freshman QB Noah Fifita made the first start of his career against No. 7 Washington. He finished the night going 27-for-39 through the air for three touchdowns and 232 yards. He set career-high marks in attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, rush attempts, and rush yards. Fifita is the first Arizona quarterback to make his first collegiate start against a team ranked in the AP top 10 since Richard Kovalcheck made his starting debut against No. 7 California in 2004 (L, 0-38).

CAREER HIGHS: 

• QB Noah Fifita's five passing touchdowns and 303 yards against No. 9 USC were both career-high marks. It was Arizona's first five-plus passing touchdown performance since Jayden de Laura threw for six against Colorado in 2022. Fifita's five touchdown passes are the most ever thrown by an Arizona quarterback against a ranked opponent.
• RB Jonah Coleman rushed for a career-high 143 rushing yards at USC (10/7). It was the Wildcats first 100+ yard rushing performance since Michael Wiley went for 214 on the ground in the 2022 Territorial Cup. It marked Coleman's first game with over 100 rushing yards. 
• DE Russell Davis II tallied career-high marks in tackles (5), sacks (1.5), and tackles for loss (2.5) vs. USC (10/7). His 1.5 sacks were the first of his career.
• Safety Dalton Johnson's team-leading 10 tackles against Washington were a career-high mark (previous: 7, twice, last, at Mississippi State 2023).
• LB Daniel Heimuli's 1.5 tackles for loss against Washington were a career-high (previous: 1.0, twice, last, vs. Colorado 2022).
• Senior tight end Tanner McLachlan reeled in a 36-yard touchdown grab at Stanford (9/23) marking the longest touchdown reception of his career. 
• Junior QB Jayden de Laura posted his highest completion percentage (79.3%, 23-of-29) as a Wildcat against UTEP (9/16), only surpassed by his performance in 2021 (84.4%) with Washington State at Washington.   
• Coleman broke off a career-high 59-yard run in the third quarter against UTEP, the longest rush by a Wildcat this season. His previous high was 43 against Oregon in 2022. 
• Sophomore wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan reeled in a 55-yard reception for the longest catch of his career and recorded 161 receiving yards on eight receptions marking career highs against Mississippi State (9/9). 
• Sophomore linebacker Jacob Manu set a career-high with 12 total tackles and matched a career-high with 2.5 tackles for loss against Mississippi State. 
• Coleman made a career-high three receptions for a career-high 59 yards and his first-career touchdown reception in the win over NAU (9/2). Coleman now has five-career touchdowns (4 rushing, 1 receiving). 
• Sophomore tight end Keyan Burnett reeled in a 17-yard reception late in the first quarter against NAU, marking the longest reception of his career (previous: 5 yards vs. Oregon, 2022). Like Coleman, he recorded more receiving yards on the play than he did during the entire 2022 season. 
• QB Jayden de Laura rushed for a 53-yard touchdown against NAU marking the longest rush and rushing touchdown of his career. De Laura finished the NAU game with a passer-by rating of 207.7, the third best mark of his career (first: 211.2, at Washington, 2022).

DESERT FURY: Arizona's four sacks against USC (10/7) are the most the Trojan offense line has surrendered all season and doubles their previous high. The Wildcats six tackles for loss are also a season-high mark by a USC opponent. The Wildcats limited USC QB Caleb Williams, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, to just 205 yards on 14-of-25 passing. It was his lowest passing yards total since throwing for only 180 at Oregon State in week four of the 2022 season. Arizona's four sacks against USC are the most the Trojan offense line has surrendered all season and doubles their previous high. The Wildcats six tackles for loss are also a season-high mark by a USC opponent. Arizona's two sacks against Washington were the most surrendered by the Huskies this season. It marked the first time since Oct. 22, 2022, that Washington allowed more than one sack in a game. Arizona's defense held Washington to season-low marks in passing yards (363; next: 389 vs. Cal), total offense (474; next: 529 vs. Cal), points (31; next: 41 at Michigan State) and passing yards per attempt (9.08; next: 11.35 vs. Tulsa). Safety Dalton Johnson's team-leading 10 tackles were a career-high mark (previous: 7, twice, last, at Mississippi State 2023). LB Daniel Heimuli's 1.5 tackles for loss on Saturday were a career-high (previous: 1.0, twice, last, vs. Colorado 2022). The Wildcats' 17 sacks through six games surpassed the 16 total sacks in 2022. Saturday (9/30) marked the first time that Washington hasn't logged a passing touchdown in 12 games (last: at Arizona State, 2022). Arizona's five sacks against Stanford (9/23) are the most recorded by the team since notching five against Colorado in 2018. The Wildcats are 7-0 during the Pac-12 era when notching at least five sacks. DE Taylor Upshaw recorded a career-high 2.0 sacks at Stanford. He is the first Arizona player with 2.0+ sacks in a game since Kyon Barrs logged 2.5 against California in 2021. Arizona's defense is tied for 5th in the Pac-12 with 17 sacks. The Wildcats defense logged 11 tackles for loss against the Cardinal, their most since posting 12 on the road at UCLA in 2018. Arizona limited UTEP to 1.9 yards per carry for a total of 49 rushing yards. UTEP's QB Gavin Hardison was held without a touchdown for the first time in 2023. Arizona held NAU to three points marking the fewest allowed by the Wildcats defense since holding California to three points during a 10-3 victory in 2021. It was also the fewest points allowed by the Wildcats in a season opener since shutting out NAU 35-0 to kick off the 2013 season. The 35-point win was Arizona's largest margin of victory since beating UTEP 63-16 in 2017. Arizona has held opponents scoreless in home openers 40 times and held opponents to three points seven times in home openers dating back to 1899. The Wildcats limited UTEP to just 49 yards on the ground, marking the 24th time that an Arizona opponent has gone for 50 or fewer yards since 1996. The Wildcats defense held the Cardinal to just 20 points, the fewest Arizona has allowed on the road to a Pac-12 opponent since 2018 (W, 35-14; at OSU).

TOP OF THE LINE: Arizona OL Jordan Morgan is 8th in the Pac-12 in overall offensive ranking per PFF (79.2). Morgan has allowed one sack in 390 snaps. Morgan is 8th in the conference in pass-blocking rating (per PFF) with a mark of 86.2. OL Jonah Savaiinaea is ranked 21st in the conference per PFF with an overall mark of 74.7. Savaiinaea has not allowed a sack in 415 snaps. Savaiinaea is ranked 6th within the Pac-12 at pass-blocking with a rating of 87.3 which leads the Wildcats.

NATIONAL RANKINGS: Currently, Arizona is in the top-36 nationally in the following defensive and offensive categories, rushing defense (24th, 106.2), red zone defense (36th, .760). Arizona's defense has forced a turnover in nine of the last 10 games dating back to last season. The Wildcats offense ranks 31st nationally in total offense (441.7), 31st nationally in passing offense (278.5), 21st nationally in red zone offense (.923), 8th in the nation (2nd in Pac-12) in first down offense (147).

PAC-12's LEADING TACKLERS: Linebacker Jacob Manu is second in the Pac-12 with 53 total tackles (18 solo, 35 assist) for an average of 8.83 tackles per game (2nd). DE Taylor Upshaw is 8th in the conference with 4.5 sacks, which leads the team.

OFFENSIVE SHOW: The Wildcats offense also put-up notable numbers, posting their first 300-yard passing and 200-yard rushing performance since throwing for 350 yards and running for 216 against Colorado in 2018. Saturday's (10/7) performance on the road, the Wildcats rushed for 203 yards and threw for 303 yards through the air for a total of 506 yards marking the sixth 500-plus total-yard game under Head Coach Jedd Fisch. It marked the sixth-most total yards against USC since 1980.

SECURING THE FUTURE: Following the 2022 season, the University of Arizona and head football coach Jedd Fisch agreed to a contract extension through the 2027 season. Fisch has elevated the football program in two seasons, which included a four-win improvement in his second year as head coach. The four-win improvement in Fisch's second year tied for the second-largest win increase in a single season in program history. The 2022 season saw the Wildcats defeat No. 9 UCLA at the Rose Bowl, which was Arizona's first top-10 win on the road since 2015. The team went on to defeat Arizona State in the Territorial Cup two weeks later, snapping its in-state rival's five-game winning streak. The successful start to his tenure has been highlighted by historical recruiting success. Arizona signed its highest rated recruiting class ever in 2022 that ranked at the top of the Pac-12 and in the top 25 nationally. The program's elite recruiting was bolstered by the addition of key transfers in the portal. Player development has also been a staple of the program with a litany of offensive players rewriting the record book this season.

WILEY VETERAN: Michael Wiley is the second Arizona running back with 100 career receptions (110) The other is Vance Johnson, who had 104 from 1981-84. Wiley's career-high in receptions was 36, which was posted in 2022. He made six receptions for 57 yards against NAU in the season opener. His 110 career-receptions are the most of any Arizona running back dating back to at least 1996.

LEADING RECEIVER: Senior wide receiver Jacob Cowing has caught a pass in 50 straight games, tied for the longest active reception streak in college football. Cowing has 4,018 (1,423 at Arizona) yards in his career (leads active players). Since 1956, only 22 players have recorded 4,000-plus receiving yards in their career. His 28 receiving touchdowns are second among active players, trailing only Zakhari Franklin (37, Ole Miss). The NCAA record for consecutive games with a reception is 54, set by Bryan Anderson (Central Michigan) from 2006-09.

RETURN OF T-MAC: WR Tetairoa McMillan made six receptions for 138 yards against USC (10/7) and has now recorded 200 receiving yards in two games against the Trojans. McMillan pulled in three receptions for 62 yards against USC at Arizona Stadium in 2022. It's the second most receiving yards against one opponent in his career. His 230-yard combined effort in two games against Mississippi State is the most against any one team in his career. He caught eight passes for 161 yards and one touchdown against the Bulldogs on Sept. 9, 2023 and four passes for 69 yards on Sept. 10, 2022. McMillan's third-most combined yards came against Washington. He has racked up 177 receiving yards and four touchdown receptions in two games against the Huskies. He has five receiving touchdowns in six games this year and has scored at least once in 11-of-18 games in his career. McMillan's five touchdowns are tied for third in the Pac-12 in 2023. He has made a catch in 17 of 18 games played in his collegiate career for 1,226 yards and 13 touchdowns. He is 413 receiving yards away from cracking into the top-16 in career-receiving yards in Arizona football history. 

AERIAL-ZONA: Between Noah Fifita and Jayden de Laura, Arizona quarterbacks have combined to complete 70.8 percent of their passes (148-of-209) for 1,671 yards, and 17 touchdowns. Fifita has thrown eight touchdowns in five games (two starts) and Jayden de Laura threw nine touchdowns in four games. On the heels of one of his best completion percentages with Arizona (79.3%) against UTEP, (23-of-29). De Laura is one touchdown away from moving into the top 10 in Arizona program history sitting just behind Jason Johnson, who threw 35 touchdowns from 1999-02. He is also 13th in Arizona football history with 4,754-career passing yards sitting 167 yards behind 12th-place Matt Scott (4,921; 2008-12).

NICE KICKS: Kicker Tyler Loop is 36-for-41 on field goal attempts (87.8%). He is 71-of-71 on extra points and 28-of-28 from under 39 yards. Loop made the game-tying field goal from 36 yards out to force overtime at Mississippi State (9/9). The longest of his career was 48 yards at Washington on Oct. 15, 2022. Loop remains perfect from under 39 yards after connecting on two field goals at No. 9 USC to move to 30-for-30 for his career on kicks inside 39 yards.

TIGHT END U: Tanner McLachlan continues to climb up the tight end record books at Arizona. He made 34 receptions for 456 yards and two touchdown grabs a season ago. McLachlan's 456 receiving yards are the third-most in a single season (StatsPass era, since 1996) for an Arizona tight end. His 34 receptions in 2022 are second-most in a single season for Arizona and most since Rob Gronkowski caught 47 during the 2008 season. McLachlan made a 36-yard touchdown grab at Stanford (9/23), marking the longest touchdown reception of his career. He made six receptions for 51 yards against No. 7 Washington (9/23) to bring his total at Arizona to 698. He pulled in three receptions for 28 yards and one touchdown to tie Ron Beyer for third all-time in receptions as a tight end. McLachlan is second since 1996 in receiving yards among tight ends at Arizona, trailing Rob Gronkowski's 1,197. 

100 YARD RUSHING GAMES: Sophomore running back Jonah Coleman rushed for 143 yards against No. 9 USC (10/7) marking the second-most rushing yards since 2021. Senior running back Michael Wiley rushed for the most yards (214) in the last three seasons during last year's 38-35 Territorial Cup win over ASU (11/25/22). Wiley also rushed for the most touchdowns by a player in a single game (3 vs. ASU in 2022) since 2021. 

WILDCATS IN THE NFL: The Wildcats are once again well represented in the National Football League this year with eight former letterwinners across the league. One of Arizona's most prestigious alumnus, tight end Rob Gronkowski, retired following the 2021 season after winning the fourth Super Bowl of his career. Gronk was a five-time Pro Bowl selection, a four-time First Team All-Pro selection, and was selected to the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team and NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. Over 11 seasons with New England and Tampa Bay, Gronkowski recorded 9,286 yards (5th all time) and 92 touchdowns (3rd all time). The most recent Wildcat to make an NFL roster as an undrafted free agent is defensive lineman Jalen Harris (Chicago Bears). Recently Christian Young signed a free agent deal with the Green Bay Packers and was assigned to the practice squad.  For a complete list of former Wildcats in the NFL, see the comprehensive chart below.  *Practice squad
 

Player	Position	Team
Jalen Harris*	DL	Chicago Bears
Lucas Havrisik*	PK	Cleveland Browns
Nick Folk	PK	Tennessee Titans
Gary Brightwell	RB	New York Giants
Demetruis Flannigan-Fowles	LB	San Francisco 49ers
Roy Lopez	NT	Arizona Cardinals
Dane Cruikshank	S	Tennessee Titans
Christian Young	ILB	Green Bay Packers