TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona Wildcats (1-0) make their first journey to SEC country in 17 years to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-0) this Saturday, Sept. 9. The game will be televised by the SEC Network and broadcast on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM.

Saturday's game marks just the second ever matchup between the two schools, with the first coming last year in Tucson. The Wildcats look to even the series after the Bulldogs took the previous meeting, 39-17.

Arizona and Mississippi State are both coming off wins in their season openers last week, the Wildcats boasting a 38-3 victory over Northern Arizona and the Bulldogs riding a 48-7 win over Southeastern Louisiana.

A complete preview of the Wildcats week two road contest can be found below.

ARIZONA NOTES & NUMBERS

• Arizona (1-0) travels to face Mississippi State (1-0) out of the SEC Conference. The kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. MST and you can follow along on SEC Network. Tom Hart (PxP), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), and Cole Cubelic (sideline) will have the call from Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. The game marks the second matchup in the series' history.
• The Mississippi State Bulldogs captured the first matchup in 2022 39-17 and lead the all-time series 1-0 over Arizona. The Wildcats are 1-6-1 all-time against opponents from the SEC, and 0-6-1 on the road. Arizona's lone victory over a SEC team came at home over Auburn in 1976.
• 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.
• Arizona secured a top 40 recruiting class for the second time in the last two years. The additions of freshman Leviticus Su'a, Brayden Dorman, Genesis Smith, and Raymond Pulido have added to the depth of talent that the Wildcats contain on the roster.
• Freshman check in vs. NAU: LB Taye Brown made two total tackles, LB Kamuela Ka'aihue made a pair of tackles, Genesis Smith made one tackle, Gavin Hunter posted one tackle as the first years earned spots in the rotation on defense and special teams. 
• Arizona had two players (Cowing and Morgan) selected Preseason Second-Team All-Pac-12 and six players (Wiley, McMillan, Jonah Savaiinaea, Ostendorp, Flowe, and Loop) selected Honorable Mention.

3 — Arizona held NAU to three points, marking the fewest allowed by the Wildcats defense since holding California to three points in 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 open the 2013 season.  

85 — Tacario Davis picked up a blocked field goal by Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei and scampered 85 yards for a touchdown marking the longest blocked field goal returned for a touchdown in the Pac-12 since at least 1996.

53 — QB Jayden de Laura's 53-yard touchdown rush in the third quarter was the longest rush attempt of his career. 

45 — WR Jacob Cowing has pulled in a reception in 45 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the nation.
 

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SEASON-OPENING WIN: Jayden de Laura accounted for four touchdowns, Tacario Davis returned a blocked field goal 85 yards for a score and Arizona opened the season a 38-3 win over Northern Arizona. Sparked by Davis' return, Arizona turned an 11-point halftime lead to 32 by the end of the third quarter. De Laura punctuated the outburst with a 53-yard TD run, nearly losing his balance before racing up the sideline. De Laura threw for 285 yards on 18-of-24 passing and three touchdowns alongside one rushing touchdown. Starting tailback Michael Wiley gained 52 yards on 10 attempts. Sophomore wide out Tetairoa McMillan led the Wildcats with 65 receiving yards and one touchdown on three receptions. On the defensive side of the ball, Jacob Manu led all Wildcats with nine tackles including 0.5 sacks and Martell Irby made his first game with Arizona count with seven total tackles and two pass breakups. The Wildcats improved to 85-30-5 in season-openers and 92-22-5 all-time in home openers. Arizona now owns a 16-2 record against NAU.

OFF TO SEC COUNTRY: Arizona has played eight games against Southeastern Conference (SEC) foes and holds a 1-6-1 record all-time against members of the conference. The Wildcats dropped their first matchup with Mississippi State in program history last season 39-17 at Arizona Stadium. The last time Arizona traveled to face an SEC opponent was Sept. 9, 2006, when it took on No. 8 LSU in Baton Rouge. The Wildcats first faced an SEC opponent on Sept. 22, 1984, when they again took on LSU on the road. Last season, the Wildcats had a few bright spots despite the 39-17 loss to Mississippi State. Michael Wiley rushed for a 34-yard touchdown, which is the longest of his career. Cowing made a team-high eight receptions for 46 yards and one touchdown. The Wildcats defense limited Mississippi State to 106 yards rushing, their lowest opponent total since holding California to 28 yards on 24 attempts in 2021. Arizona has been outscored 183-72 by SEC foes.

CAREER BESTS: Running back Jonah Coleman made a career-high three receptions for a career-high 57 yards and his first-career touchdown reception in the win over NAU. Coleman now has five-career touchdowns (4 rushing, 1 receiving). Tight end Keyan Burnett reeled in a 17-yard reception late in the first quarter 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 marking the longest rush and rushing touchdown of his career. De Laura finished the game with a passer rating of 207.7, the third best mark of his career (first: 211.2, at Washington, 2022).

ON THE BLOCK: The Wildcats blocked a field goal and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter against NAU, their first in 21 years (last: Gary Love, 2002, vs. North Texas, 60 yards). Davis and Love's returns are the only blocked field goals returned for touchdowns since 1996 for the Wildcats. The kick was blocked by Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei and returned by Tacario Davis. Davis' 85-yard return was the longest blocked field goal returned for a touchdown in the Pac-12 since at least 1996 (next longest: 83 yards, Dennis Weathersby, 2002, for Oregon State vs. UCLA).

BIG TIME D: 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.

WILEY VETERAN: Michael Wiley is the second Arizona running back with 100 career receptions (101) 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 101 career-receptions are the most of any Arizona running back dating back to at least 1996.

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!: The Arizona Wildcats have named defensive back Treydan Stukes, quarterback Jayden de Laura, offensive lineman Jordan Morgan, wide receiver Jacob Cowing, running back Michael Wiley, linebacker Jacob Manu, safety Gunner Maldonado, and defensive back Martell Irby captains of the 2023 football team.

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.

ALWAYS RECRUITING: The Arizona Wildcats secured the No. 40 recruiting class (247Sports) in the country with key signings like Trinity League MVP four-star linebacker Leviticus Su'a, four-star quarterback Bradyen Dorman, safety Genesis Smith, and Alabama decommit offensive lineman Raymond Pulido. Included in this class were veteran transfers Montana Lemonious-Craig (WR, Colorado), Taylor Upshaw (DL, Michigan), Sio Nofoagatoto'a (DL, Indiana), Daniel Heimuli (LB, Washington), Justin Flowe (LB, Oregon), Bill Norton (DL, Georgia), Orin Patu (LB, California), and Tyler Manoa (DL, UCLA). It marked the second consecutive top-40 recruiting class and first time in program history that the Wildcats have posted back-to-back top-40 classes. 

COWING NAMED PRESEASON AP SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICAN: Senior wide receiver Jacob Cowing has been named Associated Press Preseason Second-Team All-American. Cowing earns a preseason AP Second-Team All-American nod for the first time since joining the Wildcats in the spring of 2022. He led the Pac-12 in receptions (85), fourth in receiving yards (1,034), and tied for second in touchdown grabs (7) last season. Cowing's 1,034 receiving yards in 2022 were the seventh-most in a single season in program history. Cowing adds this honor to a list of preseason recognition, including preseason All-Pac-12 Second Team; preseason Biletnikoff Award Watch List; Paul Hornung Award Watch List; and the Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List. The preseason All-American Teams are named by voters in the AP Top 25. Cowing earned a plethora of preseason honors including the Paul Hornung Award Watch List, Biletnikoff Award Watch List, Maxwell Award Watch List, and All-Pac-12 Second-Team Honors. Cowing enters 2023 having caught a pass in 44 straight games, marking the second-longest reception streak in college football.

SALUTE TO SERVICE: Arizona Football unveiled special Military Appreciation uniforms that will be worn on Nov. 18 against Utah. The team and University will honor those who have and continue to serve our country with a special edition Military Appreciation uniform during select games in 2023. The Wildcats have unveiled brand new military uniforms, switching from the white primary color with camouflage infused on the numbers and shoulders of years past to a blue primary home jersey with camouflage numbers alongside camouflage on the shoulders. Arizona will wear these uniforms against Utah on Nov. 18 during the Military and Veteran Appreciation game at Arizona Stadium.

GO WITH THE FLOWE: One of the biggest signings for the Wildcats came on the defensive side of the ball and through the NCAA Transfer Portal. Former five-star linebacker out of high school, Justin Flowe, decided to transfer to Arizona prior to the spring of 2023. The linebacker has reeled in preseason honors since, earning the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, preseason All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention, and Butkus Award Watch List honors leading up to the 2023 season. Flowe made 35 tackles (14 solo, 21 assists) with 2.5 tackles for loss over 10 games played at Oregon last season. He was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week in 2021, after making 14 tackles marking the most by an Oregon freshman since Troy Dye in 2016.  Flowe became the first Oregon player since 2007 and the fourth since 2000 to record at least 14 tackles and force a fumble in the same game. He was a consensus five-star prospect, top-11 player in the nation, No. 1 inside linebacker, and the top defensive player in California by ESPN, Rivals, and 247Sports. Flowe earned the 2019 Butkus Award in high school and was named 2019-20 All-USA High School Defensive Player of the Year by USA Today.

SIX WILDCATS ON POLYNESIAN CFPOTY WATCH LIST: Arizona football was represented by Jayden de Laura, Jonah Savaiinaea, Jacob Manu, Tetairoa McMillan, Sio Nofoagatoto'a, and Tiaoalii Savea on the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List. Savaiinaea, Manu, and McMillan return to the watch list for the second consecutive season. Nofoagatoto'a has been selected to this watch list for the third straight year after making the list in 2021 and 2022. Meanwhile, Savea makes his second straight appearance on this watch list after being selected to the 2021 Polynesian Bowl roster out of high school. De Laura makes the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List for the first time since joining the Wildcats.

DE LAURA ON PRESEASON WATCH LISTS: Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura was named to the Manning Award Watch List, the Maxwell Award Watch List, and the preseason Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List. The junior from Honolulu threw for 3,685 yards which marks the third-most in a single season in program history. De Laura threw 25 touchdowns marking the sixth-most in program history. The junior from Honolulu, Hawai'i, finished third in the Pac-12 in passing yards per game (307.1) and tied for third in touchdown passes. He led the sixth-best passing attack and the number one explosive play offense in the country last season.

BIG BOYS UP FRONT: Jordan Morgan and Jonah Savaiinaea lead a strong offensive line heading into 2023. Morgan and Savaiinaea were named to the Outland Trophy Watch List. The Outland Trophy honors the nation's best interior lineman from all 10 Division I FBS conferences and independents. Morgan was picked preseason Second-Team All-Pac-12 and returns to a dynamic Wildcats offense that was sixth in the nation in passing and number one in explosive plays a season ago. He was rated by Pro Football Focus as the top offensive tackle in college football, with a grade of 83.1, which ranks third in the nation. Morgan allowed one sack in 443 pass-blocking snaps. He was also named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List after winning the CATSYs Community Service Award. He recorded the most community service hours of any student-athlete at the University of Arizona in 2022. Morgan volunteered at the Boys and Girls Clubs and football camps racking up more than 145 hours of service. Savaiinaea adds another preseason accolade to the list after being named Preseason All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. The sophomore offensive lineman has been selected to the Outland Trophy Watch List for the first time in his collegiate career after a freshman season that saw him start all 12 games. He posted a 77.3 pass-blocking grade (per PFF), did not commit a penalty, and gave up only two sacks as a true freshman in 2022. The St. Louis High School (Hawai'i) product was named 2022 FWAA Freshman All-American, All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention, PFF All-First-Team True Freshman, and to the 247Sports.com True Freshman Player of the Year Watch List last season.

WILEY ON DOAK WALKER AWARD WATCH LIST: Michael Wiley has been included on the Doak Walker Award Watch List; an award given to the nation's best running back. Wiley earned this honor after rushing for a career-high 771 yards on a career-high 113 carries, and a career-high eight touchdowns in 2022. He rushed for a career-high 214 yards and three touchdowns against Arizona State in the Territorial Cup, helping lift the Wildcats to a 38-35 win. It marked the second-most rushing yards in the Territorial Cup game, as he earned the Bob Moran Award for being the MVP of the Territorial Cup. Wiley was selected to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List, which honors the top college football player originally from Texas. The senior from Houston was named 2023 Preseason All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention after earning 2022 All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. Wiley became the first Wildcat to rush for over 700 yards in a season since JJ Taylor (721) in 2019.

STRONG IN THE KICKING GAME: Kyle Ostendorp and Tyler Loop have been added to preseason watch lists once again heading into the 2023 season. Ostendorp was placed on the Ray Guy Award Watch List, which honors the nation's best punter and Tyler Loop was selected to the Lou Groza Award Watch List, which honors the nation's best kicker. Ostendorp appears on the Ray Guy Award Watch List for the second straight year after averaging 45.5 yards per punt with three touchbacks and 10 inside the 20 a season ago. He uncorked nine punts of 50-plus yards during the 2022 season. Ostendorp booted a long 64 yards against Mississippi State in a game where he launched three punts of 50-plus yards. He was named 2023 Preseason All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. Loop earned 2023 Preseason All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention and has been selected to the Lou Groza Award Watch List for the second straight year. He appeared in all 12 games as the team primary kicker and kickoff specialist. Loop made 18 of 21 attempts with a career long of 48 yards against Washington. Loop made nine straight field goals to end the season moving his career kicking totals to 30-for-33.

REESE'S SENIOR BOWL WATCH LIST: Wide receiver Jacob Cowing, tight end Tanner McLachlan, offensive lineman Jordan Morgan, defensive end Taylor Upshaw, and running back Michael Wiley were named to the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List. Arizona had five players selected to the watch list. Reese's Senior Bowl is widely regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and the first stage in the NFL Draft process. The longest continual-running all-star game has taken place in Mobile the past 74 years. More than 900 NFL personnel, including key decision-makers from all 32 teams, and over 1,100 media members from around the country were credentialed last year. In each of the past three years, the Reese's Senior Bowl has had 100 or more players drafted and over 40 percent of the entire draft class, which are both record-setting figures for any all-star game.

BIG TIME WIDE OUTS: Wide receiver Jacob Cowing finished seventh for a single season in program history with 85 receptions in 2022. With three catches for 34 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter against Colorado, Cowing eclipsed the 3,000-yard (3,629) mark for his collegiate career (2,595 at UTEP, 1034 at Arizona) while catching seven touchdowns. Cowing surpassed the Arizona wideout with the most career receiving yards Bobby Wade (3,351) from 1999-2002. Sophomore wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan led the Wildcats with eight touchdown grabs in 2022. It tied for first in the Pac-12 and was the most touchdown grabs by a freshman in program history. McMillan finished just three touchdown grabs shy of the Arizona single-season touchdown record (11) held by Juron Criner (2010, 2011), Mike Thomas (2007), Theopolis Bell (1974), Austin Hill (2012), and Shawn Poindexter (2018). 

AERIAL-ZONA: Jayden de Laura threw 25 touchdown passes during the 2022 season. In his first season, he moved into the top 15 at No. 13 in passing touchdowns in Arizona football history. With three more touchdown passes against NAU to open the season, de Laura is two behind Alfred Jenkins (30) for 12th all-time. Leading the way is Super Bowl Champion Nick Foles with 67 (2009-11), alongside Willie Tuitama (67, 2005-08). De Laura was outstanding during his first season guiding the Wildcats' offense. He completed 272-of-435 pass attempts for 3,685 yards which puts him 13th in program history in career passing yardage.

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 are second-most in a single season for Arizona and most since Rob Gronkowski caught 47 during the 2008 season.  

WILDCATS IN THE NFL: The Wildcats are once again well represented in the National Football League this year with seven former letterwinners active 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 Wildcats to make the transition to the NFL are defensive lineman Jalen Harris (Chicago Bears) and linebacker Christian Young (Seattle Seahawks). For a complete list of former Wildcats in the NFL, see the comprehensive chart below.
 

Player	Position	Team
Jalen Harris	DL	Chicago Bears
Lorenzo Burns	CB	Cleveland Browns
Roy Lopez	NT	Houston Texans
Lucas Havrisik	PK	Cleveland Browns
Nick Folk	PK	Tennessee Titans
Gary Brightwell	RB	New York Giants
Demetruis Flannigan-Fowles	LB	San Francisco 49ers