Wildcats Begin Big 12 Conference Play at #10 Utah

TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona Wildcats trek north to Salt Lake City for a Saturday night matchup against the No. 10 Utah Utes this week. It marks the first Big 12 Conference game in Arizona Football history and it comes against a familiar foe from the program's days in the Pac-12.

Saturday's matchup will be nationally televised on ESPN with play-by-play from Dave Flemming. He will be joined in the booth by analyst Brock Osweiler and on the field by sideline reporter Stormy Buonantony.

The Wildcats enter this week's important contest fresh off their first of two bye weeks this season, while Utah returns home following a road trip to Stillwater.

For more information on Saturday night's game, continue reading below.

Arizona Notes and Numbers

• The Arizona Wildcats travel to No. 10 Utah for their second road game of the 2024 season at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. ESPN will have the broadcast with Dave Flemming (Play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (Analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (Sideline) on the call.
• It is the 23rd visit to Utah for Arizona in program history, holding a 9-13 record in Salt Lake City, Utah in the series. The Wildcats open Big 12 Conference play against a familiar foe also playing their first season in the Big 12.
• Arizona trails the all-time series 20-26-2 dating back to 1924. The Wildcats won the most recent matchup 42-18 in 2023. That win snapped a six-game losing skid against the Utes dating back to 2016. It was the first win over Utah for Arizona since 2015 when the Wildcats defeated the Utes 37-30 in Tucson. Arizona’s last road win against Utah was on Nov. 22, 2014, a 42-10 rout as a part of a four-game winning streak over Utah.
• Arizona is led by six captains this season, three on offense and three on defense. QB Noah Fifita, OL Jonah Savaiinaea, OL Josh Baker, DB Treydan Stukes, LB Jacob Manu, and DB Gunner Maldonado.
• In the season-opening 61-39 win over New Mexico, Tetairoa McMillan became the first player in FBS history to have a game with 10-plus receptions, 300-plus receiving yards, 30.0-plus yards per reception, and 4-plus receiving TD (per OptaSTATS).
• McMillan set Arizona's single game record against UNM with 304 receiving yards, marking the second-most in a single game in Big 12 history.

By The Numbers…

CATS VS. UTES: The Arizona Wildcats travel to No. 10 Utah for their second road game of the 2024 season at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. ESPN will have the broadcast with Dave Flemming (Play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (Analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (Sideline) providing the commentary. It is the 23rd visit to Utah for Arizona in program history, holding a 9-14 record on the road in the series. The Wildcats open Big 12 Conference play against a familiar foe playing their first season in the Big 12. Arizona trails the all-time series 20-26-2 dating back to 1924. The Wildcats won the most recent matchup 42-18 in 2023. That win snapped a six-game losing skid against the Utes dating back to 2016. It was the first win over Utah for Arizona since 2015 when the Wildcats defeated the Utes 37-30 in Tucson. Arizona’s last road win against Utah was on Nov. 22, 2014, a 42-10 rout as a part of a four-game winning streak over Utah.

LAST TIME OUT: Avery Johnson threw two touchdown passes, Dylan Edwards returned a punt 71 yards for a score and No. 14 Kansas State beat No. 20 Arizona 31-7 on Friday night in a rare nonconference matchup of new Big 12 rivals. The loss ended Arizona’s nine-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Johnson had 156 yards passing and 110 yards rushing, and D.J. Giddens added 86 yards rushing and a score, as Kansas State (3-0) rebounded from a lackluster road with over Tulane with an emphatic victory over the desert Wildcats. Noah Fifita had 268 yards passing for Arizona (2-1) with an interception. Tetairoa McMillan had 11 catches for 138 yards, but the potential first-round NFL draft pick was unable to turn any of those grabs into a big play or touchdown. The schools agreed to the matchup before Arizona left the Pac-12 for the Big 12. And with neither having enough time to find a replacement opponent, Kansas State and Arizona kept the game but without it counting in the conference standings. The teams traded grinding, time-consuming touchdown drives to start the game, but otherwise the first 30 minutes was plagued by penalties, mental mistakes, and dumbfounding miscues from two teams trying to make a statement. Arizona failed to cover a poor punt that Edwards returned untouched for a touchdown. On the next drive, Fifita threw over the middle into double coverage and was picked off by Kansas State's Keenan Garber in the end zone. Johnson was sacked at the Arizona 19 with 24 seconds left in the first half. On the next play, the freshman needed only to step out of bounds to stop the clock and bring on the field-goal team, but he instead reversed field and ran the other way, allowing the clock to expire without the chance for an attempt. Kansas State still led 14-7 at the half, and the mistake didn't matter in the end. The fleet-footed Johnson began to sling it in the second half, leading his team on back-to-back TD drives. The first featured a 48-yard pass to Jayce Brown on third-and-12, setting up Johnson's scoring toss to Brayden Loftin. The next included a 21-yard throw to Loftin before Giddens plowed into the end zone to give Kansas State a 28-7 lead. Kansas State stuffed Arizona on fourth down a few minutes later, and merely had to run out the clock in the fourth quarter. Arizona might have fared better had it not repeatedly hurt itself with flags. It committed 30 yards worth of penalties on a single drive in the first half and finished with nine penalties for 74 yards in the game. Kansas State's defense had something to prove after allowing Tulane to throw for 342 yards and pile up 491 in last week's 34-27 comeback win. The Wildcats held Arizona to 324 yards of total offense.

MATCHUP HISTORY: Arizona trails the all-time series 20-26-2 dating back to 1924. It is the 23rd visit to Salt Lake City, Utah in Arizona football history, holding a 9-13 record on the road in the series. The Wildcats open Big 12 Conference play against a familiar foe playing their first season in the Big 12. The Wildcats won the most recent matchup 42-18 in 2023. That win snapped a six-game losing skid against the Utes dating back to 2016. It was the first win over Utah for Arizona since 2015 when the Wildcats defeated the Utes 37-30 in Tucson. Arizona’s last road win against Utah was on Nov. 22, 2014, a 42-10 rout as a part of a four-game winning streak over Utah.  The Wildcats opened the 2023 matchup against Utah with 21 unanswered points in the first quarter and never looked back on their way to a 42-18 victory at home. Arizona won its fourth straight game against ranked opponents at that time with the win over No. 16 Utah. The win gave Arizona an 8-3 record overall and a 6-2 Pac-12 record. It was the fifth of seven straight wins to cap the 2023 season.  In last year’s contest, Arizona had three different players throw a touchdown pass including, Noah Fifita, Jayden de Laura, and Tetairoa McMillan. It was the first time in the StatsPass (OptaStats) Era (1996-current) that Arizona has three different players throw touchdown passes in one game.  Former linebacker Anthony Ward blocked a Utah punt attempt in the first quarter and returned it for a touchdown. It was the first time an Arizona player returned a blocked punt for a score since Rhedi Short accomplished that feat, also against Utah, on Nov. 13, 2021. Linebacker Jacob Manu nabbed his first-career interception in the second quarter becoming the first Arizona linebacker since Anthony Pandy and Kenney Hebert both had interceptions in 2021.

THE TRE WAY: Arizona defensive lineman Tre Smith is tied for second nationally in hurries, getting after the quarterback 14 times so far through three games this season (Per PFF). Keldric Faulk (Auburn) is first nationally in hurries with 16. Smith joined the Wildcats prior to the 2024 season as a transfer from San Jose State. Smith has recorded 101 total tackles (48 solo, 53 ast) over 27 games. He has 10.5-career sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss combined between Arizona and San Jose State.

MAKING MANU: Linebacker Jacob Manu once again leads the Wildcats in tackles with 26 (13 solo, 13 ast) so far this season. He has 2.5 tackles for loss, one pass deflection, and one fumble recovery. Manu is approaching the 200-tackle plateau with 196 in his career (85 solo, 111 ast). He is tied for 17th in total tackles, sixth in average per game (8.7 tackles), tied for 14th in assisted tackles, and tied for 16th in solo tackles in the Big 12.

QUALI TAKES FLIGHT: RB Quali Conley recorded his first 100-plus yard rushing game with Arizona (112 vs. NAU, 9/7), and since he rushed for 155 yards against San Diego State on 11/18/23. Conley broke off a 58-yard rush on Arizona’s first drive of the game, marking his longest rush with the Wildcats and the second longest of his career (Longest: 68 yards vs. New Mexico, 10/14/23). Conley matched his career-high in receptions with five against NAU (9/7) (2x; last: vs. Air Force, 9/22/23).

HELLO BIG 12 RECORD BOOK: Against New Mexico in week one McMillan became the first player in FBS history to have a game with 10-plus receptions, 300-plus receiving yards, 30.0-plus yards per reception, and 4-plus receiving TD (per OptaSTATS). In Arizona’s first game as a member of the Big 12, McMillan added his name to the record books, recording the second-most receiving yards (304) in a single game in Big 12 history. His four touchdowns also tied for third most in a single game in Big 12 history.

THE X FACTOR: After making four touchdown grabs in Game 1 against New Mexico, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan is 6th in program history in career-receiving touchdowns (22), 6th in career-receiving yards in program history (2,557). McMillan pulled in the second-most receiving yards in a single-season in program history in 2023 (1,402). He has now recorded the most receiving yards in a single game (304) and the second-most receiving yards in a single game in program history in 2023 (266; at ASU, Nov. 25, 2023). Currently, McMillan is tied for 10th in FBS with four touchdown grabs.

EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE: The Wildcats recorded 627 yards of total offense in the season-opening win over New Mexico on Aug. 31. It marked the most since recording 673 (178 rush, 495 pass) against Colorado in 2022. The offensive output tied for 8th in program history (627; California, Sept. 20, 2014).

TRENDING UPWARD: Quarterback Noah Fifita continues to climb up the Arizona passing record charts with another outstanding performance to open the 2024 season, throwing for 422 yards and four touchdowns. In 15 of 18 games played over his career, Fifita has finished with a completion percentage above 60%.  He has never thrown more than one interception in any single game in his collegiate career (18 games; 451 pass attempts). Fifita’s career-completion percentage is 69.4% (313-451) for 3,860 yards and 31 touchdowns.

GOLDEN BOOT: Tyler Loop has led the program in multiple kicking records, first the most consecutive extra-points made (113) and he is chasing down the top-career field goal percentage (85.5%, 53 of 62) in program history. Loop is chasing the record for the most consecutive games with a made field goal (23) in program history. He is fourth in career-scoring in program history (271; 2022-present). Loop is currently 14th in career-field goal percentage. (85.5%) in college football history, which is second among active kickers in FBS (1st; Jonah Dalmas, 88.2% - Boise State), ahead of last year’s Lou Groza Award winner Graham Nelson (Alabama, 84.5%). Loop was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2023. He booted a career-long 54-yarder against New Mexico on Aug. 31. He also made two-of-three field goal attempts against NAU, booting a long of 48 yards against the Lumberjacks. Arizona’s all-time leading scorer, Max Zendejas, was the honorary captain prior to the NAU game.

MILESTONE MEN: In the loss at Kansas State, Sam Olson made his first reception as a Wildcat, a 5-yard gain in the first quarter. Tyler Loop booted a career-long 53-yard punt and pinned Kansas State inside the 20-yard-line three times in his first action as a punter since 2020. Linebacker Taye Brown and DB Owen Goss logged the first sacks of their career against Kansas State.

BIG 12 AND RAYCOM SPORTS PARTNERSHIP: On Sept. 20, the Big 12 Conference and Raycom Sports launched Big 12 Studios, a new programming and content venture designed to expand and enhance the league’s storytelling efforts. Big 12 Studios will create and deliver original programming and content to fans as a FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television) channel across multiple major platforms, including planned launches on leading platforms early this Fall that will be announced soon, as well as major VOD platforms such as YouTube. Select programming from Big 12 Studios will also air across local TV stations throughout multiple Big 12 Conference markets, which include Gray Media’s Arizona’s Family Sports Network in Phoenix and Tucson, KSMO in Kansas City, and KMYL in Lubbock, Texas. Big 12 Studios will feature a variety of programming, such as in-game footage, highlights from recent contests, replays of historic Big 12 Conference showdowns, and in-depth expert analysis. Original content will include profiles of current and former Big 12 Conference student-athletes, highlighting their stories on and off the field. Big 12 Studios will also feature a weekly show, Inside the 12, which will be distributed on air in addition to the FAST channel and VOD platforms such as YouTube. Hosted by Pete Sousa and Madison Hock, this weekly preview show kicks off this fall, focusing on showcasing the upcoming weekend’s full slate of Big 12 football games. Following football season, Inside the 12 will evolve to spotlight and preview additional Big 12 sports. “We are thrilled to partner with Raycom Sports to launch the league’s first-ever 24/7 channel,” said Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. “Storytelling is at the forefront of everything we do and is a key part of our narrative and brand building efforts. Through Big 12 Studios, we have the capability to showcase our brand and deliver original programming to fans across the country. We’re grateful for the opportunity to build new platforms with the Big 12 Conference” said Hunter Nickell, Chief Executive Officer of Raycom Sports.  “It’s an exciting new chapter for Raycom Sports to bring Big 12 schools, athletes, and stories to their fans wherever they want it.” The partnership brings Raycom Sports’ 45+ year history in producing and syndicating college sports programming for television, digital and social media platforms together with the Big 12’s powerful brands and championship history. Raycom Sports’ and the Big 12 Conference’s relationship spans back to the 1980s, when Raycom produced games for the Conference during its days as the Big Eight. Raycom Sports is owned by Gray Media, which is the largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets in the United States. Gray serves 113 television markets that collectively reach 36 percent of US television households.

POLYNESIAN PIPELINE: Arizona continues to build its program with some of the top Polynesian College Football Players in the nation on its roster. The Wildcats had seven players selected to the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award watch list including quarterback Noah Fifita, defensive lineman Keanu Mailoto, linebacker Jacob Manu, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea, defensive lineman Stanley Ta’ufo’ou, and defensive lineman Ta’ita’I Uiagalelei. The seven players included in this watch list is second in the nation behind only BYU in 2024. It also marked the most for the Wildcats since the inception of the award preseason watch list. Fifita joined the college watch list for the first time. Savaiinaea makes his second straight appearance on the list. McMillan advanced to the finals of the 2023 award consideration after being named to the preseason list. Mailoto, Manu, Ta’ufo’ou, and Uiagalelei made their first appearance as Wildcats on this award watch list.

WELCOME TO THE BIG 12: The Arizona Wildcats embark on a new journey in a new conference after joining the Big 12 in Aug. 2024. The Wildcats end an era of Pac-10/12 that began in 1978 and finished with a 277-256-7 record, including a 171-202-6 Conference record over 45 years in the conference. The legendary Dick Tomey led the Wildcats through 13 years of the Pac-10/12 Conference and recorded the most wins of any head coach in program history (95).

NEW ERA: Arizona’s new Head Coach Brent Brennan takes the helm of the Wildcats after seven seasons as the Head Coach of San Jose State. Brennan is an experienced leader in college football who enjoyed two stints coaching under legendary Arizona head coach Dick Tomey, the winningest coach in program history. The San José native first learned under Tomey with the Wildcats as a graduate assistant in 2000, and again from 2005-09 at SJSU as an assistant coach. The ties between Brennan and the University of Arizona run deep, with Brent’s brother Bradley playing five years as a wide out in Tucson under Tomey, and Brent’s wife Courtney being an alumna of the University.  Among a multitude of accomplishments at San José State, Brennan became the first head coach in SJSU history to lead the Spartans to three bowl games in a four-year span. He also steered SJSU to back-to-back winning seasons in 2022 and 2023, marking the first time it had been accomplished by the Spartans since the 1991-92 campaigns.

WILDCATS IN THE NFL: Arizona currently has 11 players on NFL rosters heading into the 2024 season. Former offensive lineman Jordan Morgan was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round (25th overall) following the 2023 season. He was the first first-round selection since Antoine Cason was picked 27th overall in 2008. He joined a list that includes Cason (2008; 27th, San Diego), Trung Canidate (2000; 31st, St. Louis), Chris McAlister (1999; 10th, Baltimore), John Fina (1992; 27th, Buffalo), Chris Singleton (1990; 8th, New England), Anthony Smith (1990; 11th, Oakland), Rickey Hunley (1984; 7th, Cincinnati), Mike Dawson (1976; 22nd, Arizona), Bill Lueck (1968; 26, Green Bay), and Walt Nelson (1939; 10th, New York Giants) to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Wide receiver Jacob Cowing was picked in the fourth round (135th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers and became the highest wide receiver selected since Mike Thomas in 2009 (4th Rd, 107 overall by Jacksonville) and the first wide receiver since Juron Criner (5th Rd, 168th overall by Oakland) in 2012. Tight End Tanner McLachlan was the third Wildcat selected in the 2024 NFL Draft when the Cincinnati Bengals picked him the 6th round (194 overall). The three draft picks matched the most selected in one draft since 2014 when Ka’Deem Carey (4th Rd, 117 overall), Shaquille Richardson (5th Rd, 157th overall), and Marquis Flowers (6th Rd, 212 overall) were picked in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Current Wildcats on NFL Rosters (as of 9/2/24)

*Practice Squad