TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona Football running back Ismail Mahdi and the Wildcats offensive line both earned recognition with Big 12 Conference weekly awards on Monday morning. Mahdi was selected as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, while the Arizona offensive front five were tabbed as the Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week.

For Mahdi, it marks the first conference weekly award of his career, while the Wildcats offensive line pulled in their first selection in the brand new award that began this season.

Mahdi, a senior in his first season with Arizona, logged one of the best rushing performances in the nation through the first month of play. His 189 rushing yards against Kansas State are the most recorded in a game against a Power Four opponent this season and the second-most of his career. Additionally, Mahdi tallied 32 receiving yards to give him 221 all-puurpose yards in the game, leading to him out-gaining the entire Kansas State offense, 221-193.

The Arizona offensive line paved the way for Mahdi, as well as a career-best rushing performance from quarterback Noah Fifita, in the Wildcats victory over Kansas State. In addition to Arizona's 234-yard rushing performance, the Wildcats front five surrendered just four tackles for loss, tied for their fewest allowed to a Power Four opponent since the beginning of the 2024 season. Highlighting the rushing performances behind the line were Mahdi's 189-yard outburst and Fifita's two rushing scores, making him the first Arizona QB with multiple scores on the ground since 2017.

The Wildcats enjoy a bye this week before returning to action on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Iowa State to open Big 12 Conference play. Tickets to all four of Arizona's remaining home games are available for purchase and can be secured HERE.