Wildcats Head to Ames for Ranked Test at No. 14 Iowa State

TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona Wildcats (3-0, 0-0) open up Big 12 Conference play this weekend with a road test against the No. 14 ranked Iowa State Cyclones (4-0, 1-0). Kickoff on Saturday is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. MST with a national television broadcast on ESPN.

Saturday's broadcast on ESPN will feature play-by-play from Dave Flemming, who will be joined by analyst Brock Osweiler and reporter Stormy Buonantony. The game will also be broadcast live on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM featuring play-by-play from Brian Jeffries.

The Wildcats, who sit at 3-0 for the first time in a decade, are coming off a bye entering the matchup in Ames. Iowa State, also undefeated and coming off a bye, are tied atop the conference standings at 1-0.

Arizona's defense has led the charge for the Wildcats through the first three games, and ranks among the top 20 teams in the nation in nearly every defensive metric.

For more news and notes on Saturday's game, continue below.

Arizona Notes & Numbers

• The Arizona Wildcats travel to Ames to open their Big 12 Conference schedule with a matchup against the No. 14 Iowa State Cyclones this Saturday afternoon.
• Saturday's game will be nationally televised on ESPN with Dave Flemming (PxP), Brock Osweiler (Analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (Reporter) on the call. The game will also be broadcast live on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM with play-by-play from Brian Jeffries.
• Arizona and Iowa State have faced off six times previously, with games dating back to 1948 and the Wildcats leading the all-time series over the Cyclones, 4-1-1.
• In the most recent matchup between the two programs, Arizona took home a 21-12 victory over Iowa State in Ames on Sept. 21, 1968. It was the only game of the series played in Ames.
• The Wildcats defense has led the charge for Arizona this season, and currently ranks among the top 10 units in the nation in total defense (7th), scoring defense (6th), team pass efficiency defense (1st), third and fourth down conversion percentage defense (8th & 8th), and first down defense (9th).
• Running back Ismail Mahdi's 189 rushing yards against Kansas State still stand as the most gained on the ground against a Power Four opponent this season. His performance is one of just nine 150-yard rushing games against a Power Four opponent this year.
• The Wildcats coaching staff was shaken up during the offseason, highlighted by new faces at all three coordinator positions. Seth Doege now serves as Offensive Coordinator / QB Coach, Danny Gonzales now serves as Defensive Coordinator, and Craig Naivar now serves as Special Teams Coordinator.

SOME GAME THEMES: The Arizona Wildcats head east for their first Big 12 Conference matchup of the season this Saturday afternoon, a battle against the No. 14 ranked Iowa State Cyclones...Saturday's game will be nationally televised on ESPN with Dave Fleming (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (reporter) on the call...The game will also be broadcast live on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM with play-by-play from the Voice of the Wildcats, Brian Jeffries...Arizona and Iowa State have faced off six times previously, with games dating back to 1948 and the Wildcats leading the all-time series over the Cyclones, 4-1-1...In the most recent matchup between the two programs, Arizona took home a 21-12 victory over Iowa State in Ames on Sept. 21, 1968; it was the only game of the series played in Ames...Iowa State enters this weekend's matchup ranked No. 14 in the AP Top 25, making them the first ranked opponent for Arizona this season...The Wildcats are 54-134-1 (.288) all-time against the AP Top 25, including a mark of 1-3 last season...Arizona is 17-65-1 (.211) all-time on the road against the AP Top 25; their most recent victory over a ranked opponent was on the road, a 23-10 win over No. 10 Utah last season.

DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN: Arizona faces Iowa State this week in what will be their third of four consecutive games against a "______ State" opponent. The last time the Wildcats played four straight "______ State" opponents in a single season was in 1966, when their third game of the streak was against none other than Iowa State. During the 1966 State Streak, Arizona posted a record of 2-2; this season, the 2025 Wildcats have already earned two victories halfway through their State Streak.

BEFORE THE BYE: The Wildcats rode yet another strong defensive performance and an explosive outing from running back Ismail Mahdi to a 23-17 non-conference victory over Kansas State before the bye week. With the win, Arizona improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2015. Additional highlights from last week's game include...

Notable Postgame Notes

• Mahdi’s 189 rushing yards against Kansas State were the most in a game versus a Power Four program this season through Week Four (courtesy of the Big 12 Conference and Opta Stats).
• QB Noah Fifita logged multiple rushing touchdowns in a game for the first time in his career. He is the first Arizona QB with two rushing scores in a game since Khalil Tate did it three times in 2017.
• The Arizona defense held Kansas State to just 88 yards passing after holding Weber State to 68 last week, marking the first time holding back-to-back opponents in the same season under 100 yards through the air since Georgia Tech (65) and Illinois (75) in 1995.
• The Arizona defense tallied nine tackles for loss on Friday night, their most TFL against a Power Four opponent since piling up 11 at Stanford in 2023.

Mahdi, Offensive Line Earn Big 12 Weekly Honors: Arizona Football running back Ismail Mahdi and the Wildcats offensive line both earned recognition with Big 12 Conference weekly awards last week. 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.

NOAH'S ARC: Redshirt junior quarterback Noah Fifita returns under center to lead the Wildcats offense in 2025. The California native has logged three-plus seasons and 30 games with the Wildcats since his true freshman campaign in 2022. Over that span he has etched his name into the Arizona record books and looks to cement his legacy even further this season. Fifita currently sports 6,667 career passing yards and 50 career passing touchdowns, marks that ranks fifth and fourth in program history, respectively. Fifita is 256 yards shy of moving past Anu Solomon (2014–16) for fourth all-time, while also standing seven passing touchdown shy of a tie for third. The fourth-year signal caller was selected to a trio of watch lists this preseason, earning national recognition from the Maxwell Award, the Polynesian Player of the Year Award, and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

PICK CITY: Arizona’s five interceptions this season are the 13th most in the nation. Across 12 games last year the Wildcats pulled in just eight interceptions. Five different players have combined to pull in Arizona’s five picks: DBs Genesis Smith, Jay’Vion Cole, Gavin Hunter, and Jack Luttrell, alongside LB Taye Brown.

HIT SOMEONE: Early returns on Defensive Coordinator Danny Gonzales’ unit have been promising, with the Wildcats ranking among the top 30 teams in the nation in total defense, passing defense, and rushing defense. The Arizona defense has also been busy in the turnover department, pulling in eight turnovers across the first three games of the season after logging only 16 across 12 games last season. The Wildcats eight turnovers (7th) and +2.0 turnover margin (1st) are both among the best marks in the nation among all 134 FBS programs.

GONE PORTALIN’: According to research done by ESPN’s Max Olson, the Wildcats are ranked fourth among Power Four programs and second in the Big 12 Conference in experience added via the transfer portal. Arizona added 27 transfers that brought with them 403 starts and 25,467 snaps of Division I experience.

MAHDI MOTION: Arizona running back Ismail Mahdi has been a key piece of the Wildcats offense over the first three games, tallying 319 all-purpose yards and a pair of touchdowns. Prior to his time with the Wildcats, Mahdi spent two years at Texas State and one season at FCS Houston Christian. The Murphy, Texas native currently boasts one of the most productive careers in the nation: Mahdi's ranks among the top five active career leaders with 3,871 all-purpose yards (4th), 92.3 rush yards per game (3rd), and 138.25 all-purpose yards per game (2nd) during his FBS career.

BALANCED ATTACK: Arizona's offensive attack against Weber State came from all directions, with three signal callers combining to throw for 406 yards to 12 different pass catchers and seven different rushers combining for 150 yards. It marked just the second time since 1996 that Arizona posted 400+ yards through the air and 150+ yards on the ground in the same game, per Opta Stats; Arizona is 4-2 in those games.

WILDCATS IN THE NFL: The Arizona Wildcats are once again well represented in the NFL, with 10 players currently sprinkled throughout league rosters. Highlighting the group of former Wildcats are a pair of first round picks in Tetairoa McMillan (2025) and Jordan Morgan (2024). With his selection earlier this year, McMillan became the 12th Arizona player to earn a first round NFL Draft pick. He joined a list that includes Morgan (2024; 25th, Green Bay), Antoine 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). McMillan was the first of four Wildcats selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, marking the most Arizona picks since 2008.

Current Wildcats on NFL Rosters (as of 09/21/25)

• Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Miami Dolphins
• Nick Folk, K, New York Jets
• Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders
• Tyler Loop, K, Baltimore Ravens
• Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, LB, New York Giants
• Roy Lopez, DT, Detroit Lions
• Jordan Morgan, OT, Green Bay Packers
• Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers
• Jacob Cowing^, WR, San Francisco 49ers
• Gary Brightwell*, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

*Practice Squad    ^Reserve/Injured