Wildcats Host Cowboys in Saturday Afternoon Showdown

TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona Wildcats (3-1, 0-1) are back in Tucson to host a Saturday afternoon contest against the Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-3, 0-1) at Arizona Stadium. Kickoff on TNT and truTV is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. MST.

The nationally televised contest will feature play-by-play from J.B. Long. Saturday's game will also be broadcast live on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM with play-by-play from Brian Jeffries.

The Wildcats are coming off a road contest at Iowa State and look to get back in the win column, while the Cowboys have dropped three straight after winning their season opener.

Saturday's game will be Hispanic Heritage day at Arizona Stadium, complete with a mariachi and folklorico performace at halftime in tandem with the Pride of Arizona.

Tickets for Saturday's game are available for purchase now and can be secured here.

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

Arizona Notes & Numbers

• The Arizona Wildcats return home to Arizona Stadium for a matchup against the Oklahoma State Cowboys this Saturday afternoon.
• Saturday’s game will be nationally televised on TNT, with a simulcast available on both truTV and HBO Max. J.B. Long (PxP), Mike Golic Jr. (analyst), and Jared Greenberg (reporter) will be on the call.
• The game will also be broadcast live on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM with play-by-play from Brian Jeffries.
• Arizona and Oklahoma State have faced off nine times previously, with games dating back to 1931 and the Cowboys holding a narrow 5-4 edge in the all-time series.
• In the most recent matchup between the two programs in September 2012, Arizona earned a 59-38 victory in Tucson. It was the most points the Wildcats have scored against the Cowboys. Oklahoma State’s only road win in Tucson was a 13-6 decision in November 1932.
• Arizona is just one of two programs in the entire nation who have yet to allow a passing touchdown, along with Nebraska. The Wildcats also rank 24th nationally in fewest passing yards allowed (166.8 ypg) and second in team pass efficiency defense (88.55).
• 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 12 150-yard rushing games against a Power Four opponent this year.
• The Wildcats defense is averaging 8.0 tackles for loss per game this season, the ninth best mark in the nation. 22 different Arizona players have logged at least 0.5 TFL this year, with seven boasting two or more TFL.

SOME GAME THEMES: The Arizona Wildcats (3-1, 0-1) return home for a crucial Big 12 Conference matchup against the Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-3, 0-1) this Saturday afternoon at Arizona Stadium…Saturday’s matchup is set to kick at 12 noon in Tucson, marking the earliest date on the calendar that the Wildcats have hosted an afternoon game at Arizona Stadium since playing Washington State on Sept. 25, 2004 at 12:30 p.m. MST…Saturday’s game will be nationally televised on TNT with a simulcast available to view on both truTV and HBO Max; the game will feature play-by-play from J.B. Long who will be joined by Mike Golic Jr. (analyst) and Jared Greenberg (reporter)…The game will also be broadcast live on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM with play-by-play from the Voice of the Wildcats, Brian Jeffries.

DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN: Arizona faces Oklahoma State this week in what will be their fourth 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 Iowa State, just as it played out this season. During the 1966 State Streak, Arizona posted a record of 2-2; this season, the 2025 Wildcats have already earned two victories with one game remaining in their State Streak.

LAST TIME OUT: The Wildcats picked up their first loss of the season last weekend in Ames, falling 39-14 to the Iowa State Cyclones in their Big 12 Conference opener. Despite the loss, several Arizona players turned in impressive performances, including an 85-yard rushing performance by RB Ismail Mahdi, a 67-yard/1 TD receiving effort from WR Kris Hutson, a two-sack outburst from LB Riley Wilson, and more. Additional highlights from last week’s game include…

Notable Postgame Notes

• The Wildcats defense tallied seven tackles for loss in Ames, the most surrendered by Iowa State this season. The last team to notch 7+ TFL against Iowa State was Utah in 2024.
• As a unit, the Arizona defense limited Iowa State to an average of just 2.4 yards per rush attempt, the lowest mark for the Cyclones offense since averaging 0.0 against Memphis in 2023.
• Arizona rushed for 107 yards on Saturday night and has now tallied 100+ yards on the ground in every game this season. This marks the first time the Wildcats have posted four 100-yard performances in their first four games of the season since the 2018 campaign.
• The Wildcats drew just two penalties on Saturday night, their fewest since being tagged for only two against Arizona State in the 2024 season finale.
• DB Treydan Stukes hauled in his first interception of the year in Ames; it was the sixth of the season for Arizona, who only had eight through 12 games in 2024.

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 31 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 6,920 career passing yards and 52 career passing touchdowns, marks that ranks fifth and fourth in program history, respectively. Fifita is three yards shy of moving past Anu Solomon (2014–16) for fourth all-time, while also standing five passing touchdowns 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.

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 (17th), passing defense (24th), and rushing defense (28th). The Arizona defense has also been busy in the turnover department, pulling in nine turnovers across the first four games of the season after logging only 16 across 12 games last season. The Wildcats nine turnovers (7th) and +2.0 turnover margin (8th) are both among the best marks in the nation among all 134 FBS programs.

PICK CITY: Arizona’s six interceptions this season are the ninth most in the nation. The Wildcats are currently on pace for 18 interceptions this season, which would be the most for the program since pulling in 19 during the 2017 season. The Wildcats defense is spearheaded by Defensive Coordinator Danny Gonzales, who has made led multiple INT-hungry defenses during his career. From 2011–16 while he served as the safeties coach at San Diego State, the Aztecs pulled in 100 interceptions, the third most in the country during that span. Across 12 games last year the Wildcats pulled in just eight interceptions. Six different players have combined to pull in Arizona’s six picks: DBs Genesis Smith, Treydan Stukes, Jay’Vion Cole, Gavin Hunter, and Jack Luttrell, alongside LB Taye Brown.

NO FLY ZONE: The Wildcats defensive secondary has led the charge for one of the best pass defenses in the nation through the first five weeks of the season. Arizona is one of only two FBS programs in the country who have yet to allow a passing touchdown, along with Nebraska. Arizona also ranks among the national leaders in fewest passing yards allowed (24th, 166.8 ypg) and team passing efficiency defense (2nd, 88.55). According to Pro Football Focus, the Wildcats defense has logged a coverage grade of 80 or better in three of four games this season.

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 494 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 4,046 all-purpose yards (4th), 92.1 rush yards per game (3rd), and 139.52 all-purpose yards per game (2nd) during his FBS career.

ATHLETICS FACILITIES INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES: The Arizona Board of Regents last week approved a $50 million facilities project to address deferred maintenance and infrastructure upgrades at Arizona Stadium and McKale Center. The first step in the process will be a feasibility study that will commence later this fall and will engage fans, alumni and campus partners. Specific projects, timelines and costs will be determined once the study is completed. "Our fans are the heartbeat of Arizona Athletics," said Desireé Reed-Francois, R. Ken Coit Director of Athletics. "This investment addresses critical upgrades, and the feasibility study will guide us in enhancing our facilities to elevate comfort, convenience, and atmosphere — creating a truly memorable game day for every Wildcat." Projects will include lighting, seating, sound, restrooms, and game day operations to keep the facilities reliable, modern, and welcoming while elevating the overall experience for Wildcat fans and guests. "Our student-athletes bring great pride to our community and the fans that support them," said U of A President Suresh Garimella. "Our fans deserve facilities that reflect their level of support, and these upgrades will ensure our infrastructure remains sound and our venues remain places of excitement and connection for the entire community. I look forward to the outcomes of the feasibility study and the path we will chart for future improvements that elevate the game day experience and showcase the vibrancy of Arizona Athletics." Arizona Stadium and McKale Center are important assets to the U of A, the City of Tucson and the State of Arizona as a whole, helping Arizona Athletics contribute $266 million in annual economic benefit. By continuing to invest in these facilities, the university demonstrates its continued commitment to being a leader in supporting the Arizona community and those who support the school.

STATE 48: The Wildcats have made in-state recruiting a priority — keeping top talent at home is a crucial piece of the program's success historically and will continue to be emphasized under Head Coach Brent Brennan. Of the 110 players on the Wildcats 2025 roster, 29 of them hail from hometowns in the 48th state in our union; those Arizona players account for over a quarter (26.4%) of the roster. Included in that bunch are four players who call Tucson home — they are highlighted in the table below.

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 09/28/25)

• 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