By Avnish Singh 
Arizona’s trip to Manhattan, Kansas, turned into a nightmare as the Wildcats faced a harsh reality in a non-conference showdown that had all the makings of a Big 12 rivalry. Despite an optimistic start, Arizona’s 31-7 loss to No. 14 Kansas State on Friday night saw their nine-game win streak come to a screeching halt.
A Bright Start for Arizona Turns Bleak
Arizona came out strong, opening with a commanding 14-play, 73-yard drive, capped off by running back Quali Conley’s fourth touchdown of the season. That drive, which chewed up 7 minutes and 34 seconds of the clock, was balanced, showcasing both the run and pass. Tetairoa McMillan, who had been quiet in the previous week, showed up big early, collecting more yards on the first drive than in the entire Northern Arizona game.
However, that was where the Arizona success story ended.
Kansas State answered back with their own 14-play, 73-yard drive to tie the game, then quickly seized momentum. Dylan Edwards’ 71-yard punt return for a touchdown was the backbreaker. From there, Arizona never recovered. Kansas State’s special teams made the big play that Arizona’s lacked, putting K-State ahead 14-7, and it was a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
A Tale of Missed Opportunities
Noah Fifita, Arizona’s signal-caller, had a night he’ll want to forget. Despite putting up 268 yards on 26-of-42 passing, his one glaring mistake was an interception in the end zone that killed what could have been a crucial scoring drive. His decision-making was under fire, especially on that interception, where he tossed a lazy pass into double coverage, letting Kansas State’s Keenan Garber snag it easily.
On top of that, Arizona was their own worst enemy. Penalties plagued the Wildcats. Seven penalties for 59 yards in the second quarter alone buried any chances for a first-half comeback. Those mental errors haunted Arizona throughout, gifting Kansas State key opportunities to pull away.
By halftime, Arizona was lucky to only be down 14-7, as Kansas State’s own mismanagement allowed the clock to run out on a potential scoring drive. Arizona fans may have been hopeful going into the second half, but those hopes were quickly dashed.
Kansas State Dominates the Third Quarter
If Arizona felt any hope heading into the second half, it was swiftly extinguished. Kansas State came out firing on all cylinders, scoring on their first three drives of the second half to turn a tight game into a rout. Quarterback Avery Johnson played lights out, not only through the air but with his legs, torching Arizona’s defense for 110 rushing yards and adding 156 through the air with two touchdowns.
Arizona’s defense, which had been stout through two games, was gashed by Kansas State’s balanced attack. The Wildcats from Tucson simply had no answers for Johnson’s dual-threat ability or the three-headed rushing monster of D.J. Giddens, Dylan Edwards, and Johnson.
By the time Kansas State extended their lead to 31-7, it was clear Arizona wasn’t going to mount any sort of comeback. The second half was all Kansas State, as they outgained Arizona 149 to 40 in the third quarter alone, dominating both sides of the ball and putting the game out of reach.
McMillan Shines, But Not Enough
Tetairoa McMillan was the lone bright spot for Arizona. After a lackluster performance last week, McMillan bounced back in a big way with 11 receptions for 138 yards. However, despite his big day, none of those catches turned into the game-changing plays Arizona desperately needed. McMillan’s effort was commendable, but the Wildcats couldn’t capitalize on his performance when it mattered most.
Arizona’s inability to convert on key downs told the whole story. After going 0-for-10 on third down last week, they improved slightly to 5-of-14 this week but continued to struggle on fourth down, going 1-for-4.
Penalties and Turnovers Doom Arizona
The Wildcats’ persistent penalty problem continued, as they racked up 74 yards on nine infractions. This trend has been a thorn in their side through three games, with 28 penalties for 169 yards. These avoidable mistakes stifled any momentum Arizona could muster and allowed Kansas State to control the tempo of the game.
Arizona’s offensive drives after their opening touchdown were brutal: punt, interception, punt, punt, turnover on downs — rinse and repeat. The Wildcats simply couldn’t sustain drives or make adjustments when it mattered, resulting in an ugly offensive outing.
Kansas State Proves a Point
Kansas State came into this game looking to make a statement, and boy did they deliver. Coming off a shaky win over Tulane where they gave up 342 passing yards, the Wildcats locked down Arizona, holding them to just 324 total yards of offense. The defense stepped up in a big way, showing they had learned their lesson from last week.
For Kansas State, the story of the game was their explosive quarterback Avery Johnson, who dazzled with both his legs and arm, proving to be the X-factor in this matchup. Johnson’s ability to stretch the field and make big plays when it counted was the difference, as Arizona’s defense simply had no answers.
What’s Next for Arizona?
Arizona (2-1) now enters a much-needed bye week before heading to Salt Lake City to face the 12th-ranked Utah Utes in their first true Big 12 game. The Wildcats need to clean up their act — particularly their penalties and third-down efficiency — if they want to hang with one of the nation’s best teams in a hostile environment.
Kansas State, meanwhile, moves to 3-0 and looks like a team ready to challenge for a Big 12 title.
This game was a wake-up call for Arizona. After two impressive wins to start the season, Kansas State exposed their weaknesses in a big way. If the Wildcats want to make noise in the Big 12 this year, they’ll need to regroup during the bye week and come out with a sharper, more disciplined game against Utah.
