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Arizona falls to TCU 49-28, Wildcats out of bowl contention in Brent Brennan’s 1st season

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Arizona falls to TCU 49-28, Wildcats out of bowl contention in Brent Brennan’s 1st season


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FORT WORTH, Texas — When Arizona trekked to Texas last year, the Wildcats celebrated a come-from-behind victory in the Alamo Bowl to cap a historic season.

The only celebratory moment in Arizona’s 49-28 loss to TCU at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Saturday was UA star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan setting the program’s all-time receiving yards record. 

Arizona’s setback officially puts the Wildcats out of bowl contention. Arizona (4-7) won’t participate in the postseason for the sixth time in seven seasons. Brent Brennan is the third straight Arizona head coach to miss out on a bowl game in his first season at the helm. 

Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita’s pass attempt to McMillan running an out route was intercepted on the first play from scrimmage on Saturday. TCU running back Trent Battle scored a 4-yard rushing touchdown to give the Horned Frogs a 7-0 lead; he scored again on TCU’s opening drive of the second half. 

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TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, the Big 12’s leading passer, was pressured by UA defensive end Lance Keneley and threw an interception on the Horned Frogs’ second drive. Arizona free safety Jack Luttrell intercepted the pass for his third pick of the season, which tied sophomore Genesis Smith for a team-high this season. 

Despite the first-quarter interception, the Wildcats failed to reach TCU territory on the first three drives and fell behind 14-0.

Arizona clawed its way back to a one-possession deficit after Fifita connected with tight end Sam Olson, who ran a seam route, for a 51-yard gain to the red zone. UA redshirt sophomore wide receiver Chris Hunter completed the drive with a 17-yard touchdown catch, stretching out his body and tapping his toes to stay in bounds. Since becoming a starter last month, Hunter has emerged as the Wildcats second-best pass-catcher behind McMillan. 

Arizona’s dime defense used a similar tactic it used last week against Houston,  showing blitz with multiple defensive backs in the box and two defensive linemen in a two-point stance. The Wildcats either pressured Hoover or dropped back in coverage against TCU’s high-powered passing attack. Arizona forced back-to-back three-and-out possessions, but failed to convert TCU’s empty possessions into touchdowns. Arizona kicker Tyler Loop made a 53-yard and 43-yard field goal and trimmed the deficit 14-13.

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With a chance for more momentum just before halftime, TCU converted on three third-down plays, including a third-and-18 and third-and-25. The Horned Frogs also had an intentional grounding that knocked them out of field goal range, but Hoover’s 24-yard pass to wide receiver JP Richardson set up TCU receiver-converted-running back Savion Williams for a 20-yard touchdown run to take a 21-13 lead. 

Williams’ touchdown was the first of a five-touchdown streak for TCU. Arizona’s only offensive touchdown of the second half was Hunter’s goal-line catch in the back of the end zone. Hunter had eight catches for 45 yards. Third-year defensive end Sterling Lane II returned a fumble 68 yards with a minute left. 

McMillan’s 8-yard catch with just under 10 minutes left in the game officially put him as Arizona’s all-time leading receiver with 3,335 yards. McMillan passed current UA wide receivers coach Bobby Wade for the record.  

Arizona will now face red-hot in-state rival Arizona State for the Territorial Cup. The Wildcats have won the last two Territorial Cups. 

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Extra points:

  • Saturday was TCU’s first win over Arizona in Fort Worth. The Wildcats beat the Horned Frogs Fort Worth in 1999.
  • Arizona had 38 net rushing yards on Saturday. TCU, ranked near the bottom of the Big 12 in rushing defense, gave up an average of 190.1 rushing yards in the three games preceding Saturday. 
  • Second-year defensive lineman Julian Savaiinaea, the younger brother of Arizona star offensive tackle Jonah Savaiinaea, recorded his first-career sack at the UA on Saturday. Jonah Savaiinaea limped off the field in the fourth quarter.
  • Arizona cornerback Emmanuel Karnley was ejected in the fourth quarter for spitting at a TCU player. Karnley will be suspended for the first half of the Territorial Cup game.  
  • Arizona senior nose tackle Chubba Ma’ae, who has been out most of the season with a leg injury, participated in pregame warmups but sat out. Ma’ae can play in the Territorial Cup game on Saturday and medically redshirt to preserve another year of eligibility. 
  • Arizona safety Gunner Maldonado, who is out with a season-ending leg injury, was one of the captains for the pregame coin toss. Maldonado was the Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP last season. 



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San Jose State transfer OL Nate Hale committed to Arizona and broke down his decision

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San Jose State transfer OL Nate Hale committed to Arizona and broke down his decision


After taking official visits to UCLA and Arizona over the last week, San Jose State offensive line transfer Nate Hale is headed to Tuscon to play for the Wildcats.

Hale said his familiarity with the Wildcat staff, who initially recruited him to San Jose State played a big role.

“UCLA was great and they’re definitely building something there but I committed to Arizona on my trip,” Hale said. “A lot of the staff there is the same staff that was at San Jose State my freshman year and it was great to see so many familiar faces.

“I love coach B (Brent Brennan), he was one of the first coaches to offer me out of high school. I love his energy, authenticity and his belief in me and I can’t wait to play for him and go block for Noah (Fifita).”

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UA OL coach Josh Oglesby played a big tole in his decision as well.

“It’s always impossible to say no to coach O,” Hale said. “I’m so excited to play for him again and I ahve a great connection with their OC Seth Doege as well.

“It was a tough decision but me and my family talked and prayed about it and we felt that Arizona was the best all around fit for me.”

Hale is a player we saw a lot of out of high school where he prepped for state power Orange Lutheran (Calif.). He signed with the Spartans as part of the class of 2023 and started 10 games as a right tackle this past season.

“I’m going to stay at tackle at Arizona as well,” Hale said. “They said they want me to come in to compete and contribute immediately.

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“That was my first time in Tucson and I loved the campus and awesome facilities. I know I can develop on and off the field so I’m really excited about my decision.”

Hale will have two years of eligibility left and has the game experience and all around skill set to be a potential plug and play tackle and compete for a starting spot right away.



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Arizona State Adds Mid-Season Game Changer: Euro Juniors Champion Albane Cachot

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Arizona State Adds Mid-Season Game Changer: Euro Juniors Champion Albane Cachot


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18-year-old Albane Cachot from Toulouse, France, has joined the Arizona State University women’s swimming and diving team mid-season. The Dauphins Toulouse OEC (the same club that produced Léon Marchand) product wasted no time adapting to short-course yards, winning the 50/100/200 free events in her first meet at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.

Cachot made a name for herself in 2024, when she won the 50 free (25.45), 100 free (54.65), 200 free (1:59.18), and 50 fly (26.57) at the French Junior Championships in April. Two months later, she finaled in all four events at the French Elite Championships, placing 10th in the 50 free (25.43), 5th in the 100 free (54.61), 4th in the 200 free (2:00.34), and 7th in the 50 fly (26.95).

In 2025, she represented France at both the European Junior Championships in Šamorín, Slovakia, and the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. At Euro Juniors, she won gold in the women’s 100 free, clocking a lifetime-best 54.17. She also finished 7th in the 50 free (25.48) and 7th in the 200 free (2:00.46), and 5th in the 50 fly (26.51, a PB). Cachot swam on 3 of France’s relays at World Championships (women’s 4×100 free, mixed 4×100 free, and mixed 4×100 medley). She earned a bronze medal for her prelims role in France’s mixed 400 medley relay, and she joined Beryl Gastaldello, Marina Jehl, and Marie Wattel in the women’s 400 free relay final that placed 5th with a national record-breaking time of 3:34.62.

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In her short-course yards debut on January 3 at the dual meet with Grand Canyon, Cachot put up a team-leading time in the 50 free (22.43). She ranks 3rd in the 200 free (1:46.38) behind Jordan Greber (1:45.14) and Grace Lindberg (1:45.43) and 4th in the 100 free (49.11) behind Greber (48.81), Shane Golland (48.98), and Gerda Szilagyi (49.05). Greber, Lindberg, and Golland achieved their times during the CSCAA Dual Challenges.

The CSCAA challenge meets was also where ASU notched their fastest relay times of the season so far. Without speculating as to what her flying start times might be, it is clear that even her flat start SCY times would have lowered the Sun Devils’ free relay times by a couple of tenths in the 4×50 and 4×100 and by 3 seconds in the 4×200. And her converted LCM times would have been of even greater value.

Best SCY times:

  • 50 free – 22.43
  • 100 free – 49.11
  • 200 free – 1:46.38

Best LCM times (converted):

  • 50 free – 25.31 (22.08)
  • 100 free – 54.17 (47.36)
  • 200 free – 1:59.18 (1:44.48)
  • 50 fly – 26.51 (23.25)

Cachot is joining Arizona State’s class of 2029 with Alexia Sotomayor, Bella Scopel Tramontana, Cali Watts, Eleaunah Phillips, Jessie Carlson, Marley Lovick, and Ursula Ott. Avery Spade was also new this season, transferring in from Indiana.

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Predicting Where Former Arizona State Star Lands

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Predicting Where Former Arizona State Star Lands


TEMPE — The Sam Leavitt saga has been one that has split the Arizona State fanbase.

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While some have been steadfast in bringing up the contributions that the two-year star poured into the program, others have been emphatic in pointing out the optics of the exit appearing less-than-ideal in a point of critique.

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Regardless, the Sun Devils have moved on – with Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley and Michigan transfer Mikey Keense being the two exterior options that were brought in to signify a new era.

Now, Leavitt continues to seek a new college home for what might be his last season of collegiate football – Arizona State on SI makes sense of it all below.

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Confirmed Visits – LSU, Tennessee, Miami

Leavitt’s first visit came with Boley’s former school in Kentucky, but the Wildcats have seemingly moved on by signing Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey.

LSU has made sense as a destination in recent weeks, with the presence of Lane Kiffin and the ironic twist of Jayden Daniels going from Arizona State to winning a Heisman Trophy with the Tigers as points of focus. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Leavitt heavily consider the SEC power.

Tennessee reportedly attempted to pry Leavitt away from the Sun Devils last spring and failed. This time, they loom as a relative “sleeper” – the redshirt sophomore even spent two days in Knoxville. This is a situation that is “wait-and-see”, as the Volunteers are still waiting to see what comes of QB Joey Aguilar’s pitch to receive more eligibility.

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Sep 26, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) celebrates win with wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (0) against the TCU Horned Frogs at Mountain America Stadium, Home of the ASU Sun Devils. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Reiner-Imagn Images | Jacob Reiner-Imagn Images

Miami is another spot that has made sense, as senior Carson Beck will be playing his final game of his collegiate career on January 19. No state income tax, the allure of joining Cam Ward and Beck as potential major risers on NFL draft boards, and playing for a storied program are all major drawing points.

Expected Visit – Oregon

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Oregon is the complicated potential landing spot.

There is still a bit of uncertainty surrounding what Oregon’s Dante Moore decided to do pertaining to entering the 2026 draft, so the Ducks must stand pat until a firm decision is made.

It’s simple to see why an Oregon native would be drawn to play for what has become a storied franchise that now has a phenomenal track record of developing quarterbacks.

Verdict: Leavitt Lands With Oregon

There’s absolutely nothing firm about this prediction, but Oregon makes the most sense – with the caveat that Moore decides to go pro.

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Read more on why the Arizona State men’s basketball team will exceed expectations in the 2025-26 season here, and on why the bright future of the football program isn’t dimmed by the loss to Arizona here.

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Please follow us on X when you click right here, as well as @khicks_21 for nonstop Arizona State coverage!



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