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Grading Arizona football’s performance in loss at Kansas State

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Grading Arizona football’s performance in loss at Kansas State


Arizona suffered its first loss in the Brent Brennan era, falling 31-7 at Kansas State on Friday night. There were glimpses of strong play in every phase, but overall it was not enough to take on a very physical Kansas State team.

Check out how we graded each part of the Wildcats:

Offense: D-

The offense got out to a real strong start, marching 73 yards with Quali Conley finishing it off with a 1-yard touchdown run. It was his fourth on the season, and the drive also featured two third down conversions and a fourth down conversion.

From there the offense would struggle. They would go three and out on their next drive and after marching down the field again, Noah Fifita would throw a costly interception as the Wildcats were just outside of the red-zone.

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Arizona would not find the end zone again as their drives went as follows: Punt, punt, punt, turnover on downs, turnover on downs, turnover on downs.

Fifita would finish 26 of 42 for 268 yards going along with the interception. Tetairoa McMillan finished as the leading receiver with 11 catches for 138 yards. Conley finished with 14 carries and 48 yards on the ground.

The offense also had six penalties for 45 yards.

Defense: C-

With a little bit of help from some Kansas State mistakes, the defense did keep Arizona within reach for most of the game. Some issues that still plague the defense are containment and tackling.

QB Avery Johnson ran for 110 yards on 17 carries, which made him the leading rusher for Kansas State. Missing tackles led to a lot of long plays for Kansas State, especially in the third quarter. Technique and being able to wrap up is something that is going to need to be fixed during the bye week.

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Marquis Groves-Killebrew led the team in tackles with eight. Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, Taye Brown, and Owen Goss all recorded sacks tonight.

Overall, the defense allowed 391 total yards and 21 first downs.

Special teams: D+

With Arizona not having Michael Salgado-Medina and Jordan Forbes able to go tonight, kicker Tyler Loop took on the punting duties. He punted four times with a long of 53 yards.

The big mistake given up on special teams was a 71-yard punt return from Dylan Edwards. It was a low kick from Loop, which allowed Edwards to turn the corner and use his speed to run away from the punt coverage.

Coaching: D

Brennan was introduced to Big 12 play tonight, and there is a lot to learn from this game moving forward.

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Overall, it seemed like the team was motivated for the matchup and showed a lot of grit in the first half. When the game could’ve gotten away from them early, they stuck it to Kansas State to show that the Wildcats from Tucson were there to compete.

As the game progressed, the team seemed to lose confidence. A lot of frustration showed on the faces on both sides of the ball. However, no one was pointing fingers and they stuck with each other which is credit to the way Brennan has instilled that mindset into his team.

For the defense, there should have been some adjustment made to the quarterback runs and being able to keep containment. Defensive coordinator Duane Akina is going to have to address the issue of wrapping up and finishing tackles.

Many of Kansas State’s plays finished with their players earning extra yards, and falling forward. Kansas State only had three possessions where they did not score, with one being a missed field goal.

Offensive coordinator Dino Babers had the first drive of the game called to near perfection and it looked like Arizona had found its offense after the NAU game. However, as the game went on, the offense would sputter and it would struggle to stay ahead of the chains.

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The only thing that seemed to be consistent was the Fifita to McMillan connection. Outside of that, the offense struggled to make plays and find a way to move the ball. It was also a full game of having a healthy offensive line, and it struggled to keep the quarterback protected.

The bye week comes at a good point for the Wildcats. Arizona needs the week to get healthy, figure out the offensive struggles, and find a way to sure up the tackling.



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Additional Light Shed on Simmons Timeline, Past and Future

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Additional Light Shed on Simmons Timeline, Past and Future


KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs pulled away in the second half to secure an impressive Monday night win over the Commanders. But their prior Monday night game actually began the Josh Simmons timeline.

According to SI insider Albert Breer, the deeply personal family issues with which the rookie is currently navigating first surfaced just before the Oct. 6 Monday night loss in Jacksonville. Shortly before kickoff in that game and after pregame warmups, the Chiefs announced that Simmons had been added to the injury report as questionable with an illness.

josh simmon

Sep 28, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Josh Simmons (71) and running back Kareem Hunt (29) line up against the Baltimore Ravens during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images / Denny Medley-Imagn Images

A 6-5, 310-pound rookie, Simmons wound up starting and playing the full game, a 31-28 loss to the Jaguars. He didn’t appear on the team’s injury report the following week until five hours prior to kickoff in the Sunday night victory over Detroit on Oct. 12.

That’s when the Chiefs announced Simmons – the final choice in the first round of April’s draft — as questionable for personal reasons. Kansas City ruled him out before kickoff, and Jaylon Moore has started each of the last three games, all Chiefs wins.

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jaylon moor

NFL Kansas City Chiefs offensive line Jaylon Moore / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Money well spent

“For now,” Breer wrote Tuesday, “the first thing to know is the two-year, $30 million deal the Chiefs gave Jaylon Moore in the offseason, even if he’s not the starting left tackle they paid him to be, is money well spent.

“The Chiefs have depth at those positions that they didn’t before. Last year, a black hole at left tackle forced the team to move Joe Thuney there, setting off a cascade that blew up in the team’s Super Bowl loss. They’ll likely have no such problem this year.”

joe thuney, patrick mahome

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs guard Joe Thuney (62) blocks for quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt addressed the Simmons situation prior to Monday’s win over the Commanders.

“It’s not something I can go into but it is a private family matter,” Hunt said Monday, noting he has a high level of confidence Simmons will return. “And we’ve had good communication with him, and there’s an understanding by both parties where he is. And we’re hopeful to have him back with the team sometime in the future.”

clark hun

Sep 24, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs chief executive officer Clark Hunt on field against the Chicago Bears prior to a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images / Denny Medley-Imagn Images

A good sign

Breer also noted that if Brett Veach and Andy Reid expected a long-term absence, they had the option to place the rookie on a reserve list, shelving him for at least four games. But the team is not believed to be considering that choice.

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While Moore played well his first two starts in place of Simmons, the veteran tackle struggled against the Commanders. Reid said after Monday’s game that Washington has an elite defensive front. Edge rusher Jacob Martin sacked Patrick Mahomes twice, one allowed by Moore.

josh simmons, travis kelc

Aug 9, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Josh Simmons (71) and tight end Travis Kelce (87) against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

“They’re better with the wildly talented Simmons in there,” Breer wrote. “What I know is that the issue first arose just before the Jaguars game. Simmons ended up playing in that matchup, then left right before the Lions game. The cited family aspect of his absence is real, and that was a part of the background that teams had to work through when he was coming out.”

The Chiefs (5-3) have to travel to Buffalo (5-2) on a short week, then get a midseason bye.

Chiefs Kingdom, keep that browser right here for your best in-depth news and info, totally free; the best way to get it is to follow @KCChiefsOnSI, @ZakSGilbert and @Domminchella on X (Twitter). And tell us your thoughts on the Chiefs’ offensive line by visiting our Facebook page (here).



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So, Is Taylor Swift Styling a Chiefs vs. Commanders Outfit Tonight?

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So, Is Taylor Swift Styling a Chiefs vs. Commanders Outfit Tonight?


At 8:15 p.m. ET on October 27, Monday Night Football viewers weren’t one hundred percent focused on the field where the Kansas City Chiefs faced the Washington Commanders. They were scanning the stands for a glimpse at Taylor Swift’s game-night outfit.

Last week, when the Chiefs played the Las Vegas Raiders, Taylor Swift spent the night at Arrowhead Stadium largely unnoticed. Her look for the evening—a Chanel 25 bag, Prada corset, short shorts, and her diamond engagement ring by Artifex Fine—was only revealed during a post-game trip to 1587 Prime with fiancé Travis Kelce.

This week, the “Opalite” singer’s play is still unpredictable. While Kelce made his tunnel walk before the game in a Showgirl orange chore jacket and pants, Swift’s own Chiefs vs. Commanders outfit remained under wraps.

Travis Kelce took the traditional tunnel walk to the locker room for the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Washington Commanders game. Taylor Swift was not seen before the game.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

By the end of the first quarter, reports from Arrowhead Stadium said Swift’s attendance hadn’t yet been confirmed. No vintage Chiefs jackets, no glitter freckles, no Joseph Cassell Falconer styling, no sighting of the singer, period. There’s a chance that she is attending the game but remaining off-screen. If Swift does make an appearance, or hits 1587 Prime after the ref blows the final whistle, Marie Claire editors will update this story with all the details.

Taylor Swift wearing a Charlotte Simone coat

Last season, Taylor Swift made several stops by the Arrowhead Stadium tunnel in Chiefs-centric fashion.

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

This NFL season, spotting Taylor Swift’s Kansas City Chiefs game-day outfits has seemed harder than a reversing a twenty-point loss with two minutes left in the game. For the Chiefs vs. Detroit Lions, Swift’s Ganni jersey dress was identified only by a snippet of its custom stitching shown on the nighttime broadcast. The singer appeared to skip the Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles game altogether—until a friend of Swift’s and Kelce’s shared photos of her plaid Jonathan Simkhai set, Chanel necklace, and Gucci slingback heels following the match. Even the season opener, against the Los Angeles Chargers, went by Swift-less. (However, the singer had a valid excuse to skip an outfit: The game was held in Brazil.)

Taylor Swift posing with Travis Kelce and wearing a plaid two piece set with slingback heels

Taylor Swift has skipped tunnel walks this NFL season, instead making quiet appearances with friends following the Chiefs’ games.

(Image credit: @kanebrown)

Instead, Taylor Swift’s Life of a Showgirl style has taken up all her center-stage photo ops this October. The singer made a quick press circuit through London and New York City in the lead-up to her album’s release, stopping by Late Night’s couch in Wiederhoeft and The Tonight Show‘s interview in a Giuseppe Di Morabito mesh dress. The only snapshot of her everyday style arrived at an Oct. 8 dinner, when she wore a fall plaid mini skirt and knee-high boots to visit New York City’s Eighty Six.

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Taylor Swift wearing Wiederhoeft on the Late Show With Seth Meyers

Taylor Swift wearing Wiederhoeft to Late Night with Seth Meyers.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Taylor Swift’s tunnel walks at Arrowhead Stadium have been missed. Between her first two seasons, more than 30 Kansas City Chiefs game outfits received their own red carpet treatment: dedicated photo sessions where style experts could catalogue Swift’s Chiefs-colored Vivienne Westwood sets, her head-to-toe Chanel runway pulls, and her Dior saddle bags.



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Colorado man dies in western Kansas vehicle rollover

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Colorado man dies in western Kansas vehicle rollover


WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – A vehicle rollover killed a Colorado man in western Kansas Sunday morning.

The Kansas Highway Patrol said the crash happened in Hamilton County, just after 8 a.m.

36-year-old Morgan Stephens of Burlington, Colo. was driving a 2024 Ram truck when it went off the road onto the right shoulder, overcorrected and spun clockwise into the ditch, rolling multiple times. KHP said Stephens was not wearing his seatbelt.

Stephens was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries. No other vehicles were involved.

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