Kansas
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – It may not seem like a lot of relief, but gas and diesel prices have declined over the past week.
Friday morning’s national average for a gallon of unleaded gas was $4.39, according to the Automobile Association of America.
That’s down three cents from $4.42 on Thursday; down 16 cents from a week ago; but was up 17 cents from $4.22 a month ago and up $.23 from $3.16 a year ago.
In Kansas, AAA says, unleaded gas on Friday was averaging $3.96 a gallon — down four cents from $4.00 on Thursday; down 13 cents from $3.96 a week ago; but up 26 cents from $3.70 a month ago; and up $1.07 over $2.89 a year ago.
Diesel fuel also was dropping in price. AAA says Friday’s national average for a gallon of diesel was $5.52 a gallon — down three cents from $5.55 on Thursday; down 12 cents from $5.64 a week a go; but up six cents from $5.46 a month ago and up $1.98 from $3.54 a year ago.
Kansas diesel fuel prices, according to AAA, checked in at an average of $4.98 on Friday. That’s five cents below $5.03 on Thursday; down 16 cents from $5.14 a week ago; but up 24 cents over $4.74 a month ago; and up $1.72 from $3.26 a year ago.
In Topeka, GasBuddy.com on Friday morning showed unleaded gas prices ranging between $3.77 and $4.09 in Topeka, with diesel fuel going for between $4.94 and $5.29 a gallon.
Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.
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NFL Trade Rumors: Kansas City Chiefs linked to $15M New York Giants pass rusher and $10M Chicago Bears tight end in bold ESPN proposals
The Kansas City Chiefs continue to be linked to potential trade targets despite entering the 2026 season with one of the NFL’s deepest rosters. Recent speculation from ESPN connected Kansas City to New York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet. In the proposed scenarios, the Chiefs would send a 2027 fourth-round pick for Thibodeaux or a 2027 third-round pick while receiving Kmet and a fifth-round selection. While neither proposal gained traction with the opposing teams, the rumors have sparked debate about whether Kansas City should make a significant move before the season.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Player | Kayvon Thibodeaux / Cole Kmet |
| Current Team | New York Giants / Chicago Bears |
| Rumored Team | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Contract Status | Both under contract |
| Salary Cap Hit | Thibodeaux: manageable rookie extension window; Kmet carries a significant future cap number |
| Trade Likelihood | Low to moderate |
| Latest Insider Update | ESPN floated hypothetical trade proposals |
| Potential Return | 2027 fourth-round pick for Thibodeaux; 2027 third-round pick for Kmet |
Which teams are interested in Kayvon Thibodeaux and Cole Kmet?
Kansas City emerged as the most notable team connected to both players through the ESPN exercise. The fit is understandable. For Thibodeaux, the Chiefs could add another proven pass-rushing threat alongside their current edge group. Defensive line depth remains one of the most valuable assets in today’s NFL, especially for teams with championship aspirations. Adding a player of Thibodeaux’s caliber would strengthen the rotation and provide insurance against injuries. Kmet addresses a different need. While Travis Kelce remains a central piece of the offense, he is approaching the later stages of his career. Kmet offers a combination of blocking ability and receiving production that could help Kansas City maintain stability at tight end while preparing for the future.
What insiders are saying about the trade rumors
According to AtoZ Sports’ Charles Goldman, the concept behind pursuing Thibodeaux makes sense, but the compensation falls short. New York has little incentive to move a talented edge rusher for a mid-round draft pick when pass rushers are among the league’s most sought-after players. Goldman was similarly cautious regarding Kmet. Although he acknowledged the tight end would fill a practical role in Kansas City’s offense, he questioned whether investing draft capital and future money in Kmet is the best long-term strategy. Instead, he suggested the Chiefs may be better served developing a successor to Kelce through the draft.
Contract details and salary cap implications
Any trade discussion involving Kansas City begins with the salary cap. The Chiefs would likely need to create additional financial flexibility before taking on a notable contract. Thibodeaux presents the cleaner situation. He remains young, productive, and could be controlled through future contract negotiations. There are no reported no-trade restrictions complicating a potential move. Kmet’s situation is more challenging. His future cap numbers could require restructuring or a new agreement if Kansas City wanted to keep him long term. That added financial commitment makes the decision more complicated than the draft-pick cost alone.
How the trade could impact both teams
For Kansas City, acquiring Thibodeaux would strengthen a defense already built to compete for another Super Bowl. A deeper pass rush often becomes critical during playoff runs, where one extra pressure can change a game. Kmet’s arrival would have a different effect. He could ease the workload on Kelce while giving the offense a more balanced tight end room. At the same time, surrendering valuable draft assets could limit future roster-building options. From the Giants’ and Bears’ perspectives, keeping proven starters may provide more value than collecting future picks. That reality is why both proposed deals remain long shots, even if the Chiefs continue to surface in trade conversations.
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