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No. 14 Kansas State welcomes No. 20 Arizona to Big 12 (sort of) with 31–7 non-conference win

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No. 14 Kansas State welcomes No. 20 Arizona to Big 12 (sort of) with 31–7 non-conference win


In future seasons, Arizona versus Kansas State could be a thrilling Big 12 intra-conference clash. For this year and next, however, this will be a non-conference matchup as the home-and-home series was scheduled before Arizona joined the Big 12.

No. 14 K-State gave the road Wildcats a fine “Welcome to the Big 12” moment with a 31–7 win at Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Friday night. Quarterback Avery Johnson passed for 156 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for an additional 110 yards. The home Wildcats rushed for 234 yards in total, including DJ Giddens’ 77 yards and one TD.

The defeat ended No. 20 Arizona’s nine-game winning streak, which was the longest active win streak in FBS. That run went back to last October’s 44–6 victory at Washington State (which was then a Pac-12 conference matchup) and included a 38–24 win over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl.

The game turned on two possessions at the beginning of the second quarter. After the K-State defense forced a three-and-out, Dylan Edwards ran from the right hash across the field and turned the corner at the left sideline, streaking past four Arizona defenders for a 71-yard punt return touchdown. That gave K-State a 14-7 lead.

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On the following possession, the road Wildcats drove to the KSU 30-yard line, thanks largely to two catches for 49 yards by all-world receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Quarterback Noah Fifita looked McMillan’s way for a third time and had him apparently open in the end zone. But cornerback Keenan Garber swooped in to pick off the pass.

Kansas State had a chance to add a field goal at the end of the first half. But with nine seconds remaining, Johnson apparently lost track of time, scrambling to keep the play alive and eventually running for a 5-yard gain. He got out of bounds, but time expired.

Yet KSU shouldn’t have had an opportunity for a field goal try anyway. As Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira pointed out on the broadcast, the home Wildcats should have been called for a false start penalty.

The home Wildcats pulled away with 14 points in the third quarter on a 9-yard TD pass from Johnson to Brayden Loftin and a 1-yard scoring run by Giddens. Will Swanson scored K-State’s first touchdown on a 3-yard reception.

For Arizona, McMillan showed a national TV audience on Fox that he might be the best pass-catcher in the country and likely a first-round NFL Draft pick next year, catching 11 passes for 138 yards. Montana Lemonious-Craig had six receptions for 75 yards. Fifita threw for 268 yards with one interception, completing 24-of-38 passes. Quail Conley rushed for 48 yards and scored Arizona’s only touchdown on the game’s opening drive.

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Kansas State next travels to BYU on Sept. 21 for a Big 12 conference matchup. Arizona has a bye week before a road game at No. 12 Utah on Sept. 28.



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Giants end difficult series with eye toward future, not past

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Giants end difficult series with eye toward future, not past


PHOENIX — Frustration.
That was the lingering element inside a quiet visitors’ clubhouse after the San Francisco Giants dropped a 6-3 decision to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday afternoon, completing a three-game sweep at Chase Field.



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See work of award-winning Arizona Republic photographer Rob Schumacher

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See work of award-winning Arizona Republic photographer Rob Schumacher


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Rob Schumacher shared the triumphs and tribulations of the world with The Arizona Republic’s readers through his photography for 35 years.

Schumacher, 62, who died Sunday, May 17, covered Olympic Games, Super Bowls, Masters golf tournaments, riots and natural disasters, as well as intimate portraits of everyday people in Arizona.

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He won dozens of awards for his work, including having his image, “Foul Ball,” named Photo of the Year by the Arizona Associated Press Managing Editors in 2003 and being named Arizona Photojournalist of the Year by the Arizona Press Club in 2020.

“For him, it was more than just a job,” said Cheryl Evans, a former photographer at The Republic who worked with him for years. “It was his passion. I mean, he lived and breathed photojournalism.”

Here’s a look at his legacy through some of his most jaw-dropping images.



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5 Biggest Things We Saw, Heard as Arizona Cardinals Begin OTA’s

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5 Biggest Things We Saw, Heard as Arizona Cardinals Begin OTA’s


ARIZONA — The Arizona Cardinals have just finished their first set of voluntary offseason team activities, and there’s plenty to talk about.

We posted our sights and sounds video already (which you can check out here), though that didn’t quite cover everything we saw in Tempe.

Five biggest takeaways from being at the team’s facility for offseason team activities:

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1. Notable Absences

Jan 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) rolls out against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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All of Jacoby Brissett, Josh Sweat, Baron Browning, L.J. Collier, and Trey Benson were not present for the voluntary portion of offseason team activities.

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Brissett continues to hope for a new contract while Sweat apparently is a healthy absence according to Arizona Sports. Collier had a personal day while Browning’s absence is unknown.

Starling Thomas and James Conner were spotted working off to the side while Tip Reiman (more on him later) and Walter Nolen III were also spotted on the sidelines. Garrett Williams posted on social media him getting recovery work in, too.

Benson suffered a season-ending injury last season, so he could be rehabbing elsewhere. Players who do not show in Tempe won’t be fined, though anybody who misses mandatory minicamp (June 8-10) will.

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2. Jeremiyah Love Returning Kicks?

May 8, 2026; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love (4) during rookie minicamp at Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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One of the biggest storylines was the emergence of No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love returning some kicks during the open portion of practice this week. Max Melton was also an interesting name back there as well.

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This caused a firestorm of overreactions on Love and the Cardinals’ potential usage of him. Many saw this as Love having to work his way through special teams while others think this will add more unnecessary hits if he is indeed on return duties.

“You’re experimenting with everyone in terms of a lot of different spots,” Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur told 98.7’s Burns and Gambo. “… Jeremiyah is a running back. We know that. But you never know.”

I wouldn’t read too much into this — at least right now. WR Devin Duvernay was signed this offseason as a primary return man.

3. Rookies Take (Expected) Back Seat

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Beck (19) during rookie mini-camp practice on May 8, 2026, at the Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center in Tempe. | Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Neither Love or third-round rookie quarterback Carson Beck had dibs on the first taste of action with the starting unit while media were allowed to view practice.

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That’s fine, and more importantly, very expected.

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Even with Brissett out, it was the veteran Gardner Minshew repping with the first team offense. Tyler Allgeier was the main back for the Cardinals’ top offensive players.

Rookies, at this point in the offseason, are placed behind veterans purposefully. Even if this is the case in training camp, fans shouldn’t freak out if Allgeier is still over Love in the “pecking order” Arizona has.

This is simply the Cardinals working in their inexperienced players at a reasonable rate.

4. Sean Murphy-Bunting’s Position Change

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Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (23) reacts in the first half against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images | Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

Murphy-Bunting suffered a season-ending injury before even stepping into 2025 and was largely thought to be a cut candidate entering the offseason in a crowded cornerbacks room.

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However, the Cardinals have apparently changed his position.

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Murphy-Bunting, typically a boundary cornerback, was spotted working out with the safety group. Cornerback Will Johnson confirmed Murphy-Bunting was set to be a nickel corner, which serves Arizona as Williams is not expected to be ready for the start of the season due to injury.

When you’re trimming a roster down to 53, versatility matters.

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5. Injury Updates

Oct 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Tip Reiman (87) is taken off the field on a cart after being injured against the Tennessee Titans during the third quarter at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

The Cardinals lost their top run-blocker in tight end Tip Reiman early last season with a right leg injury and is expected to be ready for training camp, according to LaFleur.

“Not going to dive too far into that, but [we] do expect him to be healthy, ready to roll when we get going in training camp. Another guy that I had a lot of respect for coming out of Illinois,” LaFleur told reporters.

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“… Tip is all of the right stuff in terms of how he approaches it, and stuff like that. It’s unfortunate, obviously what happened a year ago, but [I believe he is a] big piece of where I think we can go.”

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LaFleur was then asked about Benson, which drew a, “Kind of that same type of thing,” response from the Cardinals coach.

The Cardinals again will hit the practice field on May 21 where voluntary OTA’s continue.

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