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.

Second-quarter pivot

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.

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.

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.