Tag: Arizona Wildcats

Arizona inexplicably opened its Colorado game with an onside kick… that failed miserably

Arizona, WYD?

There are bold ways to open a college football game, and then there’s whatever Arizona’s logic was when it opened its Week 8 matchup against Colorado with an onside kick — and one that failed miserably and gave the Buffaloes an early lead.

Yes, you read that right.

Usually reserved for the end of a game when a team desperately needs to get the ball back, the Wildcats, after winning the coin toss and deferring, inexplicably opted to start with an onside kick rather than a traditional kickoff to start the game. Arizona senior kicker Tyler Loop kicked the ball 11 yards to the Wildcats own 46-yard line.

The problem with the execution of this opening play was that Colorado recovered the ball. And just five plays later, the Buffaloes found the end zone with a one-yard touchdown run from Isaiah Augustave.

The only way this could have gone worse for Arizona is if Colorado returned the ball for a touchdown. Not great.

Obviously, college football fans were totally baffled by the rare choice to start the game with an onside kick.

How college football Twitter reacted to Arizona opening its Colorado game with an onside kick

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3 takeaways from Big 12 basketball schedule reveal

Arizona has a soft conference slate in its first Big 12 season, that and other takeaways from the league’s schedule reveal.

The Big 12 conference is absolutely loaded ahead of the 2024-25 college basketball season. While three of the new league members – Colorado, Utah, and Arizona State – aren’t big needle movers on the hardwood, the addition of Arizona adds yet another top five caliber team to a conference already projected to have four teams ranked in the top 10: Kansas, Baylor, Houston, and Iowa State.

That, combined with projected improvements at BYU, Kansas State, West Virginia, Cincinnati, and Oklahoma State, could make this the deepest and most talent rich league in all of college basketball.

The Big 12 revealed conference matchups on Thursday, although times and TV data will come later. Still, this gives us a great look at how things will play out in conference play starting in late December and running up until a loaded final slate of games on March 8th.

Here are three key takeaways from Thursday’s Big 12 schedule reveal:

Arizona given cushy start

The Big 12 is so deep and talent-rich it’s hard to call any of the conference schedules ‘easy’, but it is also clear the league’s most promising newcomer – Tommy Lloyd’s Arizona Wildcats – were given a bit of a gift in the early part of conference play.

Arizona opens league play at home against TCU on December 30th before starting road play on January 4th at Cincinnati and January 7th at West Virginia. They play at home against Central Florida on January 11th before finally facing one of the top teams in the league, Baylor, on January 14th at home.

All in all Arizona’s road slate of Big 12 games is pretty cushy until mid February – then the rubber hits the road. The Wildcats close with road games at Kansas State, Baylor, Iowa State, and Kansas between February 11th and March 8th. That gauntlet will give us a great picture of what Lloyd’s team is made of.

Wednesday night is party night

A lot of college basketball leagues are pivoting to hosting marquee games on Friday in an effort to corner the sports market while avoiding NFL Sundays and the crowded Saturday slates.

While the Big 12 is not one of those leagues, avoiding Friday games altogether, the conference did make a concerted effort to schedule a lot of marquee matchups on Wednesdays.

Kansas hosts Arizona State on January 8th and then goes on the road to face Iowa State the following Wednesday, January 15th. That same day Utah plays at TCU, Cincinnati at Colorado, and West Virginia goes to Houston.

The next Wednesday, January 22nd, Kansas and Kansas State both go on the road in Texas to face TCU and Baylor, respectively, and the final Wednesday of the month features Oklahoma State at Kansas State, TCU at Texas Tech, and Houston in Morgantown returning the favor against West Virginia.

Going out with a bang

Saturday, March 8th is the final day of the regular season, and the Big 12 ensured all eyes would be on them with an incredibly loaded slate of games.

All 16 teams will be in action, with some of the biggest brands in the league facing off in a day that could have widespread ramifications not only in the conference standings, but in the top 25 and seeding for the NCAA Tournament.

Arizona plays at Kansas, Iowa State is at Kansas State, and Houston is at Baylor in the three most notable games between six teams all projected to be inside the top 25, five who could reasonably begin the season in the top ten.

March 8th also features a rivalry game between Utah and BYU in Provo and a fun matchup between TCU and Colorado, finishing up the regular season on a very high note.

Bucs fans should tune into Kansas State-Arizona on Friday night

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are preparing for the Detroit Lions on Sunday for their Week 2 matchup, but that doesn’t mean everyone is.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are preparing for the Detroit Lions on Sunday for their Week 2 matchup, but that doesn’t mean everyone is. The scouting departments for all 32 NFL teams are already well into their scouting for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Two players that Bucs fans should have some fun watching are playing on Friday night when Arizona faces off against Kansas State in a ranked matchup in college football. The wo players Bucs fans would watch for are wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea.

McMillan has been getting mocked to the Bucs early into the season and Savaiinaea is an offensive line prospect the team could use on the interior.

McMillan has a similar build and play style to Mike Evans so Bucs fans should find extra joy out of watching him. He kicked off the 2024 season for Arizona with a recording breaking performance that saw him record over 300 receiving yards. He could serve a fun replacement for Chris Godwin alongside Evans and Jalen McMillan if the team moves on.

Guards Cody Mauch and Ben Bredeson had a rough go of it on Sunday against the Commanders. Savaiinaea has the size and power to be a fun option for the team on day two of the NFL draft as they look to build the interior.

Arizona vs. Kansas State offers a good opportunity for top WR prospect Tetairoa McMillan

Arizona vs. Kansas State offers a good opportunity for top WR prospect Tetairoa McMillan

One of the early top-rated players for the 2025 NFL Draft will be in action on a rare Friday night game when Arizona visits Kansas State. The battle of the ranked Wildcats will mark a great chance to check out Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan in prime-time action against a quality opponent.

McMillan has quickly emerged as a potential top-10 pick with his outstanding blend of size and sure hands. He’s off to a torrid start with four TDs among his 12 catches in Arizona’s first two games, both wins.

He faces a step up in competition from New Mexico and Northern Arizona in visiting No. 14 Kansas State in a Big 12 Conference matchup. K-State has an experienced outside CB duo that can present a challenge for McMillan in Keenan Garber and Jacob Parrish.

McMillan will have a distinct size advantage against both, as they’re identically listed at 6-feet and 188 pounds. Garber tends to play bigger than that listed size, but his wild inconsistencies in man coverage also present a big opportunity for McMillan. Garber tends to play the ball more than the receiver, and with McMillan having about five inches and 20 pounds on the Wildcats CB should allow the wideout to shine in any contested catch situations.

Kansas State is ranked 14th and Arizona 20th, and the home team is favored by a touchdown in Manhattan, Kansas. That could mean more meaningful opportunities for McMillan to get the ball in big situations. The game is nationally televised on FOX on Friday night at 8 p.m. ET.

Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter among Heisman candidates in Big 12

Take a look at the nine Heisman Trophy Candidates that play in the Big 12 Conference.

After the first week of college football, the race for the 2024 Heisman saw players move up and down regarding their stock to win the award.

The Big 12 conference has nine players looking to take home the most prestigious award in the sport.

Here is how those nine fared in Week 1, and what they are up against in Week 2:

Travis Hunter, Wide Receiver/Defensive Back, Colorado Buffaloes

Hunter played nearly the entire game for the Colorado Buffaloes. They picked up a win at home over North Dakota State. When he was not on the field for offense, he was playing defensive back for the Buffs.

Hunter made some incredible catches in the game, which resulted in 132 yards and three touchdowns. His teammate Jimmy Horn Jr. went for just under 200 in the game and a touchdown. It will be interesting to see how the Buffaloes come out in Week 2, as they take on a tough Nebraska squad.

Cam Rising, Quarterback, Utah Utes

The Utah Utes missed Rising last season. There is no doubt about that. He came back in Week 1 and looked great against Southern Utah.

He is likely going to get more than 15 attempts going forward, but against the Thunderbirds Rising was strong, with nearly 17 yards per completed pass. That is second in the country to Washington State’s John Mateer.

Utah will play a fun one this week, as they host the Baylor Bears.

Shedeur Sanders, Quarterback, Colorado Buffaloes

The Colorado signal caller tossed for 445 yards and four touchdowns in the team’s season-opening win over North Dakota State. He did have a turnover in the game but was only sacked once.

Coach Prime and his staff are hoping to keep him more upright this season and give him opportunities to create. The Buffaloes will face a tough task in Week 2 as they take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Avery Johnson, Quarterback, Kansas State Wildcats

The athletic quarterback was 14 of 21 passing for 153 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception in Week 1 against UT-Martin. Johnson did not get a ton of chances to use his legs, but when he did, he averaged 12.3 yards per game carry.

Will Howard left for Ohio State, but many around Manhattan feel Johnson’s skill set is better served for the 2024 squad. Kansas State will go on the road in Week 2 and take on the Tulane Green Wave.

Noah Fifita, Quarterback, Arizona Wildcats

Fifita heads into Week 2 with four touchdown passes already under his belt from the team’s Week 1 win over New Mexico. The signal-caller found his connection right away with receiver Tetairoa McMillan and went to him early and often.

Fifita should be able to put up pretty strong numbers all season with the style of play Arizona would like to play. The Wildcats have Northern Arizona this weekend and will face their toughest test in Week 3 at Kansas State.

Jalon Daniels, Quarterback, Kansas Jayhawks

Daniels was back and looked healthy in Week 1 when the Jayhawks took down Lindenwood, 48-3. Kansas will need him to be if they want to contend in the Big 12 standings. Daniels was 9 of 15 passing for 148 yards and a touchdown in the game. Daniels is also a big-time threat with his legs. He will use that weapon when he needs to. That time may come this weekend and the Jayhawks are on the road at Illinois is a Big Ten / Big 12 clash.

Tetairoa McMillan, Wide Receiver, Arizona Wildcats

McMillan went for over 300 yards in Arizona’s win over New Mexico. His statistics were the best of any receiver in College Football for Week 1. His stock rose after the first week of the season. His issue will be, if he is catching the football over and over, Noah Fifita, another Heisman candidate will be getting it to him. McMillan had so many yards in the first game, he is already 74 yards ahead of second place in the country.

Arizona will take on Northern Arizona on Saturday.

KJ Jefferson, Quarterback, Central Florida Knights

Jefferson put up numbers similar to what Jalon Daniels did. The signal caller needed just 14 passing attempts to get 165 yards and two touchdowns. He did throw an interception in the blowout win.

The Knights are going to get another game that should not challenge them too much in Week 2. Central Florida is at home against Sam Houston State.

Ollie Gordon, Running Back, Oklahoma State Cowboys

The best chance for a running back to win this award is Ollie Gordon from Oklahoma State. His Week 1 numbers were good, but finished 19th in College Football in rushing yards with 126. He also scored three touchdowns in the game.

His biggest running back competition may come from Ashton Jeanty of Boise State, who scored six touchdowns in Week 1. Oklahoma State will need to get Gordon the ball early and often, as they host Arkansas this weekend.

Tetairoa McMillan leaps into the top receiver spot for the 2025 NFL Draft with monster performance

Tetairoa McMillan leaps into the top receiver spot for the 2025 NFL Draft with monster performance in CFB Week 1

There has been much speculation surrounding the wide receiver class for the 2025 NFL Draft heading into the season. While this class lacks the super elite talents the last class did, there are still some high-level players at the position at the top of the board. One of those names that was battling for the top spot in the rankings was Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, who clearly vaulted into it with an incredible performance on Saturday.

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McMillan lit up the opening week of college football by hauling in 10 catches, for a whopping 304 yards, and 4 touchdowns on the afternoon. McMillan set himself apart from anyone else on the field as he was an unstoppable force and single-handedly put the Arizona offense on his back versus the New Mexico Lobos.

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While he was already projected as a first-round talent, McMillan pushed himself at least temporarily above Missouri’s Luther Burden III and Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka. If McMillan can continue to have this kind of performance to go along with already dominant physical traits, he will quickly find himself atop all the NFL teams draft boards and cemented as the top weapon in the 2025 class.

Arizona wideout Tetairoa McMillan starts Big 12 career with a bang

Tetairoa McMillan of Arizona Football was outstanding in the team’s win over New Mexico on Saturday.

The Arizona Wildcats began their Big 12 career with an overwhelming success, defeating New Mexico 61-39 on Saturday evening. The season clearly kicked off with a bang, especially for wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. McMillan finished the game with 10 receptions, 304 yards and four touchdowns.

McMillan was voted a preseason All-American and is widely considered a potential first round pick, and this game did not change that. He is a tall, athletic receiver, and he went over 300 yards in a game for the first time since Jaxon Smith-Njigba did it in 2022 with Ohio State.

His touchdown catches were 69, 17, 78, and 40 yards. All of the catches came from quarterback Noah Fifita, who finished the game with 422 yards passing, while the Wildcats had 627 as a team.

Head coach Brent Brennan was impressed with his star receiver on Saturday:

T-Mac is obviously special, man. He’s just something else. Those big explosives were just incredible. He outran the whole secondary on the big one down the sideline. He’s awesome. He’s an awesome competitor, and he’s also not satisfied. He was like, ‘We can play better.’ That’s what you hope for.

Brennan took over for Jedd Fisch after he took the open vacancy at Washington. Both McMillan and Fifita discussed the transfer portal but elected not to. McMillan was asked about that decision following the game:

Everybody in this building, the brotherhood we already had, the culture we had set in here, we just didn’t want to leave this building,” McMillan said. “The legacy that we already had began over here, we wanted to continue this legacy. At the end of the day, we came to Tucson to be program changers. Hopefully, Tucson, y’all can find pride in our play.

Arizona will remain at home for week two of the season. The Wildcats, who opened the season ranked 21st in the country, host Northern Arizona on Saturday.

Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan goes off for 304 receiving yards, 4 TDs

Tetairoa McMillan and Arizona ravaged New Mexico

Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan had himself a game in a 61-39 romp over New Mexico on Satuday.

McMillan caught 10 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns in coach Brent Brennan’s first game as Wildcats head coach.

“Those big explosives were just incredible,” Brennan said. “He outran the whole secondary on the big one down the sideline. He’s awesome. He’s an awesome competitor, and he’s also not satisfied. He was like, ‘We can play better.’ That’s what you hope for.”

Quarterback Noah Fifita had 422 passing yards as Arizona put up 627 yards of total offense in its first game in the Big 12.

Big 12 lands five on Associated Press Top 25 poll

Five teams from the Big 12 conference were among the top 25 teams in the first AP poll of the college football season.

With just under two weeks to go until the start of the College Football season, the Associated Press Top 25 poll was released. There are five teams from the Big 12 in the poll. Let’s take a look at each of them:

12. Utah Utes

The Utes are the conference favorites. They are going to see some new places this season as members of the Big 12. Utah is used to winning ways, as Kyle Whittingham is entering his 20th season as the head man in Salt Lake City. Utah starts the season with Southern Utah on August 29th. Their first big test is September 21st on the road at Oklahoma State.

17. Oklahoma State Cowboys

The Cowboys are led by Mike Gundy, another guy in his 20th season as the head coach. The Big 12 media poll had the Cowboys just below Kansas State, but the Associated Press poll has the Cowboys ahead of the Wildcats.  Regardless, the end of September will be challenging with games against Utah and Kansas State. But, the Cowboys cannot overlook South Dakota State to open the season.

18. Kansas State Wildcats

Chris Klieman saw three guys get drafted into the NFL following their 9-4 season a year ago. The Wildcats won their bowl game as well. Now, they will look to make the next step and get back to the conference title game. Kansas State starts their season on August 31st at home against UT Martin.

21. Arizona Wildcats

Brett Brennan is starting his first season with the Wildcats.  Arizona went 10-3 a season ago, and 7-2 in their final season in the Pac-12. The Wildcats beat up Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl and finished 11th in the final Associated Press poll. That was their best finish since 1998. Arizona was picked fifth in the preseason poll, just behind Kansas. The Wildcats open on August 31st against New Mexico.

22. Kansas Jayhawks

The Jayhawks got some national love, coming in at 22 in the poll. Lance Leipold is entering his fourth year as the head coach. Arrowhead Stadium will be the home for the Jayhawks as Memorial Stadium is under renovation this season. Kansas lost some coaches on the staff, but they bring back a ton of talent. Jason Bean, who was the quarterback a season ago, will also not return.  Kansas gets Lindenwood in Week 1, and a road trip to Illinois in Week 2.

Iowa State, West Virginia, and Colorado got votes in the poll but did not make the Top 25. To get a look at the entire Associated Press Top 25 poll, take a look here.

Keep in mind, that the US LBM Coaches Poll has also been released. So these can be used in comparison to see the differences between the two.

Duke basketball will play Arizona and Kansas in a five-day span this November

With the Duke basketball game against Arizona moving back a day, the week before Thanksgiving now gets crowded for the Blue Devils.

[autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] and his Duke basketball teammates won’t get much rest the week before Thanksgiving this fall.

With the Monday news that the Blue Devils will now play Arizona on November 22, Duke now plays the Wildcats and the Kansas Jayhawks within a five-day span.

They’ll travel out west for a road battle with Caleb Love after Arizona came to Durham last year. They’ll then head to Las Vegas to play the Jayhawks for the 2024 Vegas Showdown on November 26.

The November gauntlet becomes part of a loaded non-conference schedule for head coach Jon Scheyer’s squad. Flagg and his teammates play Kentucky, Auburn, and George Mason before the end of the calendar year.

There’s also a looming Madison Square Garden matchup with Illinois that could potentially come in February.