Tag: Noah Fifita

Where does Jackson Arnold rank in early 2024 Heisman odds according to Fan Duel?

Jackson Arnold is already getting some preseason Heisman buzz before his first year as a starter.

If you think [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] is going to win the [autotag]Heisman[/autotag] in 2024, now is the time to bet on it. You probably won’t see the odds this low again if he has the season you think he’s going to have.

Arnold is heading into his first year as the starting quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners. The sophomore quarterback showed flashes in games last year. Even though his bowl game was soured with all of the turnovers, he showed in that game why people are so high on him and his ability.

He’s definitely got all of the makings to be Oklahoma’s next great quarterback and Heisman contender. Arnold’s going to have plenty of opportunities to show out against several high-quality opponents.

So where does Arnold land in 2024 Heisman odds according to Fan Duel Sportsbook? Let’s take a look at the early contenders.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3006″ ] Fan Duel

USC will not face Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan at Washington next year

USC won’t have to play Noah Fifita or Tetairoa McMillan in 2024 as members of the Washington Huskies. That’s #B1G.

Arizona Wildcat football fans have a lot to celebrate today. The Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Noah Fifita, and sophomore Second Team All-Pac-12 selection Tetairoa McMillan will be returning to Tucson to play for new head coach Brent Brennan in 2024. Fifita and McMillan explain in a tweet below from Arizona Football, “Tucson we have unfinished business. We runnin’ it back!”

This means that Trojan fans, Lincoln Riley, and D’Anton Lynn might also be celebrating today with the Wildcats. These prime Arizona players will not follow Jedd Fisch, the head coach who recruited them both out of Servite High School in Anaheim, to Washington next season. USC is scheduled to play its (soon-to-be) former Pac-12 opponent in a conference game in the Big Ten on November 2, 2024, in Seattle.

247Sports shared a conversation with Les Fifita, Noah’s father, in which he explains that McMillan and his son had thoughts of leaving, but it was not where everyone was expecting.

“We’ve known Kalen DeBoer for a long time and he loved Noah when he was at Fresno State,” [Les Fifita] said. “He recruited him hard when Noah was at Servite and they wanted both boys at Alabama.

“It’s ’Bama, we had to listen. But, end of the day, both kids felt like they had unfinished business here. Plus, it’s a family here — it really is. We want to keep this thing together and we know the whole team couldn’t go to ’Bama just like the whole team wasn’t being recruited to Washington. This is the best move for everyone and, with Noah and TMac and the core staying, we think we got a great shot to keep everyone else here as well.”

The Wildcats have their dynamic passing duo back for their first year in the Big 12. Fisch will continue to search for a replacement for Heisman runner-up Michael Penix, who is off to the NFL, and Will Rogers, the transfer from Mississippi State who entered the portal again when DeBoer left Washington. Most importantly, the Trojans will not face the trio of Fisch, Fifita and McMillan in 2024, a combination that took USC and Riley to triple overtime last October in the Coliseum.

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Arizona star quarterback and receiver will go to Big 12, not Big Ten, in 2024

A lot of people thought Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan were going to Washington and the Big Ten. Nope.

The news hit like a thunderbolt on Saturday in the midst of the NFL playoffs and college basketball action: Arizona football will retain its star quarterback and top wide receiver. New coach Brent Brennan has to be elated that Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan will stay in Tucson for the 2024 season. They won’t follow Jedd Fisch to Seattle to play for the Washington Huskies.

The dominant question in college football right now is whether Jim Harbaugh will leave Michigan for the NFL. The second big question is how the rosters at Alabama, Washington, and Arizona will change after the coaching changes at each school, part of the domino effect initiated by Nick Saban’s retirement.

Fifita and McMillan staying at Arizona is a big domino which will affect how Washington tries to address the quarterback spot for next season. The sorting-out process in which Arizona players decide whether to stay in Tucson or go to Seattle to play for Fisch and the Huskies is not done, but we just saw a very big development within that larger story.

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Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan are set to return to Arizona

Two big names are returning to Tucson for the 2024 season.

On Saturday it was reported that Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan would be returning to the Arizona Wildcats in 2024. This is a major victory for the Wildcats and new head coach Brent Brennan. The news was reported by Greg Biggins of 247Sports.

It was widely speculated that the two All-American players might enter the transfer portal and potentially follow their head coach to Washington. McMillan was named third-team All-American by the AP for his efforts this past season. Quarterback Noah Fifita was named freshman All-American by the FWAA.

Both will be crucial to the success of the Wildcats as they head into their first season in the Big 12. They will join Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah in the new-look conference. Fifita took over for the injured Jayden De Laura last season and he didn’t miss a beat. De Laura returned from injury but couldn’t unseat the talented redshirt freshman.

De Laura will now take his talents to Texas State. Once he joined incumbent starter T.J. Finley put his name in the transfer portal and ultimately committed to play for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

As far as the Wildcats and new head coach Brent Brennan, this is a major win for them.

Arizona hires Brent Brennan to be next head coach

The Arizona Wildcats will hire former San Jose State head coach Brent Brennan to be their next head coach. The move comes following Jedd Fisch leaving Arizona to take the Washington Huskies head coach opening.

The Arizona Wildcats have agreed to a deal to make former San Jose State head coach Brent Brennan their next head coach.

Brennan and Arizona have reportedly agreed to a five-year contract, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. He will become Arizona’s next head coach following the exit of Jedd Fisch, who took the Washington Huskies’ head coach opening Sunday.

Brennan spent seven years as the head coach at San Jose State, where he finished with a 34-48 record and a 0-3 record in Bowl Games. He led the Spartans to back-to-back winning seasons in his last two seasons.

His best season with San Jose State was a 7-1 finish in the shortened 2020 season.

Brennan has ties to the Arizona program with his brother Brad Brennan playing for the Wildcats from 1996-2000.

The Wildcats are coming off a 10-3 finish in 2023 capped off with a win in the Alamo Bowl. The record marked Arizona’s first 10-win season since 2014.

Brennan and the Wildcats got a major boost Tuesday as CBS Sports insider Dennis Dodd reported that quarterback Noah Fifita, the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, an All-Pac 12 Second Team honoree would stay at Arizona as the program transitions to the Big 12.

Top freshman quarterback and All-Pac 12 receiver reportedly set to stay at Arizona

Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Noah Fifita and All Pac-12 wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan are reportedly set to stay at Arizona despite head coach Jedd Fisch leaving for Washington Job.

The Arizona Wildcats will return starting quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, according to CBS Sports reporter Dennis Dodd.

Fifita was one of the best freshman quarterbacks in college football last season. He took over the reins at quarterback over Jayden de Laura and helped lead the Wildcats to a 10-3 record and an Alamo Bowl win.

He was named the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year after he threw for 2,869 yards, 25 touchdowns, and just six interceptions on a 72% completion percentage in 12 appearances. His completion percentage ranked fourth nationally and his 25 touchdown passes led all freshmen quarterbacks.

Fifita was also named to the FWAA  Offensive Freshman of the Year list on Tuesday.

One of his top receivers, McMillan, is also set to return to the Wildcats. In his second season in Tuscon, Arizona, he caught 90 passes for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns. McMillan earned All-Pac-12 Second Team honors for his efforts.

The duo helped lead the Wildcats to four wins over AP Top 25 teams. The team also finished the season on a seven-game winning streak and its first 10-win season since 2014.

The pair’s future was put in doubt after Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch took the Washington head coach job Sunday. The Wildcats are set to hire former San Jose State head coach Brent Brennan as their next head coach.

Report Card: Oklahoma Sooners up and down in Alamo Bowl loss to Arizona

It was an up and down performance in the Oklahoma Sooners 38-24 loss to Arizona and here’s our final report card for 2023.

All of the excitement that had been built up in anticipation of Jackson Arnold’s first start as the Sooners starting quarterback was dashed with a couple of first quarter interceptions.

It wasn’t how anyone hoped or expected it would start. Arnold rebounded to play well over the next two quarters as the Sooners built a 24-13 lead. However, turnovers at the end of the third quarter and in the fourth dashed Oklahoma’s hopes of ending the season on a high note.

Though there were six turnovers and the Sooners defense allowed some big plays, there were a lot of positives to take away from the game.

For the final time in 2023, here’s out postgame report card.

Turnovers spoil third quarter lead, Sooners beat by Arizona 38-24 in Alamo Bowl

Oklahoma turned the ball over six times in their 38-24 loss, letting an 11-point third quarter lead slip away.

Turnovers were the name of the game in the Oklahoma Sooners loss to the Arizona Wildcats in the Alamo Bowl. Oklahoma turned the ball over six times, including four by true freshman Jackson Arnold, who was making the first start of his collegiate career.

Arizona jumped off to a quick start on the back of two Arnold interceptions in the first quarter and some big plays by Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. OU trailed 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.

But in the second, Jackson Arnold settled in and helped the Sooners end the half with a 14-0 run to take a one-point lead after the first 30 minutes.

Gavin Sawchuk kicked off the scoring with an 18-yard touchdown run to cut the Wildcats lead to six. The Sooners threatened to take the lead on their next possession after Kani Walker picked off Noah Fifita. But on the very next play, Jalil Farooq fumbled inside the red zone to give the ball back to the Wildcats.

The Sooners defense forced a Wildcats punt and Jackson Arnold continued his strong second quarter performance. He led the Sooners on a six-play, 92-yard drive, which culminated in a beautiful throw to Nic Anderson in the back corner of the end zone, who hauled it in on a beautiful diving sideline grab.

And it didn’t take long for the Oklahoma Sooners to add to their lead. Arnold hit Brenen Thompson down the field for a 63-yard touchdown that put Oklahoma up 21-13.

Two drives later, the Sooners extended their lead on a Zach Schmit field goal to go up 24-13.

It looked like the Sooners were in complete control of the game. Pac-12 freshman offensive player of the year Noah Fifita didn’t have an answer for the Sooners defense.

But the Sooners offense was unable to take advantage of the tremendous defensive effort through three quarters.

Arnold and the offense got the ball into scoring range again late in the third quarter. But after Arnold found Farooq on a slant, the Sooners’ veteran wide receiver coughed up the ball, which was recovered in the air and returned 87 yards for the touchdown.

The Wildcats took a 31-24 lead after Arnold’s third interception of the game and then salted it away after Arnold fumbled the ball away after being sacked.

And that was the story of the game. Turnovers and untimely penalties spoiled what looked like it might be a memorable first start for Arnold and a potential 11th win for the Sooners.

At times the Oklahoma offense found success both in the running game and through the air. Gavin Sawchuk had his fifth-straight 100-yard day, carrying the ball 15 times for 134 yards and a touchdown. He also added three receptions for 42 yards.

Arnold’s day ended 26 of 45 (58%) for 361 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions, and a fumble. Officially, he carried the ball 11 times for 38 yards.

Nic Anderson had seven receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown and Drake Stoops closed out his Oklahoma career with another nice performance, catching six balls for 82 yards.

Ultimately, the Sooners will go into the offseason feeling like they let this one slip away because they did. Poor ball security took points off the board or put the defense on a short field. There’s no recipe for success when you turn the ball over like that.

However, there’s a lot to learn from this game. And as the Sooners get set to embark on their first season in the SEC, they better be quick learners.

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No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 Arizona Wildcats: Sooners Wire staff predictions

The Oklahoma Sooners take on the Arizona Wildcats in the Alamo Bowl. Sooners Wire staff predicts the final game of 2023.

The [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] era has officially begun in Norman, Oklahoma. He’ll make the first start of Sooners’ career in the Alamo Bowl when the Sooners take on one of the hottest teams in the country, the Arizona Wildcats.

On paper, this looks like an even matchup between two teams that rank inside the top 50 on both sides of the ball.

Like Oklahoma, the Wildcats will start a freshman at quarterback, Noah Fifita. He’s played really well in 2023 and is a big reason Arizona is on the verge of a 10-win season.

To get you ready for the 2023 Valero [autotag]Alamo Bowl[/autotag], here are our final Sooners Wire staff predictions for the 2023 season.

5 Keys to an Oklahoma Sooners win over the Arizona Wildcats

Oklahoma will take on Arizona in the Valero Alamo Bowl Thursday. We shared our five keys to a Sooners victory.

Oklahoma will lace up its cleats and strap on its pads one final time as Team 129 on Thursday evening in San Antonio, Texas.

Its opponent will be a highly motivated Arizona Wildcats team with a nice mix of talent and experience. They are looking to send their upperclassmen out in a big way as they wrap up their final season in the Pac-12.

The Sooners finished the season with a track meet of a game against TCU the day after Thanksgiving. Dillon Gabriel put on one final show in his last game as an Oklahoma player. He has since transferred to the University of Oregon, where he will play his final college football season.

Arizona blasted its in-state rivals, Arizona State, 59-23 in the Duel in the Desert, to retain the Territorial Cup for another year. Its explosive offense, spearheaded by Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year quarterback Noah Fifita, can flat-out move the ball.

As Oklahoma descends upon Texas for one final game, we examine the five keys to a Sooners victory in the season’s last game.