It looked like it was going to be another one of those unfulfilled moments for Arizona that could lead to a season of misery, trailing Washington State midway through the third quarter Saturday following two failed field goal attempts.
But instead of “Here we go, again,” it was more of an emphatic, “Here we go!” for Noah Fifita and Arizona in a 34-24 victory over their former Pac-12 foe Washington State in Pullman, Wash.
The Wildcats (3-1) fell behind 14-0 early, but Fifita and Arizona’s offense steadily started to produce.
Fifita finished with 297 passing yards and four touchdowns, completing 22 of 36 attempts.
"He keeps choosing his teammates." pic.twitter.com/brT0bse9ET
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) September 27, 2026
Arizona answered Washington State’s two-touchdown lead with a pair of scoring passes from Fifita to Tre Spivey, including a 28-yard strike late in the first quarter.
Spivey finished with seven receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns.
He helped make up for the injury absences of receiver Gio Richardson and tight end Cole Rusk.
Washington State still held a 17-14 lead with 6 minutes left in the third quarter after Michael Salgado-Medina missed a 42-yard field goal and had a 43-yard attempt blocked.
Fifita awoke Arizona’s attack with a 41-yard pass to Caleb “Jet” Smith and then a 38-yard touchdown pass to the speedster, putting Arizona ahead 21-17 with 4:08 left in the third quarter.
THE CATS ARE ROLLIN' pic.twitter.com/OPwR9LIod2
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) September 27, 2026
Arizona’s defense also rose to the occasion in the third quarter and some of the fourth quarter, forcing four punts and a lost fumble in the Cougars’ first five possessions of the second half.
Arizona created separation when Fifita found Ismail Mizell for an 11-yard touchdown with 9:07 remaining.
Washington State quarterback Caden Pinnick constantly felt the heat of Danny Gonzales’ blitz packages but was still productive, passing for 241 yards and a touchdown while adding 35 rushing yards and a touchdown.
His 46-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Branden Ganashamoorthy with 7:22 remaining cut Arizona’s lead to 31-24.
Salgado-Medina turned from goat to hero, drilling a 51-yard field goal with 2:02 remaining.
Washington State had one final opportunity, but Arizona’s defense stopped the Cougars on downs, allowing Fifita to take a knee and seal the victory.
Arizona finished with 447 total yards, including 297 through the air, while Washington State managed 335.
The Wildcats also controlled possession for more than 34 minutes despite a mildly successful 150 yards rushing, led by Ismail Mahdi’s 63 yards on 10 carries. He gained 50 of those yards on eight carries in the second half.
The victory was notable because it came in Arizona’s first meeting with Washington State since the programs were members of the Pac-12. Arizona had won the previous meeting 44-6 in Pullman in 2023.
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