Arizona’s kicking game kicked the Wildcats into another week with Big 12 championship aspirations.
Ian French’s pooch kick caught TCU off guard and Zuri Watson recovered the muff, setting up a 37-yard go-ahead field goal by Michael Salgado-Medina with 38 seconds left.
Tyrese Boss sealed the 29-28 win over the Horned Frogs at Casino Del Sol Stadium with an interception in the waning seconds.
The Wildcats (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) overcame an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit, answering a late TCU touchdown with a touchdown of their own before Salgado-Medina delivered the game-winning kick.
A THRILLER IN TUCSON
Arizona comes back in the fourth to defeat TCU https://t.co/ctuMFyJC9x
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 7, 2026
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita completed 24 of 37 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns. Giovanni Richardson was his favorite target, finishing with 11 receptions for 171 yards.
“It’s November; these games are just battles,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan said in the postgame press conference. “Knowing it was going to be a four-quarter game, anytime you have Noah Fifita, you have a chance.”
TCU (4-5, 2-4) appeared to have taken control in the fourth quarter after Jaden Craig scored on a 2-yard touchdown run, giving the Horned Frogs a 28-20 advantage.
Arizona responded with a touchdown pass from Fifita to running back Quincy Craig, who hauled in a spectacular 15-yard scoring reception. The Wildcats attempted a two-point conversion but were unsuccessful, leaving them trailing 28-26.
French subsequently delivered the pooch kick beyond TCU’s front line on the kickoff formation and TCU’s Ed Small mishandled the ball, leading to Watson jumping on it for the recovery.
That set the stage for the embattled Salgado-Medina, whose 37-yard field goal gave Arizona the one-point lead and ultimately secured the victory. He was coming off a missed PAT in last week’s loss at Texas Tech that factored into Arizona’s late-game execution.
ARIZONA BEATS TCU 29-28
THEIR BIG 12 TITLE AND PLAYOFF HOPES REMAIN ALIVE. https://t.co/8XXvuCdQl9
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) November 7, 2026
The victory over TCU was especially important coming off that 34-26 setback at Texas Tech the previous week.
TCU quarterback Jaden Craig completed 28 of 41 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown, while also adding two rushing touchdowns. Kari Ashley led the Horned Frogs with 14 receptions for 95 yards.
The victory capped a game that featured several momentum swings.
Arizona opened the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Fifita to Isaiah Mizell with 10:39 remaining in the first quarter. Salgado-Medina added a 43-yard field goal with 4:06 left in the opening period to give the Wildcats a 10-0 advantage.
TCU answered in the second quarter. Craig scored on a 7-yard touchdown run with 8:53 remaining to cut the deficit to 10-7.
SING THE SONG https://t.co/A5uTYWjB2i
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) November 7, 2026
The Horned Frogs then took their first lead in spectacular fashion. Hudson Hooper intercepted Fifita and returned the ball 93 yards for a touchdown with 4:09 left in the first half. The extra point gave TCU a 14-10 lead.
Arizona regained the advantage in the third quarter when Fifita scored on a 9-yard touchdown run with 8:14 remaining, putting the Wildcats ahead 17-14.
“Just getting back to doing our job,” Fifita said when asked by ESPN after the game about the offense’s fortitude. “We believe in each other. We believe in ourselves, playing for each other. And at the end of the day, defense kept us in it the whole time. I gave them seven points. Defense played incredible tonight, kept us in it all night. It’s a great team win.”
TCU responded with an 11-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a 6-yard touchdown reception by Jordan Dwyer from Craig with 2:39 left in the quarter. The Horned Frogs regained the lead at 21-17.
Salgado-Medina connected on a 23-yard field goal with 14:57 remaining in the fourth quarter to pull Arizona within one at 21-20.
TCU appeared to take control when Craig scored his second rushing touchdown of the night, but Arizona’s late rally changed the outcome.
Fifita directed the comeback, while Salgado-Medina finished with three field goals, including the game-winner.
Arizona’s ability to respond after Hooper’s 93-yard interception return and TCU’s late touchdown proved decisive. The Wildcats found a way to make the final two possessions count, earning a memorable Big 12 victory.
Next up: a home game against potentially top 5 team Utah at Casino del Sol Stadium.
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