Arizona Wildcats upset No. 25 Cincinnati to pick up third straight win

CINCINNATI — Bowl eligibility wasn't the goal for Arizona, it's the standard. 

The Wildcats didn't just want to celebrate a bowl berth, they had aspirations to redline the fourth quarter of the season and replicate the similar magic the program had when it won 10 games two years ago. 

In the process, they spoiled No. 25 Cincinnati's Big 12 title hopes with a 30-24 win over the Bearcats Saturday at Nippert Stadium.

Arizona (7-3) has won three straight games since suffering one-possession losses to BYU and Houston.  

Arizona has now won back-to-back road games for the first time under head coach Brent Brennan. The Wildcats were 1-6 on the road until their wins over Colorado and Cincinnati. The Wildcats notched their second win over a ranked opponent under Brennan.

"Just an awesome day for our program," Brennan said. "We talked about it all the time, our commitment to building the best team in the Big 12 — the best team. That's how we're going to have to do it at Arizona and I think you saw that today. This is a team that plays for each other, shows up for each other every day in practice, meetings, weight room. It's so special. ... This time of year, it's all about execution, and our guys executed when we had to." 

Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby had only thrown two interceptions before Saturday, but threw two picks in the first half. Sorsby's first interception was the first play from scrimmage after a pass attempt near the right sideline that was tipped by UA safety Dalton Johnson and intercepted by cornerback Jay'Vion Cole. 

Cole has a team-high four interceptions, which is also tied for the most in the Big 12 this season. Cole's four interceptions are the most by a Wildcats since Lorenzo Burns in 2019. 

Two plays after Cole's interception, Arizona jumped out to a 7-0 lead after running back Ismail Mahdi's 27-yard touchdown run, which is the third rushing touchdown of the season for Mahdi — second in three games. The Wildcats had a one-touchdown lead 56 seconds in the game. 

With Arizona's defensive front shorthanded due to injuries, Cincinnati — which entered Saturday with the third-best rushing offense in the Big 12 — leaned on its run game. The Bearcats had eight rushes for 140 yards in the first quarter and averaged 17.5 yards per carry in the opening period. 

Cincinnati running back Tawee Walker had four carries for 104 yards. Sorsby had a 4-yard rushing touchdown and a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jeff Caldwell to take a 14-7 lead.

Arizona's defense adjusted and held the Bearcats to back-to-back punts and Sorsby's second interception, which was picked off by safety Dalton Johnson just before the halftime break.

Arizona's field goal unit struggled in the first half. Arizona sophomore kicker Michael Salgado-Medina missed a 40-yard attempt, albeit the snap was high. Salgado-Medina's 34-yard attempt early in the second quarter was blocked by UC defensive end Logan Wilson. 

Salgado-Medina made his final three attempts, a wobbly 24-yarder with four seconds left in the first half, a 25-yarder in the the third quarter and a 51-yarder with just under two minutes left in the game.  

Turning point

On Arizona's final offensive possession of the first half, Arizona wide receiver Kris Hutson hauled in a 25-yard catch on third-and-19 from the Arizona 27-yard line. 

Arizona running back Quincy Craig, who was recently named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, had 37 rushing yards on the Wildcats' final drive of the first half to set up Salgado-Medina 24-yard field goal to cut the deficit, 14-13. 

If Hutson didn't convert the third-down play, Cincinnati could've conceivably taken a 21-10 lead at halftime. The Wildcats were 8-for-16 on third-down conversions, while Cincinnati was 3-for-12. 

The Wildcats took their second lead of the game after running back Kedrick Reescano ran for a 50-yard touchdown to cap a 99-yard scoring drive. Reescano, who had 13 carries for 94 yards on Saturday, has scored in five of the seven games he's played in this season. 

Arizona surrendered 155 total yards in the first quarter. Cincinnati had 189 total yards in the final three quarters. Arizona out-gained the Bearcats 475-344.

Brennan said the Wildcats "had to settle down" after the first quarter. 

"The thing about our defense is that it's a little bit unique," Brennan said. "There's always a learning curve in the beginning of the game with how people are going to choose to attack it."

Arizona's physicality against an offensively sound Cincinnati team "didn't show up enough" in the first quarter, Brennan said.

"But when we flipped that physical switch, all of a sudden we started getting stops and started moving the ball and started running the ball and started making plays," Brennan added. "That was a huge moment for us in the game. ... We had to be physical and we had to win the turnover battle today. Those are two things that gave us a chance to win on the road against a Top 25 team."

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Offensive MVP

Even though Hutson had a season-high 119 yards on seven catches, Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita passed Nick Foles and Willie Tuitama for the program's career passing touchdowns record. Fifita's record-setting touchdown was a 15-yard pass to freshman Gio Richardson. 

"First of all, that pass was such a dime," Brennan said. "Good lord. It was awesome to see Gio Richardson — a freshman — make that play for us. Noah is really special. I can't speak to how unique he is. The young man continues to choose the University of Arizona, he continues to choose Tucson, he continues to choose this program, his teammates, our staff. He's just magic. ... He's special in every way and we love him." 

Fifita completed 23 of 31 passes for 294 yards and a touchdown. Fifita said he's "really grateful" for setting Arizona's career passing touchdowns record. 

"It's a tremendous honor and I give all glory and praise to God," Fifita said. "We came to Cincinnati to get a win and that's what we did. "We're going home as a team with a victory." 

Defensive MVP

Johnson finished Saturday with seven tackles, an interception and a pass breakup. Johnson entered this season with one interception in four seasons. He didn't tally any interceptions last season. Johnson now has three interceptions this season. 

Johnson, a fifth-year senior, will be one of several seniors honored for Senior Day in Arizona's home finale against the Baylor Bears. 

"Dalton is a big-time football player," Brennan said. "That guy, what an awesome leader, what an awesome player. That's another guy, who over his career, continued to choose the University of Arizona, to choose these teammates, to choose this program when others tried to lure him away. So tough, so committed, such a great leader and also a big-time playmaker. He's awesome."  

Unsung hero

Hutson had catches of 17, 25, 26 and 29 yards on Saturday.  

"Hutson is a dude," Fifita said. "He's been a dude since his high school days back in (California), even his youth days. Every time a play needs to be made, (No.) 4 is going to make it. Regardless of what the coverage is, what the route is, he has that belief in himself and we believe in him." 

Injury report

Even though Arizona senior linebacker Max Harris was active on Saturday, freshman Myron Robinson started over him. Harris suffered a leg injury against Kansas, but returned in limited fashion with a brace on his right leg. Harris had a brace on his right leg against Cincinnati, but didn't play.

Robinson exited the game in the third quarter with a leg injury. Freshman Jabari Mann played alongside linebackers Taye Brown, Chase Kennedy and Riley Wilson.  

Arizona defensive Tiaoalii Savea, after suffering a leg injury last week against Kansas, was held out on Saturday.

UA cornerback Marquis Groves-Killebrew, who has played 148 defensive snaps in six games, missed his third straight game with an undisclosed injury. Cole and cornerback Ayden Garnes left with injuries and were replaced by Michael Dansby and Johno Price. Dansby had a critical pass breakup on a deep pass Cincinnati wide receiver Noah Jennings, which could've been a touchdown. The Bearcats settled for a field goal.  

Arizona wide receiver Chris Hunter played on Saturday after missing last week's win over Kansas. 

In the fourth quarter, right tackle Tristan Bounds went down with a leg injury and was replaced by redshirt freshman Matthew Lado, who filled in for the injured Ty Buchanan at left tackle last week. 

Cincinnati was without second-leading rusher Evan Pryor, who sustained an ankle injury three weeks ago, and wide receiver Caleb Goodie. 

What's next

Arizona now turns its attention to the regular-season home finale against the Baylor Bears at Arizona Stadium on Saturday.  

Saturday will mark the second all-time matchup between Arizona and Baylor, the first since 1992, when the Wildcats fell to the Bears, 20-15, in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, which was then called the John Hancock Bowl.

Kickoff time for Arizona's home finale will be announced either Saturday evening or Sunday morning. 

"Shoot, I couldn't be more excited," Brennan said on Saturday. "That locker room, the energy in there, the joy is contagious and it's fantastic. I love where we're at and I love where we're going. We're going to enjoy the hell out of this one and I can't wait to play next week."