Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita named to Manning Award watch list

Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita was one of 22 new players added to the Manning Award watch list, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced on Thursday. 

The Manning Award — named after Peyton, Eli and Arch Manning — is given to the top quarterback in college football. 

Fifita, BYU's Bear Bachmeier and Kansas' Jalon Daniels are three additions from the Big 12. Other Big 12 quarterbacks that were on the preseason watch list include Rocco Becht (Iowa State), Behren Morton (Texas Tech), Sam Leavitt (Arizona State), Josh Hoover (TCU), Avery Johnson (Kansas State), Sawyer Robertson (Baylor) and Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati). 

Other notable quarterbacks on the Manning Award watch list include Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), Carson Beck (Miami), Joey Aguilar (Tennessee), Julian Sayin (Ohio State), Ty Simpson (Alabama) and Haynes King (Georgia Tech).

Fifita has completed 155 of 235 passes (66%) for 1,829 yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions this season, which is on pace for a significant improvement following his 18-touchdown and 12-interception season in 2024. Fifita is third in the Big 12 in passing yards behind Robertson and Hoover. 

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Fifita recently completed 24 of 26 passes (92.3%) for 289 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in Arizona's 31-28 loss to Houston last week. It’s the best single-game completion rate in school history (with a minimum of 20 pass attempts).

Fifita’s 92.3% completion rate is the third-best for a college quarterback on the road since 1996. The only two quarterbacks ahead of Fifita are Sean Renfree and Jameis Winston. Arizona offensive coordinator and former Texas Tech quarterback Seth Doege is sixth on the list for his 40-of-44 performance against New Mexico in 2011.

Fifita also recently passed Tom Tunnicliffe for the third-most career passing yards (7,515) by a Wildcat. Fifita trails Nick Foles and Willie Tuitama for the most career yards in UA history. Fifita is third in Arizona history with 61 passing touchdowns; he needs seven more to pass Foles and Tuitama. 

Finalists for the Manning Award will be announced after the regular season, and the winner will be unveiled just after the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 19.