In a battle of Wildcats vs. Wildcats, No. 20 Arizona plays against fellow Big 12 member in 14th-ranked Kansas State in Manhattan. The home-and-home series (which is scheduled to continue in Tucson in 2025) was scheduled in 2016, thus will be a nonconference game despite pitting two new conference foes against each other. Here's a look atΒ starting lineups, key matchups and a prediction from Star reporter Justin Spears.Β
No. 20 Arizona (2-0) at No. 14 Kansas State (2-0)
When:Β Friday, 5 p.m.
Where:Β Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium; Manhattan, Kansas
Watch:Β Fox
Radio:Β 1290-AM, 107.5-FM
Arizona linebacker Jacob Manu (5) indicates a turnover on downs after the Wildcat defense swarmed Northern Arizona running back Darvon Hubbard (23) in the first quarter on Aug. 31 at Arizona Stadium.
Arizona Wildcats
Record:Β 2-0 (0-0 Big 12)
WHEN ARIZONA IS ON OFFENSE (PROJECTED):
[Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.]
XWR | 4 | Tetairoa McMillan | 6-5 | 212 | Jr.
FWR | 2 | Jeremiah Patterson | 5-10 | 175 | Jr.
LT | 59 | Rhino Tapa'atoutai | 6-5 | 311 | R-Fr.
LG | 72 | Wendell Moe | 6-2 | 339 | R-So.
C | 75 | Josh Baker | 6-3 | 300 | Sr.
RG |Β 58 | Ryan Stewart | 6-4 | 297 | R-Jr.
RT |Β 71 | Jonah Savaiinaea | 6-5 | 336 | Jr.
TE | 88 | Keyan Burnett | 6-6 | 248 | Jr.
ZWR | 5 | Montana Lemonious-Craig | 6-2 | 194 | Sr.
QB | 11 | Noah Fifita | 5-10 | 188 | R-So.Β
RB | 7 | Quali Conley | 5-10 | 209 | Sr.
WHEN ARIZONA IS ON DEFENSE (PROJECTED):
[Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.]
DE | 11 | Chase Kennedy | 6-3 | 220 | R-So.
DT |Β 46 | Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei | 6-4 | 280 | Jr.
NT | 92 | Chubba Ma'ae | 6-2 | 349 | Sr.
DE | 3 | Tre Smith | 6-5 | 270 | R-Jr.
MLB | 5 | Jacob Manu | 5-11 | 228 | Jr.
WLB | 6 | Taye Brown | 6-2 | 225 | So.
STAR | 2 | Treydan Stukes | 6-2 | 198 | Sr.
CB | 20 | Marquis Groves-Killebrew | 6-0 | 185 | R-So.
CB | 1 | Tacario Davis | 6-4 | 190 | Jr.
BS | 27 | Owen Goss | 6-0 | 202 | Sr.
FS | 9 |Β Gunner Maldonado | 6-0 | 194 | Sr.
UA 2024 SCHEDULE
August
31 |Β NEW MEXICOΒ | W, 61-39
September
7 |Β NORTHERN ARIZONAΒ | W, 22-10
13 | at No. 14 Kansas State*
28 | at No. 12 Utah
October
5 |Β TEXAS TECH
12 | at BYU
19 |Β COLORADOΒ (Homecoming)
26 |Β W. VIRGINIAΒ (Family Weekend)
November
2 | at UCFΒ
15 |Β HOUSTON*
23 | at TCU
30 |Β ASUΒ (Senior Day)
Home games inΒ BOLD;Β *=Friday game
UA 2024 STATS
PASSING
[Name | Comp-Att-INT | Yards | TDs | Long]
Fifita | 37-57-2 | 595 | 5 | 78
RUSHING
[Name | Carries | Yards | TDs | Per carry | Per game]
Conley | 27 | 202 | 3 | 7.5 | 101
Croskey-Merritt | 13 | 106 | 1 | 8.2 | 106.0
Reescano | 7 | 71 | 1 | 10.1 | 35.5
Riley | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15.0 | 7.5
Luke | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.3 | 0.5
RECEIVING
[Name | Receptions | Yards | TDs | Per catch | Per game]
McMillan | 12 | 315 | 4 | 26.3 | 157.5
Conley | 8 | 67 | 0 | 8.4 | 33.5
Burnett | 3 | 49 | 0 | 16.3 | 24.5
Patterson | 4 | 40 | 1 | 10 | 20
Hyatt | 1 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 15
DEFENSE
[Name | Tackles | Sacks | INTs | FR | FF]
Manu | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0
Brown | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Stukes | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0
Johnson | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Smith, T. | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0
Lane | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Davis | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Kansas State running back Dylan Edwards high steps in the end zone for a touchdown past Tulane safety Jack Tchienchou during the second half of Saturdayβs game in New Orleans.
Kansas State Wildcats
Record:Β 2-0 (0-0 Big 12)
WHEN KSU IS ON OFFENSE (PROJECTED):Β
[Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.]
WR | 10 | Keagan Johnson | 6-0 | 206 | Jr.
TE | 86 | Garrett Oakley | 6-5 | 239 | So.
LT | 71 | Easton Kilty | 6-6 | 307 | Sr.
LG | 54 | Hadley Panzer | 6-4 | 305 | R-Sr.
C | 75| Sam Hect | 6-4 | 287 | Jr.
RG | 69 | Taylor Poitier | 6-3 | 305 | Sr.
RT |Β 77 | Carver Willis | 6-5 | 291 | Sr.
WR | 1 | Jayce Brown | 6-0 | 179 | So.
WR | 14 | Dante Cephas | 6-0 | 193 | So.
QB | 2 | Avery Johnson | 6-2 | 192 | So.
RB | 31 | DJ Giddens | 6-0 | 193 | Jr.
WHEN KSU IS ON DEFENSE (PROJECTED):
[Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.]
DE | 38 | Brendan Mott | 6-5 | 244 | Sr.
DL | 56 | Damian Ilalio | 6-2 | 300 | Jr.
DE | 39 | Travis Bates | 6-3 | 265 | So.
DE | 47 | Cody Stufflebean | 6-4 | 257 | Sr.
SLB | 32 | Desmond Purnell | 6-0 | 236 | Jr.
MLB | 45 | Austin Romaine | 6-2 | 242 | So.
WLB | 41 | Austin Moore | 6-1 | 220 | Sr.
CB | 10 | Jacob Parrish | 5-10 | 198 | Jr.
SS | 19 | VJ Payne | 6-3 | 211 | Jr.
FS | 21 | Marques Sigle | 6-0 | 197 | Sr.
CB | 1 | Keenan Garber | 6-0 | 188 | Sr.
KSU 2024 SCHEDULE
August
31 |Β UT MartinΒ | W, 41-6
September
7 |Β at Tulane | W, 34-27
13 |Β ARIZONA*
21 | at BYU
28 |Β No. 13 OKLAHOMA STATE
October
12 | at Colorado
19 |Β at West Virginia
26 | KANSAS
November
2 | at Houston
16 |Β ARIZONA STATE
23 |Β CINCINNATIΒ
30 | at No. 21 Iowa State
Home games inΒ BOLD;Β *=Friday game
KSU 2024 STATS
PASSING
[Name | Comp-Att-INT | Yards | TDs | Long]
Johnson | 29-44-1 | 334 | 4 | 45
Knuth | 1-1-0 | 9 | 0 | 9
Roberson | 1-3-0 | 4 | 0 | 4
RUSHING
[Name | Carries | Yards | TDs | Per carry | Per game]
Giddens | 32 | 238 | 0 | 7.4 | 119
Edwards | 9 | 97 | 2 | 10.8 | 48.5
Johnson, A. | 11 | 77 | 0 | 7 | 38.5
Jackson | 7 | 48 | 0 | 6.9 | 24
White | 1 | 12 | 1 | 12 | 6
RECEIVING
[Name | Receptions | Yards | TDs | Per catch | Per game]
Brown | 6 | 88 | 0 | 14.7 | 44.0
Giddens | 7 | 69 | 1 | 9.9 | 34.5
Johnson, K. | 4 | 57 | 0 | 14.3 | 28.5
Loftin | 3 | 41 | 1 | 13.7 | 20.5
DEFENSE
[Name | Tackles | Sacks | INTs | FR | FF]
Payne | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1
Riley | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Romaine | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1
Parrish | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Purnell | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0Β
Moore | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0
Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes points at a short punt while running special-teams drills in the Wildcats' evening practice Friday at Arizona Stadium.
Head to Head
2 Treydan Stukes vs. 2 Avery Johnson
Stukes made one of the biggest improvements from the season opener to last week. After giving up eight catches for 96 yards in pass coverage against New Mexico, Stukes allowed just two receptions for minus-9 yards against NAU. If Arizona uses the "dollar" package defense against Kansas State, Stukes could have a linebacker role to make stops in the open field against Kansas State's rushing attack.Β
Johnson was a highly-touted recruit in 2023 and signed with Kansas State as a four-star prospect from Maize, Kansas. Johnson was a backup for his first season at KSU, but started at QB in the 28-19 win over North Carolina State in the Pop Tarts Bowl. Johnson had seven carries for 71 yards and a touchdown in the bowl, and has 11 carries for 77 yards through two games. Arizona has shown struggles corralling athletic quarterbacks who can peel off for big runs. Johnson's legs could have an impact on Friday.Β
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) practices some over the shoulder catches as the Wildcats run through drills before their recent matchup with Northern Arizona on Sept. 7 at Arizona Stadium in Tucson.
4 Tetairoa McMillan vs. 19 VJ Payne
McMillan had mercurial performances in the first two games of the season, but the star's most recent games away from Arizona Stadium bode well for the UA. In the last five games away from Tucson, including the Alamo Bowl, McMillan has 43 catches for 709 yards but just two touchdowns. McMillan will likely be moved around at various receiver spots to create mismatches.Β Β Β
Payne sealed the win for Kansas State last week with an interception in the end zone as Tulane attempted to either tie or win the game. The two-year starter and linebacker-converted-safety leads KSU with 11 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. Payne has a knack for causing takeaways.Β
The matchup
When Arizona has the ballΒ β¦Β
Arizona went 0-for-10 on third-down conversions for the first time since 2003. That can happen against NAU in Tucson; that can't happen against a Top 15 team at their stadium. Third-and-long situations, coupled with a wobbly offensive line, could be problematic for Arizona. Playing downhill, running the football and occasionally taking a shot to McMillan or other receivers could be the blueprint for a victory.Β
When Kansas State has the ballΒ β¦Β
KSU has the 20th-best rushing offense in college football and averages 249 yards per game, which is fourth in the Big 12 behind UCF, Arizona State and Kansas. Junior running back DJ Giddens displayed his versatility last week with 114 rushing yards and four catches for 63 yards and a touchdown. The rushing combination of Giddens and Johnson will be a handful for Arizona.Β
Prediction: No. 20 Arizona 30, No. 14 Kansas State 27
Congratulations, Arizona! Your reward for earning college football's longest active winning streak is a matchup with a team ranked higher than you β and it's on the road! Arizona's nine-game winning streak is in jeopardy. However, the UA has a chance to secure the longest winning streak in program history. Friday night's game will be the contest Arizona throws everything at Kansas State. If Arizona avoids mistakes similar to the ones made in last season's road opener against Mississippi State, including five first-half turnovers, and sets the tone on offense and doesn't stack up more penalties, the UA will have a formula to win. Arizona has to play clean, which it hasn't through two games. More importantly, Fifita's protection with a reshuffled offensive line will have an effect on this game. But strange things happen on Friday the 13th. No matter what, the Wildcats win.Β Β
