Brennan: Big loss to Iowa State is a ‘harsh’ measuring stick for Arizona entering Big 12 play

As can often be the case, the box score didn’t come close to telling the full story of Arizona football’s 39-14 loss to No. 14 Iowa State on Saturday.

Just scanning down the team stats, total offensive yards were similar (400 to 360, Iowa State), time of possession was nearly even (31:05 to 28:55, Iowa State) and first downs actually favored Arizona, 20 to 19.

In actuality, the Wildcats’ 2025 Big 12 opener was a matchup of field position and explosive plays, neither of which favored them on the road following an early bye.

Three of Iowa State’s five touchdown-scoring drives began on Arizona’s end of the field.

“This game was a big-time measuring stick for us, and it was a harsh one, it hurts,” coach Brent Brennan said postgame. “(Iowa State) beat us. They beat us fair and square. Now, what are we gonna do about it? That’s what I want to know.”

Three games into the campaign, Arizona’s only real challenge was Kansas State for Week 3, a game that came down to a strong defensive stand despite running back Ismail Mahdi sustaining the offense with 221 all-purpose yards.

At Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, they saw what the current top dog in the Big 12 looks and sounds like. Quarterback Rocco Becht was 14-for-20 for 243 yards and averaged 12.2 yards per pass. He scored three rushing touchdowns while amassing -10 yards on nine carries (sacks count against QB’s rushing stats in college football).

As for those aforementioned explosive plays, the Cyclones had four receivers with catches that went for at least 22 yards, with junior Chase Sowell lighting it up for 146 yards on just four receptions.

Brennan said he was pleased with the way linebacker Riley Wilson and defensive back Dalton Johnson attacked, Wilson getting home for Arizona’s two sacks on Becht and Johnson having a game-high 10 tackles (eight solo).

Wilson missed Weeks 1 and 3 so far this season while continuing to deal with an injury that first popped up in fall camp.

“I think Riley’s a guy we’re excited to have healthy and ready to roll,” Brennan said. “You’re starting to see him in the get in the mix, and be effective when he was in there.”

Brennan said the defense, and all three phases at that, need to improve moving forward but the eventual lopsided nature of the game really came down to early missed scoring chances and a turnover.

Arizona lacked execution, had key mistakes to get in early hole

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Wildcats offense reeled off seven plays for positive yardage and, despite a Kris Hutson one-yard loss and Noah Fifita incompletion, had a 46-yard field goal attempt. Michael Salgado-Medina failed to convert the kick (his only attempt of the game) and opened the gates for an Iowa State 72-yard touchdown drive and two-point conversion.

Three combined punts followed, and a kick-catch interference on the last of those three by Johnson left Iowa State with starting field position on Arizona’s 38-yard line, which it converted into a touchdown and 15-0 lead.

The real back-breaker, however, was Fifita’s first of two interceptions a couple of drives later. Like their first possession, the Wildcats eased their way down the field with a nice mix of run and pass. At Iowa State’s 47-yard line, Fifita tried to push the ball past the 30 but never saw a waiting Jontez Williams who then returned the pick 42 yards to give the Cyclones another short field at the Wildcat 30.

Four plays later, another Iowa State touchdown made it 22-0 before halftime.

“There’s a lot to learn for it. Gotta be able to start faster, especially offensively,” Fifita said postgame. “I’ll eat this one, and I know coach (Seth Doege) is taking it personally … and we gotta get back to the drawing board.”

Fifita, who threw for 253 yards on 32-of-48 passing, said the offense’s lack of rhythm falls squarely on him despite offensive coordinator Doege telling the team otherwise in the locker room.

On the interception to Williams, Fifita said it was a play-action play that he executed poorly and needed to take the checkdown with how well the cornerback read his eyes, especially with the good protection the O-line provided. He was only sacked once, that being the least through four games.

“I think I just gotta play better in the scheme,” Fifita said. “Being able to just trust my eyes, be disciplined (with) my eyes, and then get the ball where it needs to go.”

After lining up against the conference’s best, Arizona will face one of the worst in Oklahoma State (1-3, 0-1 Big 12), which dropped a home game to Baylor, 45-27, only days after firing coach Mike Gundy.

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