‘Used to it’: Arizona RB Ismail Mahdi draws from Texas State days for huge night vs. Kansas State

Under the lights in Tucson on Friday, Arizona running back Ismail Mahdi felt like he was still in San Marcos playing for Texas State.

The senior transfer exploded for 221 all-purpose yards in the Wildcats’ 23-17 win over Kansas State. He ripped off 189 yards on 22 carries (8.6 yards per carry) and added two catches for 32 yards.

The only thing he lacked was a touchdown.

“It felt like the games at Texas State, I’m used to it,” Mahdi said postgame. “I’ve played a lot of snaps in my career, so I’m used to what I just displayed out there.”

In 25 career games with the Bobcats, Mahdi had 10 where he logged at least 20 carries and 14 with at least 15 carries.

With fellow back Kedrick Reescano inactive, Mahdi said he knew going into the game that his workload was going to be greater than his six and nine carries the first two weeks, respectively.

The 5-foot-9 running back secured his second-most rushing yards in a single game, as only his 216 on 21 carries with Texas State in 2023 remained at the top of his career list. In that same game, which was played against Nevada, Mahdi also had two receptions for 40 yards, keeping the 256 all-purpose yards just out of reach.

His ground outburst helped Arizona to its first game of at least 200 rushing yards (234) since Week 1 of the 2024 season against New Mexico (205).

After a 17-point first half, points were hard to come by for Arizona (3-0) despite Mahdi’s sustained success. Shutdown defense by the Wildcats — only allowing 193 total yards and 88 passing yards by Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson — certainly helped secure the win, but a critical third-down pickup by Mahdi in the fourth quarter made time of possession their ultimate friend.

Ismail Mahdi makes crucial catch-and-run play

With a 20-17 lead and 11:43 in the fourth, Mahdi led off a 58-yard, 7:30 drive with carries of 19, seven and two yards. However, a offensive holding call — which killed Arizona all night with five such infractions — and two incompletions from quarterback Noah Fifita left a third-and-15 from the Wildcats’ 43-yard line.

After going through all of his progressions, Fifita dumped one off to Mahdi in the flat and he threaded through several oncoming defenders for the first down yardage and 12 more yards after breaking two tackles.

ABOUT LAST NIGHT… 🔥

✅ 22 Carries
✅ 189 Yards
✅ W

Ismail Mahdi Highlights vs. Kansas State 🎬#Big12FB | @ArizonaFBall pic.twitter.com/zNt7ohEvfo

— Big 12 Studios (@big12studios) September 13, 2025

“Had to check (defense) on that, first my protections didn’t come, had my chip and I just got out and leaked out for Noah,” Mahdi said. “It’s third-and-long, whatever happens, he threw the ball to me and I got it and I got vertical. And I made a play.”

As great as Mahdi was at identifying holes in the Kansas State (1-3) defensive line, coach Brent Brennan credited his offensive line for consistently creating the open space.

“He doesn’t make those plays without that offensive front blocking the way they had to,” Brennan said. “I’m really excited with how they responded and how Ish kept showing up and kept ripping off big runs with physicality and finish.”

That big chunk play only resulted in a 41-yard field goal by Michael Salgado-Medina (3-for-6), but on such a stifling night for the Arizona defense that forced four turnover on downs and five punts, every point on the board was a battle won.

A big part of that defense was junior Genesis Smith, who Brennan called Arizona’s “Chief Energy Officer,” who racked up eight total tackles (four solo) and three passes defensed.

In addition to his tough-nosed running and ability to work in space, Mahdi demonstrated pro-level blitz pickup for Fifita late in the third quarter.

Watch the blitz pickup by Arizona RB Ismail Mahdi 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zNKkN4QGzc

— Im not a fan of your favorite team (@fsh733) September 13, 2025

Mahdi experienced a couple of winning seasons with Texas State, which also put up 30-plus points 18 times between 2023 and 2024, but he said the Wildcats’ offensive group is the “most committed” he’s been with.

“We’re staying together,” Mahdi said. “I feel like this is the most committed offensive group that I’ve been with, player-wise. We’re player-led, we push each other and stuff like that. It’s been great to be with this offense.”

Fifita was the team’s second-leading rusher with 48 yards on a career-most 15 carries, two of which were turned into Arizona’s two touchdowns. Quincy Craig added three carries for nine yards, all three coming in the second half.

Due to previous scheduling, this all-Wildcat showdown was a nonconference affair, but it nonetheless established a baseline for Arizona’s potential after a disappointing 4-8 first-year campaign in the Big 12 under Brennan.

The Wildcats have a bye week before beginning the conference portion of their 2025 season at No. 14 Iowa State.

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