Red Raiders’ running game haunts Wildcats, as Arizona falls to Texas Tech

Arizona could not contain Thomas Castellanos and the Red Raiders’ running game, as Texas Tech took down Arizona, 34-26, on Saturday.

The No. 22 Wildcats (6-2, 3-2) had their five-game winning streak snapped, and lost a pivotal game, which would have positioned them firmly as a Big 12 title contender and potential College Football Playoff team.

The No. 13 Red Raiders (7-1, 4-1) gained 328 yards on the ground and averaged seven yards per carry. The decision to start Castellanos instead of Will Hamond (who started six of the Red Raiders’ first seven contests) paid dividends for Joey McGuire.

It was the most rushing yards the Wildcats have allowed this season, and the second time this year Arizona had given up more than 300 yards on the ground (303 at West Virginia).

Castellanos ran for 117 yards on 19 carries, as Texas Tech controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.

Arizona’s defense had issues setting the edge and with the mobility of Castellanos, and Saturday saw the Red Raiders running around the edge with ease.

Arizona’s defense could not stop Texas Tech after taking a 10-point lead, as the Red Raiders scored 17 unanswered points on their next four drives after Arizona took a 17-7 lead with two minutes to spare in the first half.

In addition to Castellanos, the Red Raiders also got J’Koby Williams going in the second half, as the back gained 175 yards on the ground on 14 carries, 154 of those coming after the break.

Arizona Wildcats overcome slow offensive start

Predictable playcalling plagued the Wildcats in the game’s early stages, as the Wildcats repeatedly turned to ineffective, slow developing inside runs up the middle for minimal gains.

It was Isaiah Mizell 94-yard touchdown five minutes into the second quarter that flipped the game on its head and gave Arizona a 10-7 lead.

HOW DOES HE DO IT?? 🫨

📺 ESPN https://t.co/VAIWnoZa5g

— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) October 31, 2026

On a third-and-12 with Arizona pinned back deep, Fifita found Mizell for the score. It was the longest pass of Fifita’s career, Arizona’s longest touchdown pass since 2015 and tied for the third longest in program history.

Prior to the Mizell explosive play, Arizona had just 69 yards of total offense and -5 rushing yards.

After the Mizell touchdown, Fifita seemed to find his rhythm, as Arizona was moving the ball down the field with ease until the final quarter.

Three uncharacteristic overthrows in a row by Fifita on a key drive in the fourth quarter, followed by a sack on the next drive, kept Arizona off the scoreboard for 20:12. After Kedrick Reescano rushed for a touchdown with 5:34 left in the third quarter, the Wildcats didn’t score again until their late field goal with 22 seconds remaining in the game.

Fifita finished 33 of 45 (73%) with 417 passing yards and a touchdown.

Saturday’s loss marked three straight games with at least 100 yards for Mizell since becoming a starter. The sophomore finished with 182 yards on seven catches.

Giovanni Richardson returned after missing four of the past five games with a leg injury and added 90 yards on six catches.

Arizona Wildcats’ offensive line outmatched, secondary struggles without Cole

Arizona’s offensive line, namely Rhino Tapa’atoutai and Matthew Lado, gave Arizona nowhere to go, and Arizona finished with just 12 rushing yards. The Wildcats’ previous season low was 84 rushing yards vs. NIU.

The disadvantages at the line were apparent from the onset, as Fifita took two early sacks and a false start.

The Wildcats’ secondary struggled without Jay’Vion Cole. Cole, Arizona’s best defensive back, had started all seven games this season, allowing 15 receptions on 31 targets.

Malcolm Hartzog, Lee Molette III, Gavin Hunter and Dwight Bootle II lacked the speed, size and physicality to cover the Red Raiders’ receivers.

Dwight Bootle got beat badly on a fourth-and-two for a 27-yard touchdown for Texas Tech, which gave the Red Raiders a lead they would never relinquish.

Arizona freshman receiver R.J. Mosley suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury and was carted off the field late in the third quarter. He entered with six receptions on the season, and it’s another blow to Arizona’s banged-up wide receivers room with Tre Spivey out for the season, and Chris Hunter and Richardson just returning from injury.

Up next for Arizona

The Wildcats will now welcome TCU (3-4, 1-3) to Casino Del Sol Stadium on Friday. The Horned Frogs are hosting Kansas on Saturday.

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