Arizona football upsets No. 25 Cincinnati to pick up third straight win

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CINCINNATI — Bowl eligibility wasn't the goal for Arizona, it's the standard. 

The Wildcats didn't just want to celebrate a bowl berth, they had aspirations to redline the fourth quarter of the season and replicate the similar magic the program had when it won 10 games two years ago. 

In the process, they spoiled No. 25 Cincinnati's Big 12 title hopes with a 30-24 win over the Bearcats on Saturday morning, Nov. 15, at Nippert Stadium.

Arizona has now won three straight games since its second bye week.  

Arizona has now won back-to-back road games for the first time under head coach Brent Brennan. The Wildcats were 1-6 on the road until their wins over Colorado and Cincinnati. 

The Wildcats also notched their first win over a ranked opponent under Brennan — the first road win (excluding bowls) over a ranked opponent since they beat Washington State in 2023.

Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby had only thrown two interceptions before Nov. 15, but threw two picks in the first half. Sorsby's first interception was the first play from scrimmage after a pass attempt near the right sideline that was tipped by UA safety Dalton Johnson and intercepted by cornerback Jay'Vion Cole. 

Cole has a team-high four interceptions, which is also tied for the most in the Big 12 this season. Cole's four interceptions are the most by a Wildcat since Lorenzo Burns in 2019. 

Two plays after Cole's interception, Arizona jumped out to a 7-0 lead after running back Ismail Mahdi's 27-yard touchdown run, which is the third rushing touchdown of the season for Mahdi — second in three games. The Wildcats had a one-touchdown lead 56 seconds into the game. 

With Arizona's defensive front shorthanded due to injuries, Cincinnati — which entered the game with the third-best rushing offense in the Big 12 — leaned on its run game. The Bearcats had eight rushes for 140 yards in the first quarter and averaged 17.5 yards per carry in the opening period. 

Cincinnati running back Tawee Walker had four carries for 104 yards. Sorsby had a 4-yard rushing touchdown and a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jeff Caldwell to take a 14-7 lead.

Arizona's defense adjusted and held the Bearcats to back-to-back punts and Sorsby's second interception, which was picked off by safety Dalton Johnson just before the halftime break.

Arizona's field goal unit struggled in the first half. Arizona sophomore kicker Michael Salgado-Medina missed a 50-yard attempt, although the snap was high. Salgado-Medina's 34-yard attempt early in the second quarter was blocked by UC defensive end Logan Wilson. 

Salgado-Medina made his final three attempts, a wobbly 24-yarder with four seconds left in the first half, a 25-yarder in the third quarter and a 51-yarder with just under two minutes left in the game. 

Turning point

On Arizona's final offensive possession of the first half, Arizona wide receiver Kris Hutson hauled in a 25-yard catch on third-and-19 from the Arizona 27-yard line. 

Arizona running back Quincy Craig, who was recently named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, had 37 rushing yards on the Wildcats' final drive of the first half to set up Salgado-Medina's 24-yard field goal to cut the deficit, 14-13. 

If Hutson didn't convert the third-down play, Cincinnati could've conceivably taken a 21-10 lead at halftime. 

The Wildcats were 8-for-16 on third-down conversions. 

Offensive MVP

Even though Hutson had a season-high 119 yards on seven catches, Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita passed Nick Foles and Willie Tuitama. His record-setting touchdown was a 15-yard pass to freshman Gio Richardson. 

Fifita completed 23 of 31 passes for 294 yards and a touchdown. 

Defensive MVP

Johnson finished the game with seven tackles, an interception and a pass breakup. 

Unsung hero

Hutson had catches of 17, 25, 26 and 29 yards.  

Injury report

Even though Arizona senior linebacker Max Harris was active, freshman Myron Robinson started over him. Harris suffered a leg injury against Kansas, but returned in limited fashion with a brace on his right leg. Harris had a brace on his right leg against Cincinnati, but didn't play.

Robinson exited the game in the third quarter with a leg injury. Freshman Jabari Mann played alongside linebackers Taye Brown, Chase Kennedy, 

Arizona defensive Tiaoalii Savea, after suffering a leg injury last week against Kansas, was held out against Cincinnati

UA cornerback Marquis Groves-Killebrew, who has played 148 defensive snaps in six games, missed his third straight game with an undisclosed injury.

Arizona wide receiver Chris Hunter played after missing last week's win over Kansas. 

Cincinnati was without second-leading rusher Evan Pryor, who sustained an ankle injury three weeks ago, and wide receiver Caleb Goodie. 

What's next

Arizona now turns its attention to the regular-season home finale against the Baylor Bears. 

Nov. 21 will mark the second all-time matchup between Arizona and Baylor, the first since 1992, when the Wildcats fell to the Bears, 20-15, in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, which was then called the John Hancock Bowl.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona football upsets No. 25 Cincinnati, earns 3rd straight win

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