No. 22 Arizona’s five-game run came to a stop Saturday night in Lubbock, where the Wildcats fell 34-26 to No. 13 Texas Tech at Galaxy Stadium.
Arizona had plenty of fireworks through the air, especially after halftime, but the ground game never got going and the biggest moments slipped away late. The loss dropped the Wildcats to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in Big 12 play, while Texas Tech improved to 7-1 and 3-1.
Noah Fifita did his part in a big way, throwing for 417 yards and keeping Arizona alive with a string of downfield completions. The highlight was a 94-yard touchdown to Isaiah Mizell, the longest touchdown pass for the Wildcats since 2015. Even with that kind of production, Arizona couldn’t finish drives when it mattered most, including an incomplete pass on fourth-and-one in the fourth quarter that helped swing the game back to Texas Tech.
Mizell was a major factor all night. He finished with seven catches for 182 yards and a touchdown, and became the first Arizona receiver to post 100 or more receiving yards in three straight games since Tetairoa McMillan in 2023.
Arizona’s first-half offense had a jolt early when Gio Richardson, back after missing the previous two games with a lower-body injury, ripped off a 55-yard gain on third down to set the Wildcats up at the Texas Tech 10. Arizona settled for a field goal on the drive, but it was an early sign the passing game could challenge the Red Raiders.
Texas Tech answered with a 13-play opening touchdown drive behind fifth-year senior Thomas Castellanos, who got the start at quarterback. Joey McGuire’s decision to go with Castellanos paid off right away, and the Red Raiders’ quarterback carousel continued with Will Hammond having started six of the first seven games.
Arizona’s defense steadied itself after that opening series. The Wildcats forced a turnover on downs, and the secondary came up with several pass breakups while holding Castellanos to six completions on 16 attempts for 81 yards in the first half.
The offense, though, was uneven almost from the start. Arizona finished the first quarter with minus-three rushing yards, and the offensive line had trouble dealing with Texas Tech’s front seven. Still, Fifita found Mizell for the 94-yard score that put Arizona back in front.
The third quarter turned into a track meet. Texas Tech scored on the opening drive of the second half, and Arizona answered with a one-yard touchdown run from Kedrick Reescano, his second score of the day. The touchdown was set up by a 35-yard strike to Mizell down the right hash, and a blocked extra point left Arizona ahead by six midway through the quarter.
But the Red Raiders kept coming. On fourth-and-two at the Arizona 27, Castellanos hit Kenny Johnson to push Texas Tech back in front, 24-23.
By then, the Wildcats were getting pushed around on the ground. Through three quarters, Texas Tech had 219 rushing yards to Arizona’s 26, and the Red Raiders leaned on the run game between Castellanos and Dickey to keep the Wildcats on their heels.
Arizona still had chances late. Trailing by four with under 10 minutes left, the Wildcats faced fourth-and-one, but Fifita overshot Dwight Bootle II and Texas Tech took over. Arizona briefly answered with a punchout by safety Cam Chapa, the first turnover of the game, and Bootle II recovered it to give the offense another shot.
That opening never turned into points. Freshman wide receiver R.J.
Mosley suffered a gruesome lower leg injury in the third quarter and was taken off on a cart. He had been seeing more snaps and now appears headed for significant time off.
The final quarter belonged to Texas Tech. Arizona’s offense stalled on multiple drives, with missed throws by Fifita and penalties piling up. Then, just before the two-minute warning, J’Koby Williams broke loose for a 64-yard touchdown on third-and-one to put the Red Raiders ahead by two scores and end Arizona’s comeback hopes.
Williams and Castellanos both ran for more than 100 yards, and Texas Tech outgained Arizona 332 to 12 on the ground. For the Wildcats, the passing numbers were there, but the missed chances and lack of balance proved too much to overcome. The result marked another rough Big 12 road test and left Arizona’s College Football Playoff chances at 9%.
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