Noah Fifita spent Saturday night at Casino Del Sol Stadium doing what quarterbacks dream about: putting his name alone at the top of a program record book.
The Arizona signal-caller moved past Nick Foles for the Wildcats’ career passing yards record with a 7-yard completion to Isaiah Mizell in the fourth quarter. That throw pushed Fifita to 10,018 career passing yards after a 326-yard night in front of more than 40,000 home fans.
Fifita now owns Arizona’s all-time marks for passing yards and passing touchdowns, with 76. His 861 career completions also have him within striking distance of another Foles record, as he sits 72 shy of that standard.
There’s one wrinkle worth mentioning: Fifita is doing this in his fifth season at Arizona, while Foles set his marks in three years. But the long stay only adds to the story in this era of NIL and the transfer portal. Hanging around, developing, and finishing the job at one school has become rare.
The 5-foot-10 quarterback from Anaheim has come a long way from his brief three-game appearance in 2022. He took over as the starter the next season and delivered a sharp 25-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio as Arizona went 10-3 and won the Alamo Bowl in Jedd Fisch’s final year in Tucson.
His first season under Brent Brennan was far rougher. Fifita was part of the problem, throwing a conference-high 12 interceptions while finishing with 18 touchdowns and a career-low 60.5% completion rate.
He bounced back in last year’s 9-win season and returned for a fifth year, sticking with Brennan and Arizona in hopes of another double-digit win year and a bowl victory.
Against his latest opponent, Fifita was almost impossibly clean. He went 30-for-33 for 326 yards and four touchdowns, and he also scored on a 30-yard run. That rushing touchdown came three plays after he tied Foles for the record and stretched Arizona’s lead to 42-10 with 11:38 left in the quarter.
Once the record and the result were secure, Fifita handed the rest of the night to backup Sawyer Anderson, keeping himself fresh for what’s ahead. Arizona’s tougher stretch begins in Week 4 at Washington State.
In Other News...
Arizona Defense Faces A New Test From Washington State's Ground Game
Washington States offense gave Arizona a fresh reason to pay attention after its opener, leaning on the run in a way the Cougars have not done in a long time. Against Duquesne, the ground game controlled the game from the start and turned into the kind of performance that can change how a defense prepares for the next week, especially when a team is still trying to establish identity in the trenches.
For Arizona, the challenge is less about what the Cougars did once and more about whether that kind of physical push is becoming part of the plan. Washington States coaches have already pointed to run-blocking as a point of emphasis, and the Wildcats will have to sort out how to handle a backfield that can stay fresh and punish missed fits if the lane stays open. [Read more 🡒]
Noah Fifita's Arizona Legacy Just Added Another Milestone
Noah Fifita kept adding to his place in Arizona history during the win over Northern Illinois, when a routine completion in the fourth quarter pushed him past Nick Foles for the Wildcats' career passing yards record. The milestone fit the broader arc of his career in Tucson, where he has already become the program's benchmark for touchdown passes and continues to stack accomplishments while leading Arizona's offense.
Fifita's latest number sits at 10,017 career passing yards, and his 80 touchdown passes remain the standard for the Wildcats. With the season still moving along, he is also on pace to challenge additional Arizona records for completions and attempts, giving this record book chase a little more room to grow before it is finished. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Had To Adjust Fast As Key Absences Hit Northern Illinois
Arizona had to sort through some late changes before facing Northern Illinois, with defensive lineman Mays Pese and wide receiver Gio Richardson ruled out and linebacker Chase Kennedy listed as a game-time decision. The absences forced the Wildcats to keep adjusting on both sides of the ball, the kind of pregame shuffle that can alter rotations and special teams plans before a snap is even taken.
There was also a wrinkle in the secondary, where another absence left Arizona needing a different look in the lineup. With a start lined up in that spot, the Wildcats entered the game trying to settle things quickly and avoid letting the personnel issues spill into the flow of a matchup that was already turning into a detailed, possession-by-possession battle. [Read more 🡒]