Arizona rallies to stub Kansas 24-20, Clinch Bowl!

[WILD]

Arizona rallies to stub Kansas 24-20, Clinch Bowl

In a thrilling Homecoming showdown at Arizona Stadium, the Arizona Wildcats (6-3, 3-3 Big 12) erased a 10-point second-half deficit to defeat the Kansas Jayhawks (5-5, 3-4 Big 12) 24-20, securing their first bowl berth since 2017 with a game-winning 24-yard touchdown run by running back Quincy Craig with just 39 seconds remaining. The Wildcats, who entered the contest averaging over 420 yards per game, were held to a season-low 323 total yards—nearly 100 below their norm—thanks to a stifling Kansas defense that sacked quarterback Noah Fifita five times and forced seven punts, the most in any game this season. Arizona converted just 5 of 13 third downs but capitalized on key breaks, including a crucial overturned interception call in the fourth quarter and a 77-yard pick-six by Kansas' Leroy Harris III negated by a defensive holding penalty. Fifita, who tied the school's career passing touchdown record with an 8-yard score to Craig earlier, finished 18-of-28 for 185 yards and two touchdowns, while the ground game sputtered at 138 yards on 32 carries. "That was definitely one of my favorite touchdowns I've experienced," Craig said postgame of his dagger run, where he burst through a massive hole for his second score of the day on three carries totaling 47 yards.

The Jayhawks, who controlled the tempo for much of the afternoon and built a 20-14 lead midway through the third quarter, faltered late when kicker Laith Marjan—perfect on 14 prior attempts—shanked a 30-yard field goal with 2:43 left, handing Arizona prime field position at their own 20. Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels was a dual-threat dynamo, rushing for 74 yards and a 1-yard touchdown while passing for 199 yards and another score on a 24-yard strike to Emmanuel Henderson Jr., but a final Hail Mary heave was batted away in the end zone as time expired. The loss marked the second straight heartbreaker for Kansas after a 17-point win over Oklahoma State, dropping them to 3-4 in conference play and complicating their postseason hopes. For Arizona, the victory snaps a two-game skid and provides momentum heading into a tough road test at No. 25 Cincinnati, with head coach Brent Brennan praising his team's resilience: "We found a way when it mattered most—that's what bowl teams do."

[KansasCityCats]

It was sloppy. The o-line didn't give Fifita time to throw but the running game flourished when our backs had opportunities to run.

Daniels played an amazing game but our defense was better, specifically the DB's, who blanketed the Jayhawk receivers.

Fun but intense game to watch. Bowl eligible with three weeks to spare!