5 takeaways from Arizona football’s 34-24 victory over Washington State | Michael Lev

Arizona’s 34-24 victory over Washington State gave Tucson fans a familiar September record, but not a familiar path to get there. The Wildcats finished the month 3-1 after falling behind 14-0 in Pullman, just one week after trailing Northern Illinois by 10 points. Their response against the Cougars was the important part. Arizona overcame early trouble, absorbed several momentum swings and produced enough late plays to leave Washington with a gutty road win.

The turnaround began with defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales deciding that Washington State quarterback Caden Pinnick should not be allowed to settle into the game. The Cougars had moved the ball with some success, including a touchdown on their opening drive, and were advancing again with the score tied at 14 in the second quarter. Gonzales increased the pressure, repeatedly sending blitzers into the backfield. Safety Cam Chapa’s hit on Pinnick during a third-and-7 pass helped force an incompletion and ended the drive with a field-goal attempt that Arizona blocked.

Arizona’s aggressive strategy continued after halftime. Linebacker Taye Brown repeatedly came through the middle of the Washington State offensive line, and the Cougars often had to account for pressure before developing their plays. On a late second-quarter possession, Washington State faced third-and-12 at the Arizona 14 but called a bubble screen that lost a yard. The play suggested the Cougars were trying to avoid exposing Pinnick to another sack or turnover. The approach was not flawless. A cover-zero blitz left Arizona without deep safeties, and two defensive backs collided, allowing Branden Ganashamoorthy to score on a 46-yard touchdown. Still, Gonzales’ pressure created more positive results than negative ones.

The win also included another difficult redemption story for kicker Michael Salgado-Medina. He missed a 42-yard attempt and had a 43-yard kick blocked in the third quarter, costing Arizona chances to add to its lead. Later, with the Wildcats ahead 21-17, coach Brent Brennan chose to trust him on fourth-and-5 from the Washington State 10-yard line. Salgado-Medina made the 27-yard field goal, extending Arizona’s advantage to 24-17. With 2:02 left and Arizona leading 31-24, Brennan again sent him out, this time for a 51-yard attempt from the Washington State 34. Salgado-Medina converted, pushing the lead to 10 and essentially sealing the victory.

Those decisions echoed similar moments from Arizona’s game against Cincinnati last season and the Territorial Cup, when Salgado-Medina struggled early before delivering later. They also contrasted with Brennan’s decision not to try a 53-yard field goal at BYU. The Washington State choices were not automatic, particularly the 51-yarder in Pullman, but the coach’s reasoning was consistent. Arizona expected a healthy kicker to make attempts shorter than 45 yards when weather was not a factor, and Brennan maintained confidence in both Salgado-Medina and the field-goal unit when the game demanded it.

The Wildcats’ running game, a major concern during the week, finally showed signs of life. Arizona entered the game last in the Big 12 by a wide margin in rushing yards and attempts, and it had failed to reach 100 rushing yards in either of its previous two games. Against Washington State, the Wildcats produced 150 net rushing yards, with 93 coming in the fourth quarter. Ismail Mahdi became the central figure after halftime, gaining 50 of his team-high 63 rushing yards in the final two quarters.

Mahdi’s value went beyond his statistics. His speed and elusiveness allowed him to reach the edges of the Washington State defense, and he contributed in other ways as a blocker and receiver. He chip-blocked a defensive end to help Noah Fifita complete a pass, then released in front of the quarterback during a scramble and caught a five-yard pass. Arizona also used Kedrick Reescano, Quincy Craig, Mahdi and Antwan Roberts for meaningful snaps. Reescano later powered through the defense for a 13-yard first down, while two Mahdi runs helped set up Fifita’s touchdown pass to Isaiah Mizell. A deeper rotation kept the backs fresh and gave Washington State more styles to prepare for.

Arizona’s receiving group answered questions that emerged after slot receiver Giovanni Richardson was injured against BYU and his teammates struggled to compensate. Tre Spivey was the expected candidate to break through after an uneven 2025 season and a strong spring, and he delivered the biggest receiving performance of his career. Spivey caught seven passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns, with the official statistics crediting him with 71 yards after the catch. His ability to create yardage after making the catch was a major part of Arizona’s comeback.

The less expected contribution came from freshman Caleb Smith. Brandon Phelps started in Richardson’s slot position, but Smith supplied the plays that turned the game late in the third quarter. After Arizona received the ball at its own 18, Smith caught three passes from Fifita on the drive. The first covered three yards. The second became a 41-yard improvised completion when Smith raced upfield and made a diving catch at the Washington State 38. On the next play, he beat safety Jaylen Thomas on a corner route for the first receiving touchdown of his career. Smith also had a 37-yard punt return against Washington State, following a punt-return touchdown against Northern Illinois. Richardson is expected to return at some point, but Smith’s performance makes it difficult to justify removing him from the offense.