Noah Fifita threw for 376 yards while completing passes to 10 different receivers in Arizona’s 41-13 victory Saturday over Oklahoma State in a Big 12 game at Tucson, Ariz.
Fifita, who completed 28 of 38 pass attempts, tied a career high with five touchdown passes and had an interception.
Oklahoma State (1-4, 0-2 Big 12) played its second game without fired head coach Mike Gundy and first without defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who was let go Monday.
Arizona’s defense limited Oklahoma State to 158 yards of total offense — 69 passing and 89 rushing — and forced two turnovers.
Tre Spivey, a transfer from Kansas State, scored the first two touchdowns for Arizona on receptions of 13 of 22 yards that put the Wildcats ahead 14-3 with 1:26 left in the first quarter.
Spivey finished with three catches for 80 yards.
Arizona (4-1, 1-1) increased the lead to 21-3 with 6:20 left in the second quarter after Fifita scrambled away from a blitz and found New Mexico transfer Luke Wysong for a 47-yard touchdown.
It was the first touchdown with Arizona for Wysong, who had five receptions for 92 yards.
Oklahoma State cut the lead to 21-6 with 1:01 left in the half when Logan Ward made his second field goal, a 46-yarder with 1:05 left in the half.
Arizona’s Michael Salgado-Medina then converted a 34-yard field goal as time expired in the half for a 24-6 lead at the break.
The Wildcats had an opportunity to build on their lead with 7:14 left in the third quarter after Tre Smith recovered a fumble at the Oklahoma State 44 that was coughed up by Ronnie Fields Jr. following a strip by Max Harris.
A 45-yard pass from Fifita to Spivey took the ball to the Oklahoma State 1.
Fifita then fumbled the ball away at that spot with 5:33 remaining in the quarter when Gregory Wendell punched the ball loose and Brian McCoy Jr. recovered.
After a three-and-out forced by Arizona’s defense, Fifita atoned for his fumble by completing a touchdown pass to Javion Whatley. The 21-yard strike increased Arizona’s lead to 31-6 with 2:58 left in the third quarter.
Fifita, who added a 29-scoring play a minute later, now has 57 touchdown passes in his career, which is tied for third at Arizona with Khalil Tate.
–Field Level Media
