Ismail Mahdi Runs Wild: Arizona is a Contender in Big 12.

14/09/2025 16 min Episodio 186
Ismail Mahdi Runs Wild: Arizona is a Contender in Big 12.

Listen "Ismail Mahdi Runs Wild: Arizona is a Contender in Big 12."

Episode Synopsis


In this episode of Saturday vs Sunday, we dive deep into Arizona’s impressive 23–17 win over Kansas State, a game that showed us who the real Wildcats are. From the opening whistle, it felt like Arizona was in control, even if the final score didn’t fully reflect their dominance. We break down how Ismail Madhi’s explosive performance on the ground and through the air gave Arizona an unstoppable rhythm, while Noah Fafita played with a confidence that reminded us of a younger Kyler Murray.On the other side, Kansas State looked out of sync. Avery Johnson’s 13-for-29 passing day was rough, and outside of one big play from Jace Brown, the offense was completely shut down. We discuss how Arizona’s veteran defense deserves the credit for that, as they consistently swarmed K-State and held them to under 200 total yards.We also get into the “what ifs” of the game—Arizona’s muffed punts, missed field goals, and a bizarre halfback option interception that kept K-State hanging around longer than they should have. Strip away those mistakes, and this could have been a blowout.Looking ahead, we talk about what this means for both programs. Kansas State suddenly looks like a team searching for answers, while Arizona, now 3–0, is emerging as a real Big 12 contender. With Iowa State on deck, the Wildcats have a chance to prove this win wasn’t a fluke but a sign of things to come.

More episodes of the podcast Saturday vs Sunday