Noah Fifita, Arizona’s quarterback, is off to a scorching start this season, completing an insane 81.1% of his passes through the first three weeks. That’s not just good, it’s the highest completion percentage for any Arizona QB through three games *this century*, and it ranks third in the entire FBS.
Fifita’s Arm Is A Problem For Everyone
Noah Fifita isn’t just throwing passes, he’s dropping dimes. The guy is slinging it for 834 yards already, with seven touchdowns and only one interception. Seriously, that’s just three games! This kind of production means Washington State’s defense has a monumental task ahead of them trying to slow down this passing attack, and it absolutely *has* to be their priority. Fifita’s clearly got a strong connection with his top two targets, Tre Spivey and Gio Richardson, who both already have at least a dozen receptions each. For Arizona, coming off a tough Big 12 schedule start, they need to keep winning the games they “should,” and with Fifita looking like this, they definitely feel like a favorite.
Wazzu’s Home Turf Is Tough, But Their Air Attack Isn’t
Now, hold up, don’t sleep on Washington State at home. Pullman has been a fortress for the Cougars, who have won four straight games there and six of their last seven. During that four-game winning streak, they’re not just winning, they’re absolutely clobbering opponents by an average margin of 27.7 points per game. They even went toe-to-toe with rival Washington in Week 1, showing they can hang with tough teams. The challenge for Arizona here is real, as Wazzu has proven to be a tough out in these situations. *However,* it’s also true that the Cougars haven’t faced the toughest competition at home lately. Here’s the kicker: their own passing game is struggling hard. They’re averaging a meager 134.3 passing yards per game, which puts them 132nd in the country. Quarterback Caden Pinnick has struggled with his arm so far, and with Arizona’s stout run defense only giving up 75.7 rushing yards per game, Wazzu might not be able to rely on the ground game. Pinnick simply has to make more plays if they want to keep their home winning ways going.
Arizona is making another long road trip up to Pullman, fresh off a journey to Provo, Utah. This former Pac-12 showdown is going down on Saturday, September 26th, at 7:30 p.m. ET on CBS. Can Wazzu’s home streak hold up against Fifita’s insane accuracy, or will Arizona’s red-hot QB bring chaos to the Palouse? It’s gonna be a must-watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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