In future seasons, Arizona vs. Kansas State could be an exciting Big 12 intra-conference clash. For this year and next, however, this will be a non-conference matchup, as the home-and-home series were scheduled before Arizona joined the Big 12.

No. 14 K-State gave the visiting Wildcats a nice “Welcome to the Big 12” moment with a 31-7 victory at Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Friday night. Quarterback Avery Johnson threw for 156 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for another 110 yards. The visiting Wildcats rushed for 234 yards, including 86 yards and one TD by DJ Giddens.

The loss snapped No. 20 Arizona’s nine-game winning streak, the longest active win streak in FBS. That streak stretched back to last October’s 44-6 victory at Washington State (then a Pac-12 conference matchup) and included a 38-24 win over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl.

Second quarter pivot point

The game hinged on two possessions early in the second quarter. After K-State’s defense forced a three-and-out, Dylan Edwards ran from the right hash down the field and turned the corner on the left sideline, zipping past four Arizona defenders for a 71-yard punt return touchdown. That gave K-State a 14-7 lead.

On the next possession, the Wildcats drove to the KSU 30-yard line, thanks in large part to two catches for 49 yards by all-world receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Quarterback Noah Fifita took a third look at McMillan and seemingly had him open in the end zone. But cornerback Keenan Garber dove in to intercept the pass.

Kansas State had a chance to add a field goal late in the first half. But with nine seconds left, Johnson apparently lost track of time as he scrambled to keep the play alive and eventually ran for a gain of 5 yards. He went out of bounds, but time expired.

Still, KSU shouldn’t have had a shot at a field goal try anyway. As Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira pointed out on the broadcast, the Wildcats should have been given a false start penalty at home.

The home Wildcats ran away with 14 points in the third quarter on a 9-yard TD pass from Johnson to Brayden Loftin and a 1-yard scoring run by Giddens. Will Swanson scored K-State’s first touchdown on a 3-yard reception.

For Arizona, McMillan showed a national TV audience on Fox that he might be the best pass catcher in the country and a likely first-round NFL Draft pick next year, catching 11 passes for 138 yards. Montana Lemonious-Craig had six receptions for 75 yards. Fifita threw for 268 yards with one interception, completing 26 of 42 passes. Quali Conley rushed for 48 yards and scored Arizona’s only touchdown on the game’s opening drive.

Kansas State then travels to BYU on Sept. 21 for a Big 12 conference game. Arizona has a week off before an away game at No. 12 Utah on Sept. 28.