From the jump between Arizona and Houston, it appeared whichever team possessed the ball last would be the victor, and that premonition held true.
A torching start from its offense gave the Arizona Wildcats an early touchdown lead, but a lack of defensive pressure especially on the Houston rushing attack, left them hoping for a missed field goal by Ethan Sanchez. The Cougar kicker, however, put a 41-yarder through the uprights for a 31-28 walk-off win.
GAME-WINNING FG 🔥@UHCougarFB snag the win over Arizona after a last-second FG pic.twitter.com/jKBqAISMl1
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 18, 2025
The Wildcats (4-3, 1-3 Big 12) surrendered more than 100 rushing yards in each half (121, 111) and nearly allowed two 100-yard rushers — running back Dean Connors had 100 on 20 carries and quarterback Conner Weigman scrambled for 98 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
On the other side, Arizona running back Ismail Mahdi was very involved in the opening 30 minutes — five carries for 35 yards and one catch for five — but only had the ball handed to him one time in the entire second half.
How Arizona got back in game, lost to Houston
Despite allowing Houston (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) to finish off a season-long touchdown drive of 9:04 to open the third quarter — which included a critical 15-yard penalty for sideline interference on Arizona coaches — the Wildcats tied the game up at 28 all after two 13-play drives of more than 70 yards.
Tre Spivey, who got the party started with a 70-yard score in the first quarter, took a 3-yard end-around run in for his second touchdown the game on the opening play of the fourth quarter.
Spivey → Six pic.twitter.com/28kkRuKB5R
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) October 18, 2025
Following a missed 48-yard field goal off the leg of Houston’s Sanchez, Arizona methodically charged down the field once again.
A pair of chunk gains (18 and 19 yards) by receivers Kris Hutson and Cam Barmore set up the Wildcats at the Houston 21-yard line. The scales continued to tip in Arizona’s favor, as Houston committed back-to-back pass interferences and gave their opposition a first-and-goal at the two.
Running back Kedrick Reescano punched the ball into the end zone on his second effort to knot things up.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita, who started a perfect 7-for-7 passing, closed about as efficient a game as you’ll see with 24-for-26 for 269 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Brilliance aside, the Arizona defense had to make a stop, something it hadn’t done since the opening quarter.
Beginning with 4:48 on the clock, Houston leaned on its run game for 11 plays, including 10 straight as Arizona still had no answer. Weigman took it himself 23 yards on four carries to ultimately set up Sanchez from a makeable distance.
The Wildcats dropped their second straight in conference play after falling 33-27 in double overtime to BYU last week. Their lone Big 12 win came against Oklahoma State.
Arizona will look to re-enter the win column after a bye week, with a road game at Colorado (3-4, 1-3 Big 12) on Nov. 1. Kickoff time is TBD.
