No. 22 Arizona Stuns TCU 29-28 on Late Field Goal in Wild Friday Finish

No. 22 Arizona stunned TCU 29-28 on Friday night, rallying from eight points down in the final two minutes at Casino Del Sol Stadium in Tucson, as a touchdown, a recovered onside kick, a 37-yard field goal and a game-sealing interception turned a likely defeat into one of the wildest finishes of the college football season.

The Arizona TCU 29-28 comeback kept the Wildcats' Big 12 title hopes alive. Arizona trailed 28-20 with 6:35 left, and it looked as though a shorthanded defence would hand the Horned Frogs a road upset. Instead, the Wildcats scored nine points in the final 1:43.

Key Points

• No. 22 Arizona beat TCU 29-28 on Friday night at Casino Del Sol Stadium in Tucson, rallying from 28-20 down with 6:35 remaining.
• Noah Fifita threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Quincy Craig with 1:43 left, Zuri Watson recovered a pooch onside kick, and Michael Salgado-Medina kicked a 37-yard field goal with 38 seconds left.
• Tyrese Boss sealed the win with an interception.
• Fifita finished 24 of 37 for 313 yards and two touchdowns, and Giovanni Richardson caught a career-high 11 passes for 171 yards.
• Illinois beat Nebraska 24-13 and No. 22 New Mexico beat Nevada 31-3.

What Happened

The finish began with Arizona trailing 28-20 and the clock working against it. Fifita led a touchdown drive that ended with Craig's diving 14-yard touchdown grab on a wheel route with 1:43 remaining. Craig redeemed himself after fumbling two plays earlier. The touchdown was upheld after a review, but Arizona could not convert the two-point try that would have tied the game, leaving the Wildcats behind 28-26.

Watson then recovered a pooch onside kick, giving Arizona the ball back at the TCU 36. Three short runs set up Salgado-Medina, who nailed a 37-yard field goal with 38 seconds left for a 29-28 lead, Arizona's first lead since midway through the third quarter. It was the first game-winning field goal of his career, and TCU's last drive ended with Boss's interception. Arizona had led 10-0 early before a 93-yard pick-six by TCU linebacker Hudson Hooper turned the game.

Background and Context

Arizona arrived coming off a loss to No. 15 Texas Tech last Saturday, with a date against No. 3 Utah set for next Saturday. A home game against a 4-5 TCU team had all the markings of a trap.

The Wildcats were also badly shorthanded, finishing without four defensive backs. Jay'Vion Cole was ruled out before kickoff with a leg injury, along with the injured Cam Chapa, while Malcolm Hartzog and Quinn Olson both left for the medical tent. TCU passed for 232 yards, 181 of them to Kari Ashley and Jordan Dwyer. Arizona was also without Ismail Mahdi and Max Harris, whose emergency appeal was denied on Friday. Even so, the Wildcats improved to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Big 12, while TCU fell to 4-5.

Arizona TCU 29-28: How the Wildcats Pulled Off the Comeback

The comeback rested on Fifita, who started 9 of 11 before his offensive line gave him little protection. He still finished 24 of 37 for 313 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception, and made the two throws that mattered most when the game was on the line. Richardson was his most reliable target all night, finishing with a career-high 11 catches for 171 yards.

The onside kick recovery was the play that turned a near-miss into a win: had TCU recovered, the Horned Frogs could have run out the clock. Instead, Watson's recovery gave Arizona the ball in TCU territory, and three short runs set up Salgado-Medina from 37 yards.

Reactions and Quotes

Brennan praised his team's refusal to quit. "What you saw was a great demonstration of redline. Effort, execution and accountability," Brennan said. "It's November, these games are just battles, and that's what you expect when you get into this month. Knowing it was going to be a four-quarter game, I think anytime you have Noah Fifita pulling the trigger, you have a chance." Brennan summed up the finish: "It was just magic the way that thing finished."

Salgado-Medina described his first game-winning kick. "It was a great feeling. Being able to execute on it and work so hard for a moment like that. Doing it on a stage like this, it's an amazing feeling," he said.

Boss, who sealed the win, pointed to the mindset of a cornerback room tested all night. "As a cornerback room, we've got a really big statement on going on to the next play," Boss said. "Never fold under that one play because there's still a whole game to go. Some things might not always go your way and just always moving on to the next play, that's what helped us get that win tonight."

Why It Matters

The win matters most for the Big 12 race. Arizona, at 7-2 and 4-2 in the conference, stays in the hunt for a place in the title game. The Wildcats host No. 3 Utah, 8-0 and 5-0 in the Big 12, next Saturday. A loss to TCU would have ended Arizona's realistic title hopes.

It also matters because of how the win came about. Arizona won despite a pick-six, despite losing four defensive backs, and despite missing two starters to a court decision on the day of the game. Friday also delivered elsewhere: Illinois beat Nebraska 24-13, with Katin Houser throwing for 292 yards and three touchdowns, as Nebraska dropped its fourth straight and Illinois improved to 6-3; and No. 22 New Mexico beat Nevada 31-3, its first win in Reno, improving to 8-1 behind the nation's No. 1 scoring defence, which held Nevada to a field goal and minus-9 rushing yards.

What Happens Next

Arizona now turns to the biggest home game in years, hosting unbeaten Utah next Saturday. The Wildcats will need their injured defensive backs back and better protection for Fifita. TCU, now 4-5, must regroup quickly. Illinois will look to build on the Nebraska win, and New Mexico, unbeaten in Mountain West play, continues to look like the conference's team to beat.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of Arizona vs TCU?
No. 22 Arizona beat TCU 29-28 on Friday night, November 6, 2026, at Casino Del Sol Stadium in Tucson.

How did Arizona come back to beat TCU?
Fifita threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Craig with 1:43 left, Watson recovered a pooch onside kick, Salgado-Medina kicked a 37-yard field goal with 38 seconds left, and Boss sealed it with an interception.

Who is Arizona's next opponent?
Arizona hosts No. 3 Utah next Saturday. Utah first plays No. 9 BYU on Saturday.

What are Arizona's and TCU's records?
Arizona improved to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Big 12. TCU fell to 4-5.

Who else won on Friday night?
Illinois beat Nebraska 24-13, New Mexico beat Nevada 31-3, SMU beat Virginia Tech 51-28, and East Carolina beat South Florida 20-17.

Read more on US News Pulse: AP Top 25 Week 10: Miami Holds No. 1, Utah Climbs to No. 3, Miami Tops First College Football Playoff Rankings and No. 22 UCLA Stuns No. 5 Arizona 84-75.