Two programs separated by more than 900 miles but sharing the same mascot collide Friday night in what promises to be one of the most intriguing storylines of the college football weekend. When Kansas State and Arizona square off in Week 3 action on September 12 in Tucson, it’s Wildcats vs. Wildcats with a twist that perfectly captures the chaos of modern college athletics.
Despite both teams now calling the Big 12 Conference home, this game won’t count toward conference standings thanks to a scheduling quirk that predates Arizona’s move to the league.
Why Doesn’t Kansas State vs. Arizona Count as a Big 12 Conference Game?
Both teams proudly wear the Wildcats name and pledge allegiance to the Big 12 Conference. However, when Kansas State and Arizona meet in primetime this Friday, they’ll actually be wrapping up the non-conference portion of their 2025 campaigns.
In college football, non-conference games are matchups against teams from outside a team’s own athletic conference. The schools schedule these games independently to fill out their regular-season schedules. Even though Kansas State and Arizona are now in the Big 12, this game was likely planned years before Arizona joined the conference, thus contractually making it a non-conference contest.
friday night lights in the desert 😼
⏰ 6:00 PM MST
🏟️ Arizona Stadium
📺 @cfbonfox
📻 Wildcats Radio 1290
🎟️ https://t.co/puS84T6YM6 pic.twitter.com/ftQVKN0cZp
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) September 8, 2025
Hence, the scheduling anomaly exists because the matchup was arranged before Arizona transitioned to the Big 12, when these programs appeared to be heading down different paths. The game was locked in place, and now it is a rare example of two conference rivals meeting in a contest with no league implications.
How Have These Wildcats Programs Matched Up Historically?
The football rivalry between Arizona and Kansas State stretches back over 80 years, beginning on November 29, 1941, and continuing through their most recent September 13, 2024, showdown. The historical record shows how these Wildcats from Tucson have performed against their counterparts from Manhattan:
- September 13, 2024 (Away) Manhattan, Kan.: Lost 7-31
- September 9, 1978 (Home) Tucson, Ariz.: Won 31-0
- September 27, 1969 (Home) Tucson, Ariz.: Lost 27-42
- November 10, 1962 (Home) Tucson, Ariz.: Won 14-13
- November 19, 1960 (Home) Tucson, Ariz.: Won 35-16
- November 21, 1953 (Home) Tucson, Ariz.: Tied 26-26
- November 30, 1946 (Home) Tucson, Ariz.: Won 28-7
- Nov. 29, 1941 (Home) Tucson, Ariz.: Won 28-21
While Arizona historically controlled this series when playing at home in Tucson, Kansas State completely flipped the script in their most recent encounter. The Wildcats from Manhattan delivered a dominant performance on their home turf in 2024, establishing themselves as the aggressor in this renewed rivalry.
What Can We Expect From Each Team in 2025?
Arizona (2-0) has burst out of the gates with explosive performances, completely overwhelming their first two opponents with offensive firepower. This Friday represents their second consecutive matchup against a fellow Wildcats squad, following their thorough dismantling of Weber State by a 48-3 margin. Quarterback Noah Fifita orchestrated that offensive clinic, demonstrating pinpoint accuracy by opening the contest with 14 consecutive completions and ultimately finishing 17-of-22 for 373 yards and five touchdown passes.
Meanwhile, Kansas State (1-2) continues searching for consistency after an uneven beginning to their campaign. The Wildcats are regrouping from a frustrating 24-21 defeat to Army, where a relentless, ground-oriented attack gradually wore them down. The Black Knights controlled the game’s tempo and physicality, maintaining possession for nearly 27 minutes in the second half alone and finishing with an overwhelming 40 minutes and 44 seconds of total possession time.
The inconsistency has defined K-State’s early-season narrative. After suffering a narrow defeat to Iowa State in their Dublin, Ireland opener, they managed to escape with a victory over FCS opponent North Dakota before being physically dominated by Army’s disciplined approach. The Army game featured a remarkable sequence where the Black Knights executed 41 consecutive offensive plays, with the only interruptions coming from Bryce Noernberg’s 99-yard kickoff return and a botched Kansas State kickoff.
