TUCSON – Ismail Mahdi’s 189 rushing yards against Kansas State were the most in a game by a running back versus a Power Four program this season as Arizona (3-0) beat visiting Kansas State 23-17.
The Wildcats defense held Kansas State to just 88 yards passing after holding Weber State to 68 last week, marking the first time holding back-to-back opponents in the same season under 100 yards through the air since Georgia Tech (65) and Illinois (75) in 1995.
In this fourth edition this season of Wildcat Breakdown, Wildcats Radio 1290 program director David Kelly and tight end Glenn Howell (UA ’85) discuss the breakout rushing performance of Ismail Mahdi behind a dominant performance from the offensive guards plus why after blitzing all night Arizona went softer defensively on the final possession of the game and the fellas hand out some game balls for another win.
This is the 16th season of Wildcat Breakdown and third on Wildcats Radio 1290. The segment aired on television here in Southern Arizona on FOX 11 KMSB (2011-18) and KVOA News 4 Tucson (2019-22) for 12 years.
Kelly is joined by tight end Glenn Howell (UA ’85), a local strength and conditioning coach. The two began their relationship of analyzing the Cats in 2010 when D.K. was the anchor for the Arizona Wildcats Radio Network and Howell was a TV sideline reporter for the UA football games produced by Arizona IMG College.
they say he is the mahdi. they are right. pic.twitter.com/UsVTyi05bI
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) September 15, 2025
2025 SEASON EPISODES:
- Wildcat Breakdown: Kansas State
- Wildcat Breakdown: Weber State
- Wildcat Breakdown: Hawaii
- Wildcat Breakdown: 2025 season begins
2024 SEASON EPISODES:
- Wildcat Breakdown – 98th Territorial Cup Game
- Wildcat Breakdown: TCU
- Wildcat Breakdown: Houston
- Wildcat Breakdown: The Bye Week
- Wildcat Breakdown: Central Florida
- Wildcat Breakdown: West Virginia
- Wildcat Breakdown: Colorado
- Wildcat Breakdown: No. 14 BYU
- Wildcat Breakdown: Texas Tech
- Wildcat Breakdown: No. 10 Utah
- Wildcat Breakdown: No. 14 Kansas State
- Wildcat Breakdown: Northern Arizona
- Wildcat Breakdown: New Mexico
- Wildcat Breakdown: Receivers and Defensive backs positional groups
- Wildcat Breakdown: Loop, linebackers and tight ends analysis
- Wildcat Breakdown: Kayden Luke & the offensive line
- Wildcat Breakdown: Fall Camp 2024 is open for business
- Wildcat Breakdown: Jacory Croskey-Merritt
- Wildcat Breakdown: Spring Ball Report #1
2023 SEASON EPISODES:
- Wildcat Breakdown: 2023 Season MVPs
- Wildcat Breakdown: Alamo Bowl preview
- Wildcat Breakdown: 97th Territorial Cup Game
- Wildcat Breakdown: Utah
- Wildcat Breakdown: Colorado
- Wildcat Breakdown: No. 19 Ucla
- Wildcat Breakdown: No. 11 Oregon State
- Wildcat Breakdown: No. 19 Washington St,
- Wildcat Breakdown: No. 9 So. California
- Wildcat Breakdown: No. 7 Washington
- Wildcat Breakdown: Stanford
- Wildcat Breakdown: UTEP
- Wildcat Breakdown: Mississippi State
- Wildcat Breakdown: Northern Arizona
2022 SEASON EPISODES:
- Wildcat Breakdown: 96th Territorial Cup Game
- Wildcat Breakdown: Washington St.
- Wildcat Breakdown: No. 12 Ucla
- Wildcat Breakdown: Utah
- Wildcat Breakdown: #10 So. California
- Wildcat Breakdown: Washington
- Wildcat Breakdown: #12 Oregon
- Wildcat Breakdown: Colorado
- Wildcat Breakdown: California
- Wildcat Breakdown: North Dakota State
- Wildcat Breakdown: Mississippi State
- Wildcat Breakdown: San Diego State
- Wildcat Breakdown: Wide receivers/linebackers preview
- Wildcat Breakdown: 2022 Defensive Line preview
- Wildcat Breakdown: 2022 Offensive Line preview
- Wildcat Breakdown: Fall Camp reaches midway point
- Wildcat Breakdown: Fall Camp begins
- Wildcat Breakdown: Conference re-alignment
- Wildcat Breakdown: USC and UCLA bolting Pac-12 Conference
- Wildcat Breakdown: Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
- Wildcat Breakdown: Class of Twenty Tucson
2021 SEASON EPISODES:
- Wildcat Breakdown: 95th Territorial Cup Game
- Wildcat Breakdown: Washington State
- Wildcat Breakdown: #24 Utah
- Wildcat Breakdown: California
- Wildcat Breakdown: USC
- Wildcat Breakdown: Washington
- Wildcat Breakdown: Colorado
- Wildcat Breakdown: Ucla
- Wildcat Breakdown: #3 Oregon
- Wildcat Breakdown: Northern Arizona
- Wildcat Breakdown: San Diego State
- Wildcat Breakdown: BYU
- Wildcat Breakdown: The strength and conditioning piece
- Wildcat Breakdown: Fisch calls an audible at quarterback
- Wildcat Breakdown: The quarterback decision
- Wildcat Breakdown: Hiring of Jedd Fisch
2020 SEASON EPISODES:
- Wildcat Breakdown: 2020 season finale
- Wildcat Breakdown: 94th Territorial Game
- Wildcat Breakdown: Colorado
- Wildcat Breakdown: Ucla
- Wildcat Breakdown: Washington
- Wildcat Breakdown: No. 20 USC
- Wildcat Breakdown: Utah (CANCELED)
- Wildcat Breakdown: 2020 Season Preview
Copyright 2025 Wildcats Radio 1290. All rights reserved.
