Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita has been named the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.
Fifita emerged onto the scene in Palo Alto, CA following an injury to quarterback Jayden de Laura late in Arizona’s game at Stanford. Fifita led the Wildcats down the field, setting up what would be the game-winning rushing touchdown from DJ Williams, helping the Cats escape with a 21-20 win.
Throughout the remainder of the season, Noah Fifita went on to throw for 2,515 yards and 23 touchdowns (tied for the most by an FBS freshman) this season. He finished the regular season with a 73.6% completion percentage, which ranks fourth in the country and first among freshmen nationally.
Fifita has a chance to become the program’s all-time completion percentage leader, and the first quarterback in Arizona history to complete over 70 percent of their passes. Former Wildcat and Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles currently holds the record with 69.1% completion percentage.
The five-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week led Arizona to a 6-2 record as a starter, and finished the season 6-0 with ranked wins over Oregon State, UCLA, and Utah. Fifita also helped led Arizona to a 59-23 victory over in-state rival Arizona State in the Territorial Cup, where he set single-game school record in passing yards (527) and threw for five touchdowns.
He is the first Wildcat to bring home the award since running back J.J. Taylor was named Co-Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2017 alongside Stanford offensive lineman Walker Little, and the only Arizona player to win the award outright.
Arizona, led by Noah Fifita, is set to compete in its first bowl game since 2017, when the Cats take on Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl on December 28 in San Antonio, TX.