Tetairoa McMillan Shines in No. 21 Arizona’s Dominant 61-39 Victory Over New Mexico

TUCSON, Ariz. — In a dazzling debut as a Big 12 member, No. 21 Arizona unleashed a powerhouse offensive performance, defeating New Mexico 61-39 on Saturday night. Tetairoa McMillan emerged as a standout player, achieving a school-record 304 yards receiving and four touchdown catches, all from quarterback Noah Fifita.

The Wildcats (1-0) made a bold statement under coach Brent Brennan, who opened his tenure with a remarkable showing. Early on, McMillan and Fifita connected for a 69-yard touchdown, setting the tone for the game.

McMillan shattered the previous Arizona single-game yardage record of 283 yards, held by Jeremy McDaniel since 1996. His four touchdown receptions matched Jacob Cowing’s record set against Southern California last season. He was just shy of the Big 12 record for receiving yards, a benchmark established by Baylor’s Terrance Williams in 2012.

Fifita’s performance was equally noteworthy. He amassed 422 yards and threw four touchdowns on 19-of-31 passing, albeit with one interception. Quali Conley contributed significantly to the offense, rushing for 90 yards and three touchdowns, helping Arizona accumulate a staggering 627 total yards.

On the other side, New Mexico (0-2) faced challenges, especially defensively. The Lobos, under coach Bronco Mendenhall, had previously squandered a 17-point lead in a narrow loss to Montana. Quarterback Devon Dampier showcased his skills, throwing for 260 yards and three touchdowns while adding 130 yards rushing and two more scores, despite two interceptions.

The Lobos’ defense struggled to contain McMillan, who recorded touchdown catches of 17, 78, and 40 yards throughout the game, pulling away in the second half after leading 27-24 at halftime. The burgeoning chemistry between Fifita and McMillan is a promising development for Arizona as anticipation grows for Brennan’s first season, succeeding Jedd Fisch.

Despite the offensive fireworks, Arizona will need to address defensive issues going forward. Meanwhile, New Mexico continues to search for solutions, having already allowed substantial yardage in consecutive weeks.

Next on the schedule, New Mexico travels to Auburn on September 14, while Arizona prepares to host Northern Arizona next Saturday.