Arizona’s Noah Fifita was as good as anyone in the country in nine starts in 2023, going 7-2 and leading the Wildcats to a 10-4 finish and a win over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl.
Fifita could be even better in 2024, with 247Sports putting him at No. 9 in its preseason Top 25 quarterback rankings.
Fifita was one of five Big 12 Conference quarterbacks to make the list along with No. 1 Shedeur Sanders (Colorado), No. 11 Jalon Daniels (Kansas), No. 14 Garrett Greene (West Virginia) and No. 19 Cam Rising (Utah).
Former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard, who started the last two years for the Wildcats and is now the starter at Ohio State, came in at No. 12.
In nine starts in 2023, Fifita threw for 2,869 yards, 25 touchdowns and 6 interceptions with a staggering, 165.3 QB rating.
From 247Sports: “After a standout sophomore season, Noah Fifita stayed put at Arizona despite watching his head coach, Jedd Fish, bolt for Washington at season's end … Fifita was at his best under pressure last season with one of the highest passer ratings in the country under duress. And on money downs, Fifita's grade of 90.3 was No. 3 nationally. The young signal caller can play as one of the most talented sub 6-foot passers in college football.”
Arizona opens the season on Aug. 31 at home against New Mexico.