Salgado-Medina’s 37-Yard Kick Lifts Arizona Past TCU 29-28

A Dramatic Finish in Tucson

The Arizona Wildcats secured a narrow 29-28 victory over the TCU Horned Frogs on Friday, November 6, 2026, thanks to a game-winning field goal in the final seconds of play. The win improves Arizona’s record to 7-2, while TCU falls to 4-5 on the season. The contest took place at Casino Del Sol Stadium in Tucson, AZ, before a crowd of 40,501 spectators.

Early Exchange and Second-Half Surge

Arizona opened with momentum, taking a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. Isaiah Mizell caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Noah Fifita, followed immediately by Michael Salgado-Medina’s 43-yard field goal. TCU responded in the second quarter with back-to-back scores to take a 14-10 halftime lead.

Jaden Craig contributed a 7-yard rushing touchdown and an interception returned 93 yards for another score by Hudson Hooper.

Arizona reclaimed the lead early in the third quarter when Fifita ran in from 9 yards out. However, TCU quickly answered with Jordan Dwyer catching a 6-yard pass from Craig, putting the Horned Frogs ahead 21-17 heading into the final period.

Fourth Quarter Thriller

The fourth quarter was defined by dramatic shifts in momentum. Salgado-Medina narrowed the gap with a 23-yard field goal, making it 21-20. Craig then extended TCU’s lead to 28-20 with a 2-yard rushing touchdown.

Arizona mounted a furious comeback attempt. Noah Fifita connected with Quincy Craig on a 15-yard touchdown pass, but the subsequent two-point conversion failed, leaving Arizona trailing 28-26. With time winding down, Salgado-Medina stepped up to kick a 37-yard field goal, sending the game into a final tally of 29-28 in favor of the Wildcats.

Key Performances

Noah Fifita led the Arizona offense with 313 passing yards on 24-of-37 passing, throwing two touchdowns and one interception. Kedrick Reescano provided ground support with 52 rushing yards on 10 carries, while Giovanni Richardson was a major threat in the air, recording 11 receptions for 171 yards.

For TCU, Jaden Craig accounted for 232 passing yards on 28-of-41 passing, along with two touchdowns and one interception. Amante Martin added 35 rushing yards on eight carries, and Kari Ashley led the receiving corps with 14 catches for 95 yards.

Final Thoughts

The victory highlights Arizona’s resilience in close games, while TCU remains competitive despite the loss. Both teams will look to build on this performance as the season progresses.

Sources

ESPN