College Football Game of the Week: No. 20 Arizona vs. No. 14 Kansas State

In a week of college football where there are not a ton of super marquee matchups on the forefront, the battle of the Wildcats should prove to be a close battle.

Let's start with the Arizona Wildcats, who have proved that they can score sometimes at will with an extremely potent offense.

Tetairoa McMillan is one of the most talented receivers in the nation and is honestly the key reason that they escaped against New Mexico State in Week 1.

Through two weeks for Arizona, he has 12 catches for 315 yards and four touchdowns. The majority of those stats, 10 catches and 300 yards came in their week one comeback victory.

Another player to keep your eye on in this matchup is the starting running back, Jacory Croskey-Merritt.

He has already eclipsed 100 rushing yards through two weeks of this season, and last season for the New Mexico Lobos, he rushed for over 1,100 yards and 18 total touchdowns.

The other Wildcats in this matchup will be playing at home in this matchup.

Chris Klieman’s squad is adjusting to a new starting quarterback this season, Avery Johnson. He was a Top 100 recruit coming out of Maize High School in Wichita, Kansas.

He started in two games as a true freshman last season, and the personnel must have seen enough in those two starts to let Will Howard go into the transfer portal.

Howard, who is now the starter at Ohio State, has been playing very well in his first few starts, which will in my opinion make Avery Johnson want to play better week in and week out.

This week he has the opportunity to do just that, as the Arizona defense has given up just under 50 points through the first two weeks of the season.

Another running back that should not be underestimated, is the starter for Kansas State, DJ Giddens.

Giddens, now a junior, also rushed for over 1,000 yards last season (1,226) which helped Kansas State’s offense create a better balance.

Defensively for both teams will definitely be a huge question mark coming into this game.

Kansas State was barely able to escape against a Tulane team that put up 27 points at home with a 34-27 nail-biting win.

As for Arizona, they were up by three after the first half against New Mexico State in Week 1. It took an incredible game with four touchdowns for McMillan that helped Arizona escape a Week 1 scare.

Now heading into one of the premier games of the third week of college football, both quarterbacks will have to show up for the overall success of the team.

I have a feeling this game will be close in the first half, but Kansas State will ultimately pull away later in this one, due to the home-field advantage in my opinion.

Avery Johnson will have a huge game, and show people that he and the Kansas State Wildcats will be in the mix of College Football Playoff implications down the stretch.

Prediction: Kansas State Wildcats 34, Arizona 20

Giustino Racchini is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him please email him at gar5448@psu.edu.