Arizona steps into the Friday night spotlight this week, hosting Kansas State in the marquee matchup of the night. And interestingly, it’s the first of two Friday games this season for the Wildcats. Brent Brennan knows that everyone in college football will be locked in. With kickoff set for 9:00 PM ET on Fox, Arizona gets primetime exposure, making this clash one that could steal the nation’s attention. And what makes it even more interesting is that the same announcers from the Colorado vs. Delaware game will be on the call for Kansas State vs. Arizona.

Brennan couldn’t hide his excitement about the Friday night spotlight. “I think it’s great anytime you can play on national TV,” stated Brennan. “It’s an incredible opportunity for your team.” Moreover, he added that Friday nights carry a special energy. “It’s a fun deal because everybody playing on Saturday is sitting in a hotel watching that game.” Now, Arizona and Kansas State meet under the lights for the second straight year. And their 2024 clash on Fox averaged 2.58M viewers, per Nielsen data via Sportico. But with experienced voices in the booth, this year’s matchup could draw even more viewers.

Jason Benetti takes the mic for play-by-play. He is one of the most respected names in sports broadcasting. From ESPN’s Friday night football to nearly a decade with the Chicago White Sox, and even calling MLB games for Peacock, Benetti’s resume speaks for itself. Now with Fox Sports, his work across football, basketball, MLB, and NFL makes him a familiar and trusted presence. And who will be joining him?

Alongside him, Robert Griffin III brings energy and fresh perspective as a new analyst. The former Heisman winner and No. 2 overall NFL Draft pick has become known for his quirky, sharp takes and his growing “Outta Pocket with RGIII” podcast. To top it off, we have sideline reporter Alexa Landestoy. Landestoy, who built her career at NBC Sports Washington and the NHL Network, now shines at Fox Sports, bringing her polished reporting to the national stage.

Per Sportico, last season’s game between these two teams marked Fox’s first-ever Friday Night College Football broadcast and pulled in 330,000 more viewers. Now, fast forward to 2025: Arizona is rolling with wins over Hawaii and Weber State, while Kansas State has stumbled. So, who’s taking the win in Week 3?

Who comes out on top: Kansas State or Arizona?

Two Wildcats. But two very different stories. Arizona comes into Friday night unbeaten and riding momentum, while Kansas State is still searching for its rhythm after a rocky start. Here, oddsmakers expect a nail-biter, with Kansas State favored by -1.5. The matchup will likely come down to the quarterbacks.

Here, Kansas State’s Avery Johnson has NFL talent and already flashed it with big passing numbers against top competition. But Arizona’s Noah Fifita is red hot, fresh off a five-touchdown performance that has the Wildcats’ offense rolling at over 44 points per game. Although last season, Kansas State rolled Arizona 31-7, this year feels different.

Right now, with shaky defensive showings and an upset loss to Army on their resume, the Wildcats from Manhattan look vulnerable. On the other hand, Arizona has the firepower to flip the script, and the prediction leans their way: Arizona in an upset.