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Arizona's offensive line was also named the Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week following the Wildcats' 23-17 win over K-State. Mahdi and Arizona's offensive line are the first Wildcats to receive Big 12 weekly honors. 

Mahdi shared the weekly honor with Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who completed a perfect 15 of 15 passes for 253 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in the Bearcats' 70-0 win over Northwestern State. 

Arizona State linebacker Jordan Crook and Texas Tech defensive back Brice Pollock were shared Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors. Houston kicker Ethan Sanchez and Baylor punter Palmer Williams both earned Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors. TCU receiver Ed Small was the Big 12 Freshman of the Week. West Virginia had the Big 12 Defensive Line of the Week.

In Arizona's win over Kansas State Mahdi rushed for 189 yards on 22 carries and averaged 8.6 yards per carry.

The Texas State transfer had runs of 60 yards, 34 yards and 15 yards. Former UA safety Gunner Maldonado prevented Mahdi’s 60-yard run from resulting in a touchdown.

Mahdi produced the most rushing yards by an Arizona running back since Michael Wiley’s 214-yard, four-touchdown performance in the 2022 Territorial Cup. Mahdi’s 189 rushing yards are the most for a college football running back against a Power 4 team this season. His 221 all-purpose yards out-gained Kansas State’s entire offense.

“It felt like the games at Texas State, just getting the ball,� Mahdi said. “I’m used to it. I’ve played a lot of snaps in my career. I’m used to what I displayed out there.�

Mahdi also had a drive-extending 27-yard gain on a check-down pass from quarterback Noah Fifita to convert a third-and-15 in the fourth quarter. Mahdi caught the pass at the Arizona 43-yard line and was tackled at the KSU 30-yard line. Mahdi had the second-most receiving yards (32) for Arizona behind Chris Hunter (37).

 “I’m so proud of that kid,� Arizona head coach Brent Brennan said of Mahdi. “What an awesome human being he is. ... Ish just kept showing up and ripping off big runs with physicality and finished, receivers were blocking down field. There was a lot of good there.�

However, Mahdi doesn’t rush for 189 yards “without that offensive front blocking the way they had to against a team that’s normally hard to block,� Brennan said.

Arizona's offensive line of left tackle Ty Buchanan, left guard Chubba Ma'ae, center Ka'ena Decambra, right guard Alexander Doost and right tackle Rhino Tapa'atoutai, along with reserve guard Michael Wooten and right tackle Tristan Bounds, carved out lanes for Arizona to rush for 234 yards. 

Arizona enters a bye week before its Big 12 opener against the 12th-ranked Iowa State Cyclones at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27 in Ames, Iowa.