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The UA quarterback could've left Tucson after the head coach who recruited him, Jedd Fisch, bolted to Washington following the Wildcats' magical 10-win run in 2023. 

Fifita could've easily ditched the program after the Wildcats' four-win season in head coach Brent Brennan's first year at the helm. 

In the last two years, Fifita has doubled down — tripled down — on being the face of Arizona football. He's widely viewed by the Arizona football fanbase as a humble hero and loyal leader, and now he's in position to go down as one of the greatest passers in UA history. 

If Fifita passes for three or more touchdowns against the Kansas Jayhawks for homecoming weekend, he'll pass Nick Foles — yeah, the Super Bowl MVP — and Willie Tuitama for the most career touchdown passes in UA history. Fifita currently has 65, and Foles and Tuitama each have 67.

"I'm all for anything good that happens to Noah Fifita," Brennan said. "Our team goes as he goes. He's such a committed young man, he's such a loyal young man. I think he's one of those players people are going to look back on for years to come about what a special human being he is and what a special player he was, because he continues to make a choice that's, in a lot of ways, unselfish.

"He chooses his teammates, he chooses the university, he chooses the people that are here every day. He's so fun to coach, he's so competitive, he works incredibly hard, his preparation is exceptional and that part makes it fun. Anything that's positive for Noah, we all want that for him. Not just me, everybody in the building."

Fifita owns Arizona's single-game passing record (527 yards), which he set in the 2023 Territorial Cup in Tempe. His 7,997 career passing yards ranks third in Arizona history behind Foles (10,011) and Tuitama (9,211), who he could conceivably pass during his senior season in 2026.  

In Big 12 play this season, Fifita has passed for 1,330 yards, 15 touchdowns and four interceptions. He is currently third in the Big 12 in passing yards (2,042) and touchdowns (21). Fifita passed his touchdown total from last season (18) and currently has eight fewer interceptions than last season. 

Fifita was most recently named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week following his four-touchdown performance in Arizona's 52-17 win over Colorado last week in Boulder — a week after he completed 24 of 26 passes (92.3%) against Houston, setting Arizona's single-game completion percentage record with a minimum of 20 pass attempts. 

Kansas head coach Lance Leipold lauded Fifita and said the Arizona quarterback is "really good, really accurate."

"He gets the ball out quickly, very mobile, extends plays when he has to," Leipold added. "The accuracy part is what's really impressive. Now that they've gotten a better rhythm on things, they're clicking pretty well and did it in Boulder Saturday night. He's up there with the top of the league, without a doubt, and they use him really well. The receiving corps, there's a mixture of size and speed and quickness, too. Not just guys that can run by people, but guys that can make people miss after the catch and accelerate, and that's impressive." 

Five receivers have caught touchdown passes from Fifita the previous two games: Tre Spivey, Kris Hutson, Javin Whatley, Luke Wysong and Gio Richardson. Arizona has the fourth-best passing offense in the Big 12 behind Baylor, TCU and Texas Tech. The Wildcats are averaging 266.5 passing yards per game. 

The offense under first-year offensive coordinator Seth Doege "has done a really good job, but you're only as good as your last week," Brennan said. 

"I'm excited about where we're at, but I think it can be better," he added. "There's more there. I'm excited to see us put our foot on the gas pedal and keep going."