The Arizona Wildcats get their first taste of the Big 12 in Week 3 against the Kansas State Wildcats.

Although it does not count as a conference game because it was scheduled before the realignment, it is still extremely important for the new Big 12 member.

After an explosive win over the New Mexico Lobos in Week 1, Arizona struggled against Northern Arizona in Week 2. While the win was deserved, they trailed the Lumberjacks at halftime.

This tougher than expected matchup resulted in them falling in Chris Vannini’s rankings from The athlete.

He ranked all 134 college football teams and ranked the Wildcats 25th, down from 22nd as Northern Illinois, Nebraska, Boston College and Clemson all overtook them with outstanding or surprising performances in Week 2.

Arizona’s opponent this week is ranked 16th.

They are also 2-0 this season after coming from behind to beat the Tulane Green Wave at Yulman Stadium in Week 2.

This is an important benchmark game for the Wildcats for several reasons.

Their defense has shown some weaknesses over the first two weeks, but are they patched up enough to handle the upper-tier competition they will face in the conference?

On offense, quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan are one of the most productive duos in the nation. McMillan delivered a record-breaking performance against the Lobos, catching 10 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns.

However, Northern Arizona was able to take him out of the game, allowing only two pass catches for 11 yards. With their star not as involved, it was a tough battle on offense for parts of the game.

Running back Quali Conley was the first choice and led the team with 112 rushing yards, along with five catches for 38 yards. Kedrick Reescano added 71 yards on six rushes as the Wildcats got the job done on the ground.

This will be an ingredient for a successful trip to Manhattan.

If they are able to control the pace and get performance from anyone other than McMillan, their chances of winning will improve significantly.

But the coaching staff needs to find ways to incorporate their talented receiver. He’s the best playmaker on the team and one of the most productive in the country, so getting the ball in his hands as often as possible can only lead to positive results.