ISMAIL MAHDI #21 - RUNNING BACK - ARIZONA WILDCATS
853  YDS  •
133  ATT  •
4  TD 
#21 - RUNNING BACK - ARIZONA WILDCATS
853 YDS
133 ATT
4 TD
COLLEGE FOOTBALL > ARIZONA WILDCATS >

ISMAIL MAHDI NEWS

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GAME LOG
Kansas State Wildcats vs. Arizona Wildcats Highlights | FOX College Football

Kansas State Wildcats vs. Arizona Wildcats Highlights | FOX College Football
SEPTEMBER 13, 2025 • FOX SPORTS

Ismail Mahdi runs for 189 yards, Arizona holds off Kansas State rally for 23-17 win

Ismail Mahdi ran for 189 yards, Noah Fifita had two touchdown runs and Arizona overcame a shaky start to the second half for a 23-17 win over over Kansas State
SEPTEMBER 13, 2025 • Associated Press
Catches TD in Saturday's blowout Mahdi had nine rushes for 51 yards and gathered in their only target for 27 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 48-3 victory against Weber State.
Impact Mahdi scored his second touchdown of the season Saturday, a 27-yard pass from Noah Fifita in the third quarter. With Kedrick Reescano (undisclosed) out, Mahdi also led the team in rushing attempts and yards. It's unclear how serious Reescano's injury is, but if he's forced to miss any more time it appears that Mahdi will be the main beneficiary.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Catches TD in Saturday's blowout Mahdi had nine rushes for 51 yards and gathered in their only target for 27 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 48-3 victory against Weber State.
Impact Mahdi scored his second touchdown of the season Saturday, a 27-yard pass from Noah Fifita in the third quarter. With Kedrick Reescano (undisclosed) out, Mahdi also led the team in rushing attempts and yards. It's unclear how serious Reescano's injury is, but if he's forced to miss any more time it appears that Mahdi will be the main beneficiary.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Noah Fifita throws for 5 TDs, Arizona blasts Weber State 48-3 after weather delay

Noah Fifita threw for 373 yards and five touchdowns in three quarters, Javin Whatley caught two touchdowns and Arizona rolled to a weather-delayed 48-3 win over Weber State
SEPTEMBER 7, 2025 • Associated Press
Starts in scrimmage Saturday Mahdi was the starter in Arizona's scrimmage on Saturday, Justin Spears of Tucson.com reports.
Impact Mahdi is expected to split carries with Kedrick Reescano in the backfield, but the fact that he started over the latter might be telling. Arizona opens its season against Hawaii on Aug. 30, so there's plenty of time to determine who will be the starter at running back in the first game of the regular season. Mahdi spent last season at Texas State, where he carried the ball 183 times for 991 yards and four touchdowns.
AUGUST 9, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
How Are These Arizona Running Backs Embracing Leadership Roles? Upperclassman running backs Kedrick Reescano and Ismail Mahdi have embraced the role of being leaders in a running back room that was overha...
AUGUST 5, 2025 • SI.COM
Will split carries Mahdi is expected to split carries during the upcomg season, Jason Scheer of 247Sports.com reports.
Impact Mahdi is expected to split carries with Kedrick Reescano, who is expected to be the team's lead back during the upcoming campaign. Mahdi spent last season at Texas State where he carried the ball 183 times for 991 yards and four touchdowns and will look to have similar productions with the Wildcats.
AUGUST 2, 2025 • ROTOWIRE
Joining the Wildcats Mahdi has announced his commitment to Arizona, Hayes Fawcett of On3.com reports.
Impact Madhi will make the move to the Big 12 following two standout seasons with Texas State. Across 25 games with the Bobcats, the 5-foot-9 185lbs running back logged 406 carries for 2,322 yards (5.74 avg.), and 14 rushing touchdowns, adding on 44 receptions for 470 yards and three receiving touchdowns. Mahdi has proven himself with high-level production with a smaller program and will look to translate his talent into a feature role within Arizona's offense next season.
DECEMBER 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Plans to enter portal Mahdi plans to enter the transfer portal, Hayes Fawcett of On3 reports.
Impact Mahdi has only one year of collegiate eligibility remaining, so it makes sense he enters the transfer portal, giving himself a choice to finish off his collegiate career for whichever suitor he would like. For two seasons with Texas State, he established himself as a great running back and a good option out wide, a two-way prowess that should garner more than enough interest for him.
DECEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Runs wild in Week 14 Mahdi totaled 20 carries for 147 yards and one touchdown during Friday's 45-38 win versus South Alabama.
Impact Mahdi saw six fewer carries than Lincoln Pare, but he led the backfield in rushing yards and marked his fourth game of 2024 with more than 135 rushing yards. With a bowl game left on the schedule, Mahdi has totaled 991 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns while catching 24 passes for 195 yards and two scores.
DECEMBER 2, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Decent day in loss Mahdi recorded 15 rushes for 58 yards and caught all three targets for 25 yards during Saturday's 52-44 loss versus Georgia State.
Impact Mahdi had seen a combined 12 carries in his last two outings but returned to his typical workload against Georgia State. Mahdi has totaled 1,039 yards from scrimmage and five total touchdowns across 11 games.
NOVEMBER 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Pair of scores in win Mahdi totaled three carries for 13 yards and reeled in 4 of 5 targets for 45 yards and two touchdowns during Saturday's 58-3 win against Southern Miss.
Impact Mahdi rushed just three times Saturday but made his presence felt in the passing game. His four receptions were his most since Week 3, and he hadn't caught a touchdown pass before Saturday's contest. Through 10 games, Mahdi has 786 rushing yards and 170 receiving yards with five total touchdowns.
NOVEMBER 18, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Sees decreased workload Mahdi notched nine rushes for 45 yards and reeled in their only target for six yards during Saturday's 38-17 victory over Louisiana-Monroe.
Impact Mahdi fumbled in the third quarter of the Bobcats' previous game and was benched. He received an abnormally small workload in Week 11, notching fewer than 12 carries for the first time since Week 2. Instead, Texas State relied on Deion Hankins (16 carries for 117 yards) and Brad Jackson (17 carries for 126 yards) in the run game.
NOVEMBER 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Benched after fumble Mahdi totaled 14 carries for 82 yards and one touchdown and reeled in all three targets for 17 yards during Tuesday's 23-17 defeat versus Louisiana.
Impact Mahdi lost a fumble late in the third quarter and didn't receive a touch after the mishap. Torrance Burgess replaced Mahdi as the No. 1 back while Lincoln Pare mixed in. Mahdi will likely return to his starting role in Week 11, though he may have a shorter leash, especially considering Burgess totaled 109 yards from scrimmage Tuesday.
OCTOBER 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Another 100-yard game Mahdi tallied 25 carries for 139 yards and caught 1 of 2 targets for 12 yards during Saturday's 24-14 defeat against Old Dominion.
Impact Mahdi surpassed the century mark just one time in his first five games, but he's now hit the milestone in back-to-back games. However, the junior hasn't been rewarded with a touchdown, limiting what could've been massive fantasy performances. Through seven games, Mahdi has turned 122 carries into 646 yards and two touchdowns while adding 13 receptions for 102 yards.
OCTOBER 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Returns to form Mahdi totaled 17 carries for 164 yards and caught their only target for one yard during Saturday's 41-9 win versus Arkansas State.
Impact Mahdi had finished with fewer than 70 rushing yards in four consecutive games but got back on track Saturday with a season-high 164 rush yards. The junior tailback hasn't been able to replicate his 2023 output but still ranks second in the conference in rushing yards (507).
OCTOBER 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Splits carries in win Mahdi posted 12 carries for 36 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's 38-17 victory versus Troy.
Impact Mahdi didn't handle his typical workload Thursday, sharing running-back work with Torrance Burgess (12 carries) and Deion Hankins (eight carries). Mahdi didn't receive a touch in the final two drives of the contest -- Texas State led by 21 at that point -- it appears he's facing some competition as RB1. Burgess turned his 12 rushes into 85 yards, and Mahdi is averaging just 3.6 yards per carry after his Week 1 breakout.
OCTOBER 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Struggles continue Mahdi compiled 17 rushes for 57 yards and reeled in their only target for five yards during Saturday's 40-39 loss versus Sam Houston State.
Impact Mahdi rushed for 1,331 yards last season and averaged six yards per carry. Through four games in 2024, he's tallied merely 307 yards and 4.5 yards per rush. He's been uncharacteristically poor recently, rushing for fewer than 70 yards and no touchdowns in three straight games. However, he's seen a slight uptick in passing-game work, catching 10 passes during that stretch.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Handles 19 touches Mahdi logged 14 rushes for 68 yards and gathered in all five targets for 28 yards during Thursday's 31-28 loss to Arizona State.
Impact After amassing 28 carries in Week 1, Mahdi has combined for 23 rushes the past two weeks for a total of 94 yards (4.1 yards per carry). However, he's seen an increased role as a pass-catcher, hauling in four or more passes in back-to-back games. Through three outings, Mahdi has 250 yards and a touchdown on the ground in addition to 10 catches for 84 yards.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Struggles on ground Mahdi compiled nine rushes for 26 yards and hauled in all four targets for 56 yards during Saturday's 49-10 victory over Texas-San Antonio.
Impact Mahdi didn't see his typical workload in Saturday's blowout, sharing work with Lincoln Pare, Torrance Burgess Jr. and Deion Hankins on the ground after handling 28 carries in Week 1. While the lopsided score played a role in the distribution of carries, Pare's pair of touchdowns on 11 carries and 109 yards could be enough to chip into Mahdi's workload moving forward. Mahdi's impact Saturday primarily came through the air, tying for the second most catches and trailing only Chris Dawn Jr. in receiving yards.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Piles on 156 yards Mahdi had 28 carries for 156 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 34-27 victory over Lamar. He also caught one pass for no yards.
Impact Mahdi picked up right where he left off in 2023, commanding a massive workload and delivering a 100-plus yard day. The Junior totaled 1,331 yards in 13 games last season while scoring 10 rushing touchdowns. He remains one of the top running backs in the Sun Belt.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Piles on 156 yards Mahdi had 28 carries for 156 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 34-27 victory over Lamar. He also caught one pass for no yards.
Impact Mahdi picked up right where he left off in 2023, commanding a massive workload and delivering a 100-plus yard day. The Junior totaled 1,331 yards in 13 games last season while scoring 10 rushing touchdowns. He remains one of the top running backs in the Sun Belt.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Sees 23 carries, scores Mahdi totaled 23 carries for 97 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 52-44 victory over South Alabama.
Impact For the fourth time in five games, Mahdi topped 95 rushing yards and notched his 10th rushing touchdown. Over 12 games, Mahdi has notched 1,209 rushing yards, while adding 18 receptions for 177 yards and a score.
NOVEMBER 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Utilized as rusher, receiver Mahdi accrued 17 carries for 62 yards and one touchdown and caught all five targets for 30 yards during Saturday's 77-31 loss to Arkansas State.
Impact While Mahdi split carries with Donerio Davenport 17-14, Mahdi was the preferred pass-catching back, reeling in five receptions for 30 yards. His four-yard touchdown run on the Bobcats' opening drive marked his first score since Week 6.
NOVEMBER 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
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