Report: Arizona RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt not expected to be eligible vs. Kansas State
Arizona will reportedly be without starting running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt for a ranked showdown with Kansas State on Friday night, according to Matt Zenitz. The Wildcats are apparently waiting to hear back from the NCAA on the eligibility of Croskey-Merritt, who transferred in this offseason.
Croskey-Merritt played in the Arizona win in Week 1, rushing for more than 100 yards and a touchdown in a win.
The NCAA declined to comment on Croskey-Merritt’s eligibility issues, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.
Croskey-Merritt transferred to Arizona from New Mexico. He at one point flipped his commitment to Ole Miss before eventually enrolling at Arizona.
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He began his college career at Alabama State.
With Croskey-Merritt sidelined, Quali Conley is expected to shoulder the main burden in the backfield. He’s carried 27 times for 202 yards and three touchdowns in two games.
How to Watch Arizona vs. Kansas State
Time: Friday, Sept. 13 I 8:00 PM EST
Channel: FOX, FuboTV (streaming)
Location: Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium — Manhattan, Kansas
Which team will bring home the win? The odds, provided by FanDuel Sportsbook, had Kansas State listed as favorites by 7.5 points to open. The over/under is currently set at 59.5 points.
Kansas State managed to survive an extremely tough game from the Tulane Green Wave on Saturday, winning 34-27 in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. And Arizona had to slog through a test of their own, a battle with in-state Northern Arizona.
KSU got pretty impressive performances from their two superstars in that one, quarterback Avery Johnson and running back DJ Giddens. Johnson had over 200 all-purpose yards (181 passing, 40 rushing) and two touchdowns. Giddens finished with over 170 all-purpose yards and a touchdown. He’s one of the best running backs in America and continues to play like it.
The Wildcats feature two of the most explosive playmakers in all of college football in quarterback Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan. In their season opening win against New Mexico, McMillan set the school record for the most receiving yards in a single game, hauling in 10 catches for 304 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
He’s one of the best receivers in America and has showcased that with his production over the years.
Arizona appeared to finally come to life in the second half against Northern Arizona on Saturday night. They trailed NAU 10-3 at halftime, before taking the lead in the third quarter. Noah Fifita connected with receiver Jeremiah Patterson to give the Wildcats the lead in third quarter for the first time in the game. And from there, the Arizona defense would tighten up the rest of the way, willing the Wildcats to a 22-10 victory.
In the all-time series, Arizona and Kansas State have faced off against each other seven times, with the last meeting coming in 1978. Arizona is 5-1-1 all-time against KSU.