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What happened? Fifita's completion percentage dropped from 74% to 60%, which is almost unprecedented. He went from throwing 25 touchdown passes (with just six interceptions) to 18 TDs and 12 interceptions.

Looking deeper, Fifita's offensive line was among the least effective and stable in Power 4 football. Further, he was burdened by the collapse of old-school offensive coordinator Dino Babers, who, it turns out, had not called plays for more than 15 seasons. Really bad hire.

Even UA athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois, writing in her August newsletter, wrote about "a modernized style of play" under new offensive coordinator Seth Doege, and "a dynamic staff of new coordinators."

Is it that simple? Were Fifita's faults directly connected to out-of-date play calling and an unreliable offensive line? It won't take long to find out. Perhaps opposing defensive coordinators "figured him out." It wouldn't be the first time.

Three ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ starting quarterbacks over the last 25 years suffered Fifita-like meltdowns after they seemed to be rising stars.

In 2000, senior Ortege Jenkins dropped from a 60% completion rate to 47%. His interception total soared from five to 12. Coach Dick Tomey was let go after the season. His coordinator?: Dino Babers.

In 2015, sophomore Anu Solomon went from franchise-type QB of the future to a puzzling season in which his passing yardage plunged from 3,793 to 2,667 and his TD passes from 28 to 20. A year later, he was playing at Baylor, a sub.

In 2019, Khalil Tate dropped off the QB map. As a breakout star in 2017, Tate threw 26 TD passes with just eight interceptions a year later. In 2019, that statistic was 14-11. His rushing total plunged dramatically, from 1,411 to 413. He ended his career sitting on the bench.

The nine QBs rated ahead of Fifita by the Athletic seem to be legit, with a mix of fascinating back-stories. They are (given their national ranking by the Athletic):

7. Sam Leavitt, ASU: After turning down an offer from home-state Oregon, Leavitt enrolled at Michigan State, where he sat on the bench. Last season, he passed for 2,885 yards, 24 TDs and rushed for 443 yards. He was a program-changer in Tempe.

9. Josh Hoover, TCU: He initially committed to Indiana, flipped to TCU and passed for 27 TDs and an amazing 6,157 yards for the Horned Frogs.

11. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor: After spending a year on the bench at Mississippi State, Robertson emerged as a game-changer at Baylor, passing for 3,513 yards last season.

14. Rocco Becht, Iowa State: Two years as a Cyclone sub paid off; Becht passed for 3,021 yards last year.

20. Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati: An Indiana transfer, Sorsby is ready to step in for the Bearcats.

22. Avery Johnson, Kansas State: In his third year as a starter, Johnson is the league's most feared double threat, rushing for 605 yards a year ago.

25. Devon Dampier, Utah: A Scottsdale Saguaro product who transferred from New Mexico, Dampier passed for 2,718 yards and ran for 1,166 for the Lobos. He could be the league's top transfer.

27. Behren Morton, Texas Tech: He's been at Tech since 2020 and completed 63% of his passes last season.

34. Jalon Daniels, Kansas: In his sixth season at KU, Daniels has the most experience in the Big 12.

Of the six QBs the Athletic rated below Fifita, the one to watch is Colorado senior Kaidon Salter, ranked No. 52 nationally, who passed for 2,816 yards a year before Deion Sanders showed up in Boulder.

No matter how you cut it, Fifita faces formidable opposition to be a factor in the Big 12.