The 17th-ranked Arizona Wildcats look to become the fifth team in program history to win 10 games, as they square off with the SMU Mustangs in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.
No. 17 Arizona (9-3) vs. SMU (8-4)
What:Β Trust & Will Holiday Bowl
When:Β 6 p.m. Friday
Where:Β Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
TV:Β Fox
Radio:Β 1290-AM, 107.5-FM,Β 92.5-FM (Spanish)Β
Arizona Wildcats
2025 Record:Β 9-3 (6-3 Big 12)
WHEN ARIZONA IS ON OFFENSE (PROJECTED):
[Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.]
WR | 12 | Tre Spivey III | 6-4 | 212 | R-So.
Arizona wide receiver Javin Whatley (6) gets a hand from some fans for his long-bomb touchdown against Weber State in the first quarter, Sept. 6, 2025, at Arizona Stadium.
WR | 6 | Javin Whatley | 5-10 | 171 | R-Sr.
LT | 75 | Ty Buchanan | 6-6 | 314 | R-Sr.
LG | 55 | Chubba Maae | 6-2 | 349 | R-Sr.
C | 52 | Ka'ena Decambra | 6-3 | 308 | R-Sr.
RG | 63 | Alexander Doost | 6-7 | 330 | R-So.
RT | 73 | Matthew Lado | 6-6 | 308 | R-Fr.
TE | 84 | Sam Olson | 6-3 | 229 | R-Sr.
WR | 4 | Kris Hutson | 5-11 | 174 | R-Sr.
QB | 1 | Noah Fifita | 5-10 | 195 | R-Jr.Β
RB | 21 | Ismail Mahdi | 5-9 | 184 | Sr.
WHEN ARIZONA IS ON DEFENSE (PROJECTED):
[Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.]
DL | 95 | Leroy Palu | 6-3 | 301 | Jr.
DL | 0 | Deshawn McKnight | 6-3 | 288 | Sr.
Assistant coach Tariq Thompson comes out to congratulate Arizona defensive back Michael Dansby (25) on his pick-off of an Arizona State pass in their Territorial Cup game, Nov. 28, in Tempe.
DL | 99 | Mays Pese | 6-3 | 271 | Fr.
LB | 7 | Chase Kennedy | 6-3 | 232 | R-Jr.
LB | 6 | Taye Brown | 6-2 | 231 | Jr.
LB | 4 | Max Harris | 6-0 | 230 | Sr.
NB | 2 | Treydan Stukes | 6-2 | 200 | R-Sr.
CB | 9 | Ayden Garnes | 6-0 | 183 | R-Sr.
CB | 25 | Michael Dansby | 5-11 | 185 | Sr.
BS | 43 | Dalton Johnson | 5-11 | 198 | R-Sr.
FS | 12 |Β Genesis Smith | 6-2 | 204 | Jr.
The Wildcats are expected to have at least one opt-out for the Holiday Bowl.Β
UA 2025 SCHEDULE
August
30 |Β HAWAII | W, 40-6
September
Arizona running back Ismail Mahdi (21) flies in to block Kansas State safety Jack Fabris (36) at the ankles on the blitz and give quarterback Noah Fifita time to get off the pass in the third quarter, Sept. 12, 2025, at Arizona Stadium.
6 |Β WEBER STATE | W, 48-3
12 |Β KANSAS STATE* | W, 23-17
27 | at No. 14 Iowa State | L, 39-14
October
4 |Β OKLAHOMA STATE |Β W, 41-13
11 |Β No. 18Β BYUΒ | L, 33-27 (2OT)
18 | at Houston | L, 31-28
November
1 | at Colorado | W, 52-17
8 |Β KANSASΒ | W, 24-20
15 | at No. 25 Cincinnati | W, 30-24
22 |Β BAYLORΒ | W, 41-17
28 | at No. 20 Arizona State* | W, 23-7
Home games inΒ Bold;Β *=Friday game
Arizona running back Ismail Mahdi (21) celebrates with running back Kedrick Reescano (3) after his bruising run gave the Wildcats a two-score lead late in the fourth quarter against BYU, Oct. 11, 2025, in Tucson.
UA 2025 STATS
PASSING
[Name | Comp-Att-INT | Yards | TDs | Long]
Fifita | 247-386-5 | 2,963 | 26 | 85
Locke | 5-15-1 | 68 | 0 | 40
Bray | 1-2-0 | 22 | 0 | 22
RUSHING
[Name | Carries | Yards | TDs | YPC | YPG]
Mahdi | 122 | 785 | 4 | 6.4 | 65.4
Reescano | 83 | 394 | 9 | 4.7 | 43.8
Craig | 55 | 335 | 2 | 6.1 | 30.4
Fifita | 102 | 149 | 3 | 1.5 | 12.4
RECEIVING
[Name | Rec. | Yards | TDs | YPC | YPG]
Hutson | 57 | 740 | 4 | 12.9 | 67.3
Whatley | 38 | 443 | 4 | 11.6 | 36.9
Arizona wide receiver Tre Spivey (12) scoots into the end zone ahead of Weber State linebacker Sione Hala (13) in the first quarter, Sept. 6, 2025, in Tucson.
Spivey | 21 | 359 | 6 | 17.1 | 29.9
Hunter | 25 | 351 | 2 | 14.0 | 29.3
Wysong | 21 | 274 | 2 | 13.1 | 22.8
DEFENSE
[Name | Tackles | Sacks | INTs | FR | FF]
Johnson | 97 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1
Brown | 84 | 1.5 | 1 | 1 | 1
G. Smith | 77 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2
Harris | 75 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1
Stukes | 52 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0
SMU Mustangs
2025 record:Β 8-4 (6-2 ACC)
WHEN SMU IS ON OFFENSE (PROJECTED):Β
[Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.]
WR | 3 | Romello Brinson | 6-2 | 190 | R-Sr.
SMU offensive linemen Addison Nichols (63) and Blake Burris wait for the call on a field goal attempt during a game against Miami, Nov. 1, in Dallas. SMU won 26-20.Β
TE | 88 | Matthew Hibner | 6-5 | 252 | Grad.
LT | 54 | Savion Byrd | 6-5 | 304 | R-Sr.
LG | 71 | Logan Parr | 6-4 | 318 | Grad.
C | 64 | Joshua Bates | 6-3 | 315 | R-So.
RG | 63 | Addison Nichols | 6-5 | 320 | R-Jr.
RT | 59 | PJ Williams | 6-5 | 313 | R-Jr.
WR | 8 | Yamir Knight | 5-8 | 205 | R-Sr.
WR | 2 | Jordan Hudson | 6-1 | 200 | Sr.
QB | 7 | Kevin Jennings | 6-0 | 192 | R-Jr.
RB | 27 | TJ Harden | 6-2 | 220 | Sr.
WHEN SMU IS ON DEFENSE (PROJECTED):
[Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.]
DE | 9 | Cameron Robertson | 6-4 | 260 | Sr.
DT | 6 | Jeffrey M'ba | 6-6 | 312 | Grad.
DT | 4 | Terry Webb | 6-3 | 313 | Sr.
SMU safety Ahmaad Moses (3) warms up prior to a game against Wake Forest, Oct. 25, in Winston-Salem, N.C.Β
LB | 1 | Isaiah Smith | 6-4 | 248 | Sr.
LB | 28 | Brandon Booker | 6-1 | 225 | So.
LB | 54 | Alexander Kilgore | 6-1 | 230 | Jr.
NB | 7 | Kyron Chambers | 6-0 | 200 | Jr.
CB | 8 | Marcellus Barnes | 6-1 | 180 | R-Fr.
SS | 11 | Jaden Milliner-Jones | 5-11 | 200 | R-So.
FS | 3 | Ahmaad Moses | 5-10 | 205 | Sr.
CB | 7 | Deuce Harmon | 5-10 | 190 | R-Sr.
SMU 2025 SCHEDULE
August
30 | EAST TEXAS A&MΒ | W, 42-13
September
6 | BAYLORΒ | L, 48-45 (2OT)
13 |Β at Missouri StateΒ | W, 28-10
20 |Β at TCU | W, 35-24
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings throws a pass during a game against Miami, Nov. 1, in Dallas. SMU won 26-20.Β
October
4 |Β SYRACUSEΒ | W, 31-18
11 |Β STANFORDΒ |Β W, 34-10
18 | at ClemsonΒ | W, 35-24
25 |Β at Wake ForestΒ | L, 13-12
November
1 |Β No. 10 MIAMIΒ | W, 26-20 OT
8 |Β at Boston CollegeΒ | W, 25-23
22 | LOUISVILLEΒ | W, 38-6Β
29 |Β at Cal | L, 38-35Β
Home games inΒ Bold
SMU 2025 STATS
PASSING
[Name | Comp-Att-INT | Yards | TDs | Long]
Jennings | 279-442-10 | 3,362 | 26 | 75
SMU wide receiver Jordan Hudson (2) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA football game against TCU, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (ElΓΒas Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)
Fiser | 4-14-0 | 30 | 0 | 19
Hawkins | 1-1-0 | 9 | 0 | 9
RUSHING
[Name | Carries | Yards | TDs | YPC | YPG]
Harden | 161 | 747 | 7 | 4.6 | 62.3
Johnson | 62 | 463 | 4 | 7.5 | 42.1
McFall | 32 | 183 | 4 | 5.7 | 15.3
Clayton-Johnson | 10 | 83 | 2 | 8.3 | 11.9
RECEIVING
[Name | Rec. | Yards | TDs | YPC | YPG]
Hudson | 56 | 749 | 6 | 13.4 | 74.9
Brinson | 43 | 638 | 3 | 14.8 | 53.2
Knight | 47 | 533 | 5 | 11.3 | 44.4
Hibner | 29 | 351 | 4 | 12.1 | 29.3
Maryland | 27 | 322 | 2 | 11.9 | 26.8
DEFENSE
[Name | Tackles | Sacks | INTs | FR | FF]
Moses | 91 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0
Nwokobia | 80 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0
Booker | 62 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0
Kilgore | 57 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0
Smith | 51 | 8.5 | 0 | 1 | 1
Arizona wide receiver Kris Hutson (4) gestures after making a sprawling catch for a first down late during the fourth quarter against Arizona State in their Territorial Cup game, Nov. 28, 2025, in Tempe.
Head to Head
4 Kris Hutson vs. 12 Kyron Chambers
Hutson could join Tetairoa McMillan as an Arizona wide receiver to catch a touchdown and wear No. 4 at Snapdragon Stadium.Β Hutson blossomed into the Wildcats' top receiver with 740 yards and four touchdowns on 57 catches β 42 of his receptions resulted in first downs, according to Pro Football Focus. UA redshirt junior receiver Chris Hunter has the second-most first-down catches (18).
Chambers has mostly been a reserve slot cornerback this season; he has logged the 12th-most snaps for the Mustangs this season. Chambers started the final two games of the season in place of Deuce Harmon. Chambers, a Dallas-area native, was committed to Arizona's 2022 recruiting class, but flipped to TCU just before the early signing period.Β Β Β Β
Arizona defensive back Dalton Johnson (43), left, and linebacker Riley Wilson (16) simulate going to sleep after Johnsonβs interception in the final minutes put the nail in Arizona Stateβs 23-7 loss in the Territorial Cup, Nov. 28, 2025, in Tempe.
27 T.J. Harden vs. 16 Riley WilsonΒ
This isn't Harden's first rodeo against the Wildcats. When Harden was in his first season at UCLA in 2023, he had 30 rushing yards on nine carries in a 27-10 loss to Arizona in Tucson. In the two games before the regular-season finale against Cal this season, Harden had a combined 220 yards. The Wildcats have allowed more rushing yards than passing yards in seven games this season.
The Montana transfer and linebacker-defensive end hybrid has 49 tackles in 376 defensive snaps, along with three sacks and seven quarterback hurries. Arizona defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales said the Wildcats are hoping to knock SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings "off his spot" to throw interceptions. Wilson's quarterback pressure and run-stopping ability will be essential.Β Β
The matchup
When Arizona has the ballΒ β¦Β
Arizona has one of the most balanced offenses in the Big 12. The Wildcats' trips to the red zone β or as offensive coordinator Seth Doege calls it, "the score zone" β are reflective of their balance, with 14 rushing touchdowns and 15 passing touchdowns in the red zone. SMU has the sixth-best red zone defense in college football. The red zone battle β and turnover battle β could determine the outcome.Β
When SMU has the ballΒ β¦Β
SMU has the best passing offense in the ACC this season, averaging 283.5 yards per game. Jennings has the 10th-most passing yards in college football this season; however, he has thrown the most interceptions in the ACC. Jennings has been dealing with a nagging ankle injury and was limited in terms of utilizing his mobility. After a month between the regular season and the Holiday Bowl, a healthier Jennings could add a dimension to the SMU offense.Β Β
College Football 26 prediction: SMU 34, UA 32 (5OT)
If our simulation of the Holiday Bowl on College Football 26 has anything to say about the outcome of this game, hold onto your butts, Arizona and SMU fans.Β
The Star's simulation of the matchup between Arizona and SMU had the Wildcats and Mustangs duking it out in five overtime periods. Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita threw for 307 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, and senior tight end Sam Olson led the Wildcats with seven catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. Senior receiver Javin Whatley caught two touchdowns and a two-point conversion.
Arizona led 17-14 late in the fourth quarter, but SMU kicked a game-tying 38-yard field goal to send the game into overtime, which turned into a shootout. After the second overtime period, each team trades two-point conversions until there's a stop. Arizona running back Quincy Craig was stopped on a handoff, and SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings scrambled and reached the football just over the goal line to win, 34-32.Β Β
The College Football 26 simulation had a 6-6 record in the regular season.Β
