The semester is over, and class is dismissed.
By semester, we mean the 2025 Arizona football season. The season has come to an end, and the Wildcats enter the offseason with a nine-win season — one of eight teams in program history to win nine or more games.
The final class project — err, game of the season — was a 24-19 loss to the SMU Mustangs in the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl.
Earlier in the season, we handed out midseason grades for the Wildcats. Now it's time for the final report card, as Arizona turns its attention to 2026 for head coach Brent Brennan's third season in Tucson.
Here are the grades:
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita passes the ball during the first half of the Holiday Bowl against SMU, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in San Diego.
Quarterbacks
Grade: A
Previous grade: A-
The rundown: It was a banner season for Arizona star quarterback Noah Fifita, who set the program career passing touchdowns record (73) and the single-season passing touchdowns record (29). In the first season under offensive coordinator Seth Doege, Fifita finished third in the Big 12 with 3,228 yards, 29 touchdowns and just six interceptions — two interceptions in the final seven games of the season.
Fifita, a Polynesian College Football Player of the Year finalist and first-team All-Big 12 selection, became the third all-time Arizona quarterback to receive first-team all-conference honors — the first in 50 years. He joined Bruce Hill, who was an All-WAC first-team selection in 1975, and Ted Bland, a three-time All-Border Conference selection from 1933-35.
Fifita evolved as a runner this season and rushed for a career-high 216 net rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. He entered the 2025 season with minus-16 net rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. Fifita had 220 rushing yards on designed runs, according to Pro Football Focus.
Fifita's time-to-throw average dropped from 3.14 seconds in 2024 to 3.03 seconds this season, per PFF.
Fifita is returning to the Wildcats in 2026 as a fourth-year starter. Following the Holiday Bowl, Fifita said, "We got unfinished business. I'm coming back."
“We didn't finish how we wanted to, but I love this team," Fifita said. "This is probably the most fun I’ve had playing football, just because of the coaches, Coach Brennan, Coach Doege and the players."
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.
Running backs
Grade: B-
Previous grade: B-
The rundown: Arizona had two 100-yard rushing performances from starter Ismail Mahdi and Quincy Craig, who rushed for 125 yards in the Wildcats' season-opening win over Hawaii. Following Mahdi's 189-yard performance against Kansas State, he was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week.
The Wildcats were outrushed seven times and had fewer than 100 rushing yards collectively in two games. Although Arizona's run game hit a midseason lull, the Wildcats had 13 rushing touchdowns in the second half of the season, including four in the home finale against Baylor.
Craig's 24-yard touchdown lifted Arizona to bowl eligibility and a win over Kansas; he also caught a touchdown in the first half, which moved Fifita to a tie for the most career passing touchdowns. The following week, Kedrick Reescanao had a 50-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of Arizona's upset win over No. 25 Cincinnati.
Reescano led the Wildcats with nine rushing touchdowns, the most by a UA running back since Zach Green in 2017. Seven of Reescano's touchdowns were inside the red zone.
The Wildcats lose Mahdi to graduation — and running backs coach Alonzo Carter, who's now the head coach at Sacramento State — but return Reescano, Craig and freshmen Cornelius Warren and Wesley Yarbrough. They'll go into their first season with new running backs coach Lyle Moevao, who's been on the staff since the 2024 season.
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan greets wide receiver Kris Hutson (4) at the bench after he broke open for a TD reception against BYU in the first quarter of their Big 12 game, Oct. 11, 2025, at Arizona Stadium.
Wide receivers/tight ends
Grade: B+
Previous grade: C+
The rundown: For the first time since 2016, Fifita wasn't teammates with star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who's in line to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and compete in the playoffs with the Carolina Panthers.
Fifita completed 20-plus passes to six receivers; last season, it was four. McMillan accounted for 37% of Arizona's receptions in 2024, while Kris Hutson — Arizona's leading receiver this season with 60 catches for 764 yards — made up 28% of Arizona's receptions.
Senior Javin Whatley was Fifita's top target in the first half of the season, but Hutson emerged in the second half and was a key part in the Wildcats' win over Cincinnati and Baylor in back-to-back weeks. Hutson had 44 first-down catches in his lone season at Arizona, while Chris Hunter — who's slated to return next season — had the second-most with 19.
Tre Spivey, who had eight touchdowns on 25 touches, will be Arizona's leading returner at receiver, along with Hunter and freshmen Gio Richardson and Isaiah Mizell. Richardson's 299 yards are the most by a UA true freshman since McMillan in 2022.
The depth at tight end took a hit in the first half of the season after starter Tyler Powell went down with a season-ending leg injury on the first play from scrimmage, and senior Keyan Burnett opted to redshirt after four games and enter the transfer portal.
Arizona's top two tight ends were seniors Cameron Barmore and Sam Olson, who combined for 36 catches for 324 yards and four touchdowns. Barmore caught Arizona's final touchdown of the season, a 15-yard reception in the back of the end zone with 33 seconds left of the Holiday Bowl.
With Barmore and Olson graduating, tight end is a position of need in the transfer portal for the Wildcats. Arizona returns Powell and freshman Kellan Ford, and added Illinois transfer tight end Cole Rusk and four-star Seattle-area tight end Henry Gabalis in its 2026 recruiting class.
Arizona offensive lineman Chubba Maae (55) in the second half against Kansas State, Sept. 12, 2025, in Tucson.
Offensive line
Grade: B
Previous grade: B
The rundown: For the most part, Arizona was much healthier on the offensive line than the 2024 season, which had seven different starting lineups up front — and Jonah Savaiinaea playing three positions.
Arizona found continuity with left tackle Ty Buchanan, defensive tackle-converted-left guard Chubba Maae, center Ka'ena Decambra, right guard Alexander Doost and right tackle Tristan Bounds.
Bounds suffered a season-ending leg injury against Cincinnati and was replaced by redshirt freshman Matthew Lado for the final three games. Buchanan went down with a right knee injury in the Holiday Bowl and was replaced by former starter Rhino Tapa'atoutai. Lado and Tapa'atoutai surrendered a combined eight quarterback pressures in the Holiday Bowl.
Arizona gave up the third-most sacks (30) in the Big 12. Holding penalties were a concern for the Wildcats in nonconference play, but Arizona cleaned it up throughout the season.
Excluding the fill-in tackles, Doost is the only starter on the offensive line returning next season.
Arizona defensive lineman Deshawn McKnight (0) dances his way upfield after sacking Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson (2) in the second quarter, Sept. 12, 2025, at Arizona Stadium.
Defensive line
Grade: B-
Previous grade: B+
The rundown: In Arizona's first season under new defensive line coach Joe Salave'a, the Wildcats were 13th in the Big 12 in sacks (21), but they ranked in the top half of the conference in rushing defense.
Arizona's top performers on the defensive line in 2025 were seniors Tiaoalii Savea and Deshawn McKnight, junior college transfer Leroy Palu and freshman Mays Pese, who received All-Big 12 Freshman Team honorable mention. The aforementioned quartet combined for 108 tackles and 3.5 sacks. McKnight had the 11th-most stops (17) by a defensive lineman in the Big 12.
Despite having just four available defensive linemen for the Territorial Cup, Arizona held Arizona State to 100 rushing yards and 214 yards of total offense.
The Wildcats are expected to return defensive captain and edge rusher Tre Smith, who went down with a season-ending shoulder injury, along with Palu, Pese, defensive end Dominic Lolesio, defensive tackle Julian Savaiinaea and 6-6, 389-pound defensive tackle Zac Siulepa, along with 6-7, 274-pound freshman Porter Patton. Arizona is also adding junior college transfer and former Mater Dei (California) star Ezra Funa, who is on Arizona's roster but redshirted this season.
Arizona State quarterback Jeff Sims (2), left, and Arizona linebacker Taye Brown (6) chase after Sims’s fumble during the third quarter in the Territorial Cup, Nov. 28, 2025, in Tempe. Brown won the race.
Linebackers
Grade: A-
Previous grade: A-
The rundown: It's unconfirmed, but this might be the first year Arizona ever implemented a defensive scheme that had linebackers holding hands preceding the snap — also known as "Red rover! Red rover!" The first time Arizona used it was in its four-linebacker lineup against Baylor, which resulted in a pick-six for freshman Jabari Mann.
Under first-year defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales, the Wildcats transitioned into a 3-3-5 defense, but used Chase Kennedy and Riley Wilson as linebacker-edge rusher hybrids. Wilson and Kennedy combined for 96 tackles, seven tackles, two interceptions (both Wilson) and two forced fumbles (both Kennedy).
Arizona's most productive linebackers were journeyman Max Harris and junior Taye Brown, who logged a career-high 93 tackles in his second season as a starter.
Arizona defensive back Dalton Johnson (43) makes a signal against BYU in the first half, Oct. 11, 2025, in Tucson.
Defensive backs
Grade: A-
Previous grade: A
The rundown: Opt-outs for the bowl game are the reason the grade dipped, but Arizona's defensive backs are still one of the best position groups for the Wildcats.
Arizona led college football in takeaways per game (2.5) and had more takeaways (31) than touchdowns allowed (28). Arizona led the Big 12 with 22 interceptions, which is the second-most nationally.
The nucleus of Arizona's secondary — Treydan Stukes, Dalton Johnson and Genesis Smith — combined for 226 tackles, nine interceptions, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Stukes and Johnson, who led the Wildcats in tackles in back-to-back seasons, became the first UA defensive backs to earn all-conference first-team honors in the same season since Bob White and Jackie Wallace in 1972. Stukes became the first UA defensive player to earn Associated Press All-American honors since linebacker Scooby Wright.
Arizona didn't allow more than 200 passing yards in eight straight games, which was the longest streak by a Big 12 team since Missouri in 2004.
Between Stukes, Johnson and Smith — who all opted out of the Holiday Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft — and cornerbacks Michael Dansby, Ayden Garnes and Marquis Groves-Killebrew leaving the program, the Wildcats will have to replace six starter-worthy defensive backs in 2026. Arizona returns cornerback Jay'Vion Cole, who tied for the second-most interceptions (4) in the Big 12.
Arizona wide receiver Luke Wysong (15) shoves his way around Arizona State defensive back Joseph Smith (22) in their Territorial Cup game, Nov. 28, 2025, in Tempe.
Special teams
Grade: C
Previous grade: C
The rundown: Arizona kicker Michael Salgado-Medina — nicknamed "Money Mike" by Brennan — finished 19 for 31 at kicking field goals, the most misses in a season for the UA since 1999, albeit snapping inconsistencies factored into some of those misses.
Salgado-Medina was 5 for 12 at field goals between 40-49 yards, but displayed leg strength with a 57-yarder against Oklahoma State and a crucial 51-yarder against Cincinnati.
Senior punter and Australia native Isaac Lovison was ninth in the Big 12 in punting average (42.6) during his lone season in Tucson.
Wysong, who took over punt return duties midway through the season, had the third-best return average (10.3 yards) in the Big 12.
Arizona kickoff specialist Ian Wagner had 68 touchbacks in 78 attempts — an 87% clip. Wagner accumulated 5,069 kickoff yards in his only season with the Wildcats.
