SAN DIEGO — When it's all said and done, Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita will go down as an all-time Arizona Wildcat. He's already achieved that label, but the book is still being written.
Chapter one of Fifita's prolific Arizona career started at the venue the Wildcats are playing at on Friday, when No. 17 Arizona clashes with SMU for the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium.
Friday evening will be a different experience for Fifita, who was a freshman backup during Arizona's season-opening win over San Diego State in 2022 — the first-ever game at Snapdragon Stadium. Arizona beat the Aztecs, 38-20.
The weather will be different, too. Then, during a heatwave in San Diego, the temperature at kickoff reached 100 degrees, which is the hottest recorded temperature in San Diego State history.
"I remember it was hot," Fifita recalled. "It's a coincidence, because we're from Tucson, Arizona and that was probably the hottest game I've ever been a part of."
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita celebrates after a video review upheld a Wildcat interception in the last minutes of the Territorial Cup game against Arizona State, Nov. 28, in Tempe. The Wildcats took the Cup back with a 23-7 win.
The kickoff temperature for the Holiday Bowl on Friday will be somewhere in the low- to mid-60s. Since Fifita is from Huntington Beach, California, a 95-minute car ride on the Pacific Coast Highway, he had a large contingent of supporters at Arizona's last game in San Diego.
The Fifita section will "probably (be) in the three digits," said the Arizona quarterback. One of those attendees will be his younger brother, linebacker Dash Fifita, who is joining the team as an early enrollee in January.
"It was awesome being able to come home," Noah Fifita said of his experience at Snapdragon Stadium in 2022. "I had a lot of family there, as I will on Friday night. Most of my family is already here, they're at practice. It's just nice being able to come home. Being able to finish off a season at home, it's amazing."
A little over a year after Fifita's last game in San Diego, he became the full-time starter and the face of Arizona football. If the Wildcats beat SMU on Friday, he'll be the only player in program history to quarterback two 10-win teams.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita uses both hands to protect the ball on his carry up the middle late in the fourth quarter against Arizona State in the Territorial Cup, Nov. 28, in Tempe.
In between the Alamo Bowl in 2023 and the Holiday Bowl, Fifita experienced a coaching transition from Jedd Fisch to Brent Brennan, three different offenses, a nine-game winning streak, the Wildcats' worst loss since the 63-point setback in the 2020 Territorial Cup, and his best friend and longtime teammate (Tetairoa McMillan) leave as arguably the greatest offensive player in UA history.
This past summer, Fifita threw out the first pitch at an Arizona Diamondbacks game, attended the Manning Passing Academy and changed his jersey number from 11 to No. 1.
Before Arizona went on a five-game run to end the regular season, the Wildcats endured two gut-wrenching one-possession losses to BYU and Houston. After the setbacks, the Wildcats won five games in November for the first time ever.
Fifita passed for a career-high 2,963 yards, 26 touchdowns and five interceptions in the regular season — a season after tossing 12 interceptions. Fifita's 26 passing touchdowns are a career-high and the fifth-most in a season by a UA quarterback. He needs three more passing touchdowns to set Arizona's single-season touchdown record.
Arizona’s Noah Fifita celebrates with supporters following the Wildcats’ win over Cincinnati, Nov. 15, in Cincinnati.
Fifita currently owns Arizona's record for the most career passing touchdowns (70), which he set in Arizona's upset win over No. 25 Cincinnati in November. Fifita is the first-ever Wildcat to receive Territorial Cup MVP honors multiple times since the award was first given out in 2001.
Fifita, who was a 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.
There have been highs, lows and historical moments for Fifita. But the constant has been his unwavering and unflappable mindset, a trait he credits his faith for.
Said Fifita: "God. He's been a constant through the ups, through the downs. He's carried me to where I am now. He's the author of my story and He's the only reason I'm in this position."
After Friday, there's still more to add to the Book of Noah. Fifita needs 294 yards to pass Willie Tuitama, who attended Arizona's practice on Tuesday, for the second-most career passing yards. Fifita will need 1,094 yards to pass Nick Foles to become Arizona's all-time passing yards leader. If Fifita passes for 37 yards on Friday, he'll be the ninth quarterback in program history to pass for more than 3,000 yards in a season.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita warms up before a game against Colorado on Nov. 1, in Boulder, Colo.
Fifita is "extremely grateful" for his ongoing journey at Arizona.
"Like I said before, God has carried me every step of the way, so I'm super blessed, super thankful," he added. "It's about this team. To be able to come back from a 4-8 season ... we heard all of the critics and what everyone said about us and we all just put our heads down and worked. We all believe in Coach Brennan, he means a lot to this team and now we gotta finish it off."
Fifita is especially grateful for Arizona's offensive line and bought them customized gold Movado watches ahead of the Holiday Bowl.
"If you watch how they take care of me on the field, that's not even half of what they deserve," Fifita said. "This is the best offensive line I've ever played with. But more importantly, I've never had more fun playing football than with this team — and that O-Line. We've got people with different personalities, we've got people from all kinds of places. I love those guys on and off the field. O-Linemen are the best people. I think everyone knows O-Linemen are the best people. They deserve it."
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita (1) leads warm-ups during fall football practice inside Davis Sports Center, Aug. 7.
In addition to icing out Arizona's offensive linemen, Fifita spoke with media following Arizona's practice at USD's Torero Stadium, as the Wildcats gear up for the Holiday Bowl. Here's what Fifita discussed:
Both offensive coordinator Seth Doege and defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales are expected to return next season. How important is it to have continuity between the players and the coaches going into 2026?
A: "It shows their loyalty, but it's also nice to have consistency in terms of a leader and coordinator. We've taken great strides since Coach Doege has gotten here and I know we have a long way to go. I'm super excited."
How have you grown as a quarterback under Doege?
A: "I think we grew so much from the beginning of the year to now, from confidence in each other, to our relationship. I look at like him like a big brother. He has helped me in so many ways as a leader and obviously as a player and as a person. That's my guy. I'll follow him to end of this earth. I would've said that before the season, but our relationship has only grown even more now. Going into Year Two in the scheme and our relationship, so only God knows how far we can go."
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Seth Doege watches with a couple of his charges, Braedyn Locke, left, and Noah Fifita, as the Wildcats run offensive drills in preseason training camp, Aug. 9, in Tucson.
What has changed for you over the years at Arizona since that first game in San Diego?
A: "My process has definitely changed from then. I've learned a lot from the coaches that have been in my room, to the coaches I've had. I've learned a lot about the game, I've learned a lot about the position and my process has definitely has changed, so I'm better on game days."
Why do you think Arizona's offense is a challenge for opposing defenses?
A: "I think Coach Doege's mind, his creativity, his preparation is unmatched. I know a lot of people say that, but if you talk to anybody in the facility, he's probably the hardest worker that's in the facility. His preparation, his mentality, it makes you want to play for him. We believe in him, we believe in each other and we believe in the scheme."
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings, like you, started his career at the program he's representing in the Holiday Bowl and you're both returning next season, which is a rarity in college football nowadays with the transfer portal. Why is it important to finish at the same place?
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita points skyward after scrambling for a touchdown vs. Hawaii during the third quarter of the season opener, Aug. 30.
A: "I can't speak for him, but I know he's a great player. I met him at the Manning Passing Academy (this past summer), so I know he's a great player as well. For me, Tucson means everything to me and the University of Arizona means a lot to me and my family, so being able to play for Coach Brennan and the university means a lot."
What do you think was the recipe for the turnaround?
A: "Just buy-in. Everyone believes in Coach Brennan and his process. What he did to turn this program around and the people that he brought in, to the foundation he set in terms of culture, that's definitely the foundation."
You were a part of the Arizona team in 2023 that won the Alamo Bowl to cap a 10-win season. What would a win do for the program and what do you remember about the feeling of winning a bowl game?
A: "Momentum definitely. We want to finish what we started. I do remember the celebration afterwards. We told the team, have fun and enjoy San Diego and enjoy this opportunity that we got, because we deserve it. But at the end of the day, the real joy and the real happiness comes from the confetti at Snapdragon Stadium."
