Arizona faces the 18th-ranked BYU Cougars for a highly anticipated battle in Tucson. Here's a look at starting lineups, key matchups and a prediction.
No. 18 BYU (5-0) at Arizona (4-1)
When: 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Arizona Stadium
TV: ESPN2
Radio: 1290-AM, 107.5-FM, 92.5-FM (Spanish)
BYU Cougars
2025 record: 5-0 (2-0 Big 12)
WHEN BYU IS ON OFFENSE (PROJECTED):
[Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.]
WR | 2 | Chase Roberts | 6-4 | 210 | R-Sr.
TE | 20 | Carsen Ryan | 6-4 | 250 | R-Sr.
LT | 71 | Isaiah Jatta | 6-6 | 315 | R-Sr.
BYU wide receiver Parker Kingston, bottom, makes the catch for a touchdown while being defended by Arizona defensive back Owen Goss, top, during a game Oct. 12, 2024, in Provo, Utah.
LG | 61 | Weylin Lapuaho | 6-4 | 310 | Sr.
C | 63 | Bruce Mitchell | 6-4 | 305 | R-Jr.
RG | 55 | Austin Leausa | 6-5 | 315 | Sr.
RT | 75 | Andrew Gentry | 6-8 | 315 | R-So.
WR | 11 | Parker Kingston| 5-11 | 185 | R-Jr.
WR | 5 | Cody Hagen | 6-1 | 185 | So.
QB | 47 | Bear Bachmeier | 6-2 | 220 | Fr.
RB | 4 | LJ Martin | 6-2 | 220 | Jr.
WHEN BYU IS ON DEFENSE (PROJECTED):
[Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.]
DE | 48 | Bodie Schoonover | 6-3 | 265 | R-Jr.
NT | 57 | Keanu Tanuvasa | 6-4 | 300 | R-Jr.
DT | 55 | John Taumoepeau | 6-2 | 300 | Sr.
DE | 7 | Logan Lutui | 6-2 | 260 | R-Sr.
LB | 16 | Isaiah Glasker | 6-5 | 240 | R-Jr.
LB | 54 | Siale Esera | 6-3 | 245 | R-So.
LB | 17 | Jack Kelly | 6-2 | 242 | R-Sr.
CB | 0 | Evan Johnson | 6-0 | 180 | R-Jr.
SS | 3 | Raider Damuni | 6-1 | 200 | Jr.
FS | 28 | Tanner Wall | 6-1 | 205 | R-Sr.
CB | 1 | Therrian Alexander III | 6-2 | 175 | So.
BYU 2025 SCHEDULE
August
30 | PORTLAND STATE | W, 69-0
September
6 | STANFORD | W, 69-3
20 | at East Carolina | W, 34-13
27 | at Colorado | W, 24-21
October
BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) runs the ball during the first half against Portland State, Aug. 30, 2025 in Provo, Utah.
3 | WEST VIRGINIA* | W, 38-24
11 | at Arizona
18 | UTAH
25 | at No. 22 Iowa State
November
8 | at No. 9 Texas Tech
15 | TCU
22 | at Cincinnati
29 | UCF
Home games in Bold; * = played on Friday
BYU 2025 STATS
PASSING
[Name | Comp-Att-INT | Yards | TDs | Long]
Bachmeier | 79-115-1 | 1,049 | 7 | 85
Hillstead | 4-5-0 | 33 | 0 | 13
Bourguet | 1-2-0 | 8 | 0 | 8
BYU running back LJ Martin, left, rolls out of a tackle by Arizona linebacker Kamuela Ka'aihue, center front, and other Arizona defenders during a game Oct. 12, 2024, in Provo, Utah.
RUSHING
[Name | Carries | Yards | TDs | YPC | YPG]
Martin | 76 | 490 | 3 | 6.4 | 98.0
Bachmeier | 49 | 206 | 5 | 4.2 | 41.2
Hagen | 7 | 101 | 2 | 14.4 | 20.2
Moa | 17 | 90 | 1 | 5.3 | 30.0
RECEIVING
[Name | Rec. | Yards | TDs | YPC | YPG]
Roberts | 20 | 395 | 3 | 19.8 | 79.0
Kingston | 18 | 216 | 1 | 12.0 | 43.2
Ryan | 14 | 211 | 2 | 15.1 | 42.2
Martin | 8 | 77 | 0 | 9.6 | 15.4
Hagen | 8 | 65 | 0 | 8.1 | 13.0
DEFENSE
[Name | Tackles | Sacks | INTs | FR | FF]
Lutui | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Kelly | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1
Glasker | 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1
Damuni | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0
Satuala | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1
Arizona Wildcats
2025 Record: 4-1 (1-1 Big 12)
WHEN ARIZONA IS ON OFFENSE (PROJECTED):
[Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.]
WR | 12 | Tre Spivey III | 6-4 | 212 | R-So.
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 | 71 | Tristan Bounds | 6-8 | 291 | R-Sr.
TE | 84 | Sam Olson | 6-3 | 229 | R-Sr.
WR | 11 | Chris Hunter | 6-1 | 195 | R-Jr.
QB | 1 | Noah Fifita | 5-10 | 195 | R-Jr.
RB | 21 | Ismail Mahdi | 5-9 | 184 | Sr.
WHEN ARIZONA IS ON DEFENSE (PROJECTED):
[Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.]
DE | 42 | Dominic Lolesio | 6-4 | 252 | R-So.
DT | 0 | Deshawn McKnight | 6-3 | 288 | Sr.
DT | 98 | Tiaoalii Savea | 6-4 | 301 | R-Sr.
DE | 44 | Malachi Bailey | 6-2 | 273 | Sr.
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 | 8 | Jay'Vion Cole | 5-10 | 189 | R-Jr.
BS | 43 | Dalton Johnson | 5-11 | 198 | R-Sr.
FS | 12 | Genesis Smith | 6-2 | 204 | Jr.
UA 2025 SCHEDULE
August
30 | HAWAII | W, 40-6
September
6 | WEBER STATE | W, 48-3
12 | KANSAS STATE* | W, 23-17
27 | at No. 14 Iowa State | L, 39-14
October
4 | OKLAHOMA STATE | W, 41-13
11 | No. 18 BYU (Family Weekend)
18 | at Houston
November
1 | at Colorado
8 | KANSAS (Homecoming, Military Appreciation)
Arizona defensive lineman Tiaoalil Savea storms in to pressure Oklahoma State quarterback Zane Flores into an incomplete pass during the third quarter, Oct. 4, 2025, at Arizona Stadium.
15 | at Cincinnati
22 | BAYLOR (Senior Day)
28 | at No. 21 Arizona State* (Territorial Cup)
Home games in Bold; *=Friday game
UA 2025 STATS
PASSING
[Name | Comp-Att-INT | Yards | TDs | Long]
Fifita | 106-164-3 | 1,341 | 13 | 85
Locke | 5-9-1 | 68 | 0 | 40
Bray | 1-2-0 | 22 | 0 | 22
RUSHING
[Name | Carries | Yards | TDs | YPC | YPG]
Mahdi | 64 | 382 | 1 | 6.0 | 76.4
Craig | 22 | 171 | 1 | 7.8 | 34.2
Reescano | 12 | 55 | 1 | 4.6 | 27.5
Yarbrough | 12 | 53 | 0 | 4.4 | 13.3
RECEIVING
[Name | Rec. | Yards | TDs | YPC | YPG]
Whatley | 22 | 215 | 3 | 14.4 | 63.2
Wysong | 13 | 220 | 1 | 16.9 | 44.0
Hunter | 15 | 189 | 1 | 12.6 | 37.8
Hutson | 11 | 156 | 1 | 14.2 | 39.0
Spivey | 8 | 143 | 4 | 17.9 | 28.6
DEFENSE
[Name | Tackles | Sacks | INTs | FR | FF]
Johnson | 31 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0
G. Smith | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0
Harris | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1
Brown | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0
Kennedy | 15 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1
Head to Head
Arizona offensive lineman Tristan Bounds (71) gathers his thoughts at midfield, one of the first players to take to the field to warm up for the game against Weber State, Sept. 6, 2025, at Arizona Stadium.
71 Tristan Bounds vs. 7 Logan Lutui
Bounds has established himself as Arizona's right tackle despite the return of Rhino Tapa'atoutai. Bounds is Arizona's best pass-blocking player (with a minimum of 50 snaps played), according to Pro Football Focus. Bounds hasn't allowed a quarterback pressure since allowing six in the season opener. Bounds is Arizona's third-best run blocker on the UA's starting offensive line, per PFF.
After serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Auckland, New Zealand, from 2017-19, Lutui signed with Weber State and played three seasons for the Wildcats before transferring to BYU in 2022. The veteran defensive end leads the Cougars in tackles and pass breakups. Lutui's pass-breakup ability in the backfield could present a challenge for Arizona.
Arizona defensive back Genesis Smith (12) in the first half during a game against Hawaii on Aug. 30, 2025, in Tucson.
12 Genesis Smith vs. 4 LJ Martin
BYU has a Bear on its team in quarterback Bear Bachmeier. Arizona's "bear" is Smith, who plays the "bear" position (free safety) in defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales' system. Smith hasn't recorded an interception after grabbing one against Weber State. Smith could be a valuable cleanup tackler, considering the potential rainy conditions that could result in missed tackles.
Martin is third in the Big 12 in rushing yards (490) and has rushed for 100 yards in three games this season. Martin is fourth in college football in yards per carry after contact (4.45), according to PFF (with a minimum of 100 offensive snaps). Martin is responsible for nearly 42% of BYU's rushing attack and has become its bell-cow running back. Martin has yet to fumble in 76 carries this season.
The matchup
When Arizona has the ball …
Arizona rushed for a season-low 45 rushing yards last week against an Oklahoma State team that is second-to-last in the Big 12 in rushing defense. BYU is third in the Big 12 in third-down defense — second in fourth-down defense. BYU has held its opponents to a combined 22 of 74 (30%) on third- and fourth-down conversions. Establishing the run game and play-action passes could be key for Arizona having a balanced approach against the eighth-best defense in college football.
When BYU has the ball …
Bachmeier has only thrown one interception this season, but Arizona is arguably the best defense BYU's freshman quarterback has faced all season. Bachmeier threw an interception in BYU's win over West Virginia, but threw for a career-high 351 yards and a touchdown. Bachmeier has also scored a rushing touchdown in four games this season. Bachmeier will be tested against Arizona's disguised blitzes and unorthodox defense.
College Football 26 prediction: BYU 18, Arizona 8
Arizona took an 8-7 lead at halftime following safety Genesis Smith tackling BYU running back LJ Martin in the end zone for a safety and two field goals by kicker Michael Salgado-Medina, including a 38-yarder in the first quarter and a 31-yarder in the final seconds of the first half. BYU held the Wildcats scoreless in the second half and had 23 tackles for loss. In rainy conditions, the "College Football 26" video game had the Cougars escaping with a 10-point win, which would be the fifth straight victory over the Wildcats for BYU. Arizona hasn't beaten BYU since the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl, which snapped the Wildcats' 10-year bowl drought. Arizona lost to BYU in 2016, '18, ’21 and last season.
