New league. New postseason. New experiences.
After finally turning the corner as a program, Arizona football is about to run into a new set of challenges.
The Wildcats are playing in the Big 12 Conference for the first time, knowing that if they can win the league — something they never pulled off in the Pac-12 — they will qualify for the expanded College Football Playoff.
That would have been an unthinkable prospect a year ago. But a 10-3 season changed the calculus for the Cats, even with Jedd Fisch having fled to Washington. First-year coach Brent Brennan was able to retain most of Arizona’s key players, positioning the UA as one of a half-dozen or so legitimate contenders to win the new conference.
What does a Big 12 schedule look like? How will Arizona handle visits to unfamiliar venues and time zones?
What follows are predictions for every UA game this year. As the actual season progresses, we reserve the right to change our mind.
Running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, left, executes a drill during an Arizona football practice at Arizona Stadium on Aug. 2. Croskey-Merritt will face his former team, New Mexico, in Week 1.
GAME 1: NEW MEXICO
When: Saturday, Aug. 31, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Arizona Stadium
TV: ESPN
How it could go: You never know what will happen in a season opener, but this should be a relative breeze for the Wildcats. The Lobos are in full-on rebuilding mode under first-year coach Bronco Mendenhall; look no further than the fact that they were underdogs — by more than a touchdown — in their Week 0 opener at home against FCS Montana State. Arizona will benefit from getting to see New Mexico in game action. The Wildcats also have the Lobos’ most productive player from 2023, tailback Jacory Croskey-Merritt, on their sideline.
Final score: Arizona 41, New Mexico 13
Record to date: 1-0
GAME 2: NAU
When: Saturday, Sept. 7, 7 p.m.
Where: Arizona Stadium
TV: ESPN+
How it could go: The Wildcats continue to ease into the season against another rebuilding program with a first-year head coach in Brian Wright, who went 33-8 at Pittsburg (Kan.) State. Like the opener, this game will give the UA coaches a chance to see what they have beyond known quantities such as Noah Fifita, Tetairoa McMillan and Jacob Manu; solidify the depth chart; and pare down the playbook. A second straight blowout victory over the Lumberjacks won’t erase the memory of 2021, but it’ll push it deeper into UA fans’ collective subconscious.
Final score: Arizona 49, NAU 17
Record to date: 2-0
GAME 3: KANSAS STATE
When: Friday, Sept. 13, 5 p.m.
Where: Bill Snyder Family Stadium; Manhattan, Kansas
TV: FOX/11
How it could go: Now it gets real. Although it doesn’t count in the Big 12 standings — Wildcats vs. Wildcats was already on the docket and couldn’t be undone — this game will be Arizona’s first true test of the season and a sneak preview of what’s to come in the league. KSU (No. 18) enters the season ranked ahead of Arizona (No. 21) and also should be 2-0 with opening games against UT Martin and at Tulane. Is the UA ready for a heavyweight bout? The guess here is that KSU eventually will wear the visitors down.
Final score: Kansas State 27, Arizona 23
Record to date: 2-1
GAME 4: UTAH
When: Saturday, Sept. 28
Where: Rice-Eccles Stadium; Salt Lake City
TV: TBA
How it could go: The first official Big 12 game comes against a familiar foe. Arizona will have a bye week to get rested and ready, while Utah will be coming off back-to-back road games at Utah State and Oklahoma State. The Wildcats ended a six-game losing streak against the Utes in resounding fashion last year, but that was a beat-up Utah team. Plus, the game was in Tucson. Assuming they’re relatively healthy, the Utes will ride Cam Rising and one of the best home-field advantages in the West to a narrow win.
Utah quarterback Cameron Rising answers questions from the media during Big 12 Media Days on July 9 in Las Vegas.
Final score: Utah 30, Arizona 27
Record to date: 2-2 (0-1 Big 12)
GAME 5: TEXAS TECH
When: Saturday, Oct. 5
Where: Arizona Stadium
TV: TBA
How it could go: Two losses in a row ... time to panic? Nah. We project that both of those games will come down to the wire — and that the Wildcats actually will be feeling pretty good about themselves despite falling to .500. They’ll show it against a Texas Tech team that could be unbeaten when it comes to Tucson. The Red Raiders’ toughest assignment in August/September is a Week 2 game at Washington State. After cruising at home vs. ASU and Cincinnati, Tech is in for a reckoning.
Final score: Arizona 38, Texas Tech 23
Record to date: 3-2 (1-1)
GAME 6: BYU
When: Saturday, Oct. 12
Where: LaVell Edwards Stadium; Provo, Utah
TV: TBA
How it could go: For reasons unknown, Arizona has to make two trips to Utah in its inaugural Big 12 campaign. BYU has been a vexing opponent, having won three straight in the series. All three were season openers (2016, 2018, 2021), and all were one-score games. The Wildcats are in a better state as a program right now, while the Cougars are struggling to find their footing in a Power Four league. It won’t be easy — especially with BYU coming off a bye — but expect the Wildcats to come home with a Utah split.
Final score: Arizona 38, BYU 31
Record to date: 4-2 (2-1)
GAME 7: COLORADO
When: Saturday, Oct. 19
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, left, talks with his son and starting quarterback Shedeur Sanders prior to an Oct. 7, 2023, game in Tempe.
Where: Arizona Stadium
TV: TBA
How it could go: We should know what Arizona is all about by this point. As of this writing, we have no idea what to expect from Colorado. After last year’s sizzling start (3-0) and dreadful finish (1-8), Deion Sanders overhauled the roster for a second straight season. Will the Buffaloes be better in the trenches? Will there be substance behind all the flash? Expect just as tough a test as last year — a 34-31 walk-off win for Arizona in Boulder — and a third straight victory for a UA team that knows how to close.
Final score: Arizona 41, Colorado 35
Record to date: 5-2 (3-1)
GAME 8: WEST VIRGINIA
When: Saturday, Oct. 26
Where: Arizona Stadium
TV: TBA
How it could go: The RichRod Bowl brings the dark-horse Mountaineers to Tucson for the first time ever; UA and WVU have never squared off in football. The Big 12 did the Mountaineers no favors from a scheduling standpoint; when they land at TIA, they will have faced a gauntlet of Kansas, Oklahoma State, Iowa State and Kansas State to open league play (plus Penn State and Pittsburgh in nonconference games). WVU won’t be at its best. Arizona will be rolling. The Wildcats won’t ease off the gas.
Final score: Arizona 38, West Virginia 27
Record to date: 6-2 (4-1)
GAME 9: UCF
When: Saturday, Nov. 2
Where: FBC Mortgage Stadium; Orlando, Florida
TV: TBA
UCF defensive back Braeden Marshall (4) celebrates after intercepting an Oklahoma State pass with linebacker Jason Johnson, left, and defensive back Nikai Martinez (21) during the first half of their game on Nov. 11, 2023, in Orlando, Florida.
How it could go: Space is a dangerous place, and UCF’s “Space Game” has been a treacherous spot for visitors. The Knights are 7-0 in the annual affair honoring their space program, and they’ve won by an average score of 50-21. UCF is loaded on offense, and dual-threat quarterback KJ Jefferson will present a different challenge to the UA defense. The Wildcats are bound to stumble at some point. The combination of the Space Game frenzy, a cross-country flight and a sixth game in as many weeks will be too much to overcome.
Final score: UCF 42, Arizona 31
Record to date: 6-3 (4-2)
GAME 10: HOUSTON
When: Friday, Nov. 15, 8:15 p.m.
Where: Arizona Stadium
TV: FS1
How it could go: This is a tough spot for the rebuilding Cougars. Both teams will be coming off byes — everyone gets two this year — but only one is likely to be playing for something at this point. That would be Arizona, which should have a heightened sense of urgency after a second conference loss in what’s bound to be a tight race. With a national TV audience, this game also will serve as an opportunity for Fifita, McMillan, Manu and others to enhance their cases for season-ending awards.
Final score: Arizona 45, Houston 18
Record to date: 7-3 (5-2)
GAME 11: TCU
When: Saturday, Nov. 23
Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium; Fort Worth, Texas
TV: TBA
How it could go: This is a potential trap game for the Wildcats. Before last year’s win over Utah, Arizona had lost seven consecutive games played the week before the Territorial Cup. You’d like to think this veteran-laden team will be mature enough to focus on the here and now — especially if, as forecasted, the Wildcats are in the thick of the Big 12 title chase. Although the Horned Frogs aren’t projected to compete for the crown, they’re too talented to overlook.
Final score: Arizona 27, TCU 24
Record to date: 8-3 (6-2)
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) hops out of the hands of Arizona State defensive back Ed Woods (10), racking up more yards after the catch in the fourth quarter of the Territorial Cup game in Tempe on Nov. 25, 2023.
GAME 12: ASU
When: Saturday, Nov. 30
Where: Arizona Stadium
TV: TBA
How it could go: Since the last time they met, the Wildcats probably have gotten slightly worse, while the Sun Devils should be slightly better (or at least healthier). Is it enough to make up the difference between them? Not even close. Arizona will send its seniors — and McMillan, a junior who’s projected to be a first-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft — out on a high note. Then, more likely than not, tiebreakers will decide whether the Wildcats get to play in the Big 12 Championship Game.
Final score: Arizona 41, ASU 31
Record to date: 9-3 (7-2)
The Star's Justin Spears and Michael Lev break down notable stories and observations from Arizona Wildcats football training camp with the season about two weeks away. Is Arizona's No. 21 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 fair? Plus, the guys answer your Twitter mailbag questions and discuss position battles and rising players for the UA.
