Arizona faces the Oklahoma State Cowboys for its Big 12 home opener in Tucson. Here's a look at starting lineups, key matchups and a prediction.
Oklahoma State (1-3) at Arizona (3-1)
When: Noon Saturday
Where: Arizona Stadium
TV: TNT, TruTV, HBO Max
Radio: 1290-AM, 107.5-FM, 92.5-FM (Spanish)
Oklahoma State Cowboys
2025 record: 1-3 (0-1 Big 12)
WHEN OKLAHOMA STATE IS ON OFFENSE (PROJECTED):
[Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.]
WR | 2 | Terrill Davis | 6-0 | 195 | R-Sr.
TE | 40 | Josh Ford | 6-6 | 265 | So.
Oklahoma State running back Trent Howland (24) runs the ball during the first half of a game against Oregon, Sept. 6, 2025, in Eugene, Ore.
LT | 69 | Nuku Mafi | 6-4 | 325 | R-Fr.
LG | 76 | Bob Shick | 6-6 | 305 | R-Sr.
C | 51 | Austin Kawecki | 6-4 | 300 | R-Sr.
RG | 77 | Noah McKinney | 6-4 | 330 | R-Jr.
RT | 74 | Grant Seagren | 6-6 | 311 | R-So.
WR | 18 | Sam Jackson V | 5-10 | 195 | R-Sr.
WR | 16 | Christian Fitzpatrick | 6-4 | 220 | R-Sr.
QB | 6 | Zane Flores | 6-3 | 215 | R-Fr.
RB | 24 | Trent Howland | 6-2 | 247 | Jr.
WHEN OKLAHOMA STATE IS ON DEFENSE (PROJECTED):
[Pos. | No. | Name | Ht. | Wt. | Yr.]
DE | 95 | Jaleel Johnson | 6-5 | 265 | R-Jr.
DT | 99 | Iman Oates | 6-3 | 315 | R-Sr.
DT | 96 | De'Marion Thomas | 6-2 | 337 | Jr.
Oklahoma State defensive tackle Michael Diatta (81) warms up before a game against Oregon, Sept. 6, 2025, in Eugene, Ore.
OLB | 4 | Wendell Gregory | 6-3 | 255 | R-Fr.
LB | 5 | Bryan McCoy | 6-0 | 225 | Sr.
LB | 6 | Brandon Rawls | 6-0 | 240 | R-Sr.
NB | 23 | Kenneth Harris | 6-0 | 195 | R-Sr.
CB | 3 | Cam Smith | 6-0 | 200 | R-Sr.
SS | 8 | Parker Robertson | 5-11 | 185 | R-Sr.
FS | 32 | Mordecai McDaniel | 6-1 | 200 | R-Sr.
CB | 10 | Kale Smith | 5-11 | 180 | R-Sr.
OSU 2025 SCHEDULE
August
28 | UT MARTIN^ | W, 27-7
September
6 | at No. 6 Oregon | L, 69-3
19 | TULSA* | L, 19-12
27 | BAYLOR | L, 45-27
Oklahoma State wide receiver Gavin Freeman runs a route against Oregon, Sept. 6, 2025, in Eugene, Ore.
October
4 | at Arizona
11 | HOUSTON
18 | CINCINNATI
25 | at No. 11 Texas Tech
November
1 | at Kansas
15 | KANSAS STATE
22 | at UCF
29 | No. 14 IOWA STATE
Home games in Bold; ^ = played on Thursday; * = played on Friday
OSU 2025 STATS
PASSING
[Name | Comp-Att-INT | Yards | TDs | Long]
Flores | 68-120-2 | 649 | 0 | 47
Hejny | 5-10-0 | 96 | 1 | 41
Jackson | 4-5-0 | 13 | 1 | 26
RUSHING
[Name | Carries | Yards | TDs | Per carry | Per game]
Fields | 32 | 182 | 0 | 5.7 | 60.7
Hicks | 36 | 119 | 0 | 3.3 | 39.7
Howland | 22 | 115 | 2 | 5.2 | 38.3
Flores | 25 | 83 | 1 | 3.3 | 20.8
RECEIVING
[Name | Receptions | Yards | TDs | Per catch | Per game]
Rigby | 10 | 150 | 0 | 15.0 | 37.5
Davis | 9 | 126 | 0 | 14.0 | 31.5
Freeman | 13 | 118 | 1 | 9.1 | 29.5
Fields | 11 | 114 | 0 | 10.4 | 38.0
Fitzpatrick | 7 | 84 | 0 | 12.0 | 21.0
DEFENSE
[Name | Tackles | Sacks | INTs | FR | FF]
McCoy | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Rawls | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0
Robertson | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1
Johnson | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
K. Smith | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0
Arizona defensive back Jay’Vion Cole (8) and defensive back Devin Dunn (29) celebrate Cole’s pick-six against Weber State in the third quarter, Sept. 6, 2025, in Tucson.
Arizona Wildcats
2025 Record: 3-1 (0-1 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 | 3 | Tre Smith | 6-5 | 262 | R-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 | 25 | Michael Dansby | 5-11 | 185 | Sr.
BS | 43 | Dalton Johnson | 5-11 | 198 | R-Sr.
FS | 12 | Genesis Smith | 6-2 | 204 | Jr.
Weber State linebacker Aizik Mahuka (33) runs down Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita (1) in the third quarter, Sept. 6, 2025, in Tucson.
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 (Hispanic Heritage)
11 | No. 23 BYU (Family Weekend)
18 | at Houston
November
1 | at Colorado
8 | KANSAS (Homecoming, Military Appreciation)
15 | at Cincinnati
22 | BAYLOR (Senior Day)
28 | at No. 25 Arizona State* (Territorial Cup)
Home games in Bold; *=Friday game
UA 2025 STATS
PASSING
[Name | Comp-Att-INT | Yards | TDs | Long]
Fifita | 78-126-2 | 965 | 8 | 85
Bray | 1-2-0 | 22 | 0 | 22
Locke | 2-4-0 | 11 | 0 | 10
RUSHING
[Name | Carries | Yards | TDs | Per carry | Per game]
Mahdi | 50 | 348 | 1 | 7.0 | 87.0
Craig | 22 | 171 | 1 | 7.8 | 42.8
Fifita | 34 | 54 | 3 | 1.6 | 13.5
Reescano | 10 | 51 | 1 | 5.1 | 51.0
RECEIVING
[Name | Receptions | Yards | TDs | Per catch | Per game]
Whatley | 17 | 264 | 2 | 15.5 | 66.0
Wysong | 8 | 128 | 0 | 16.0 | 32.0
Hunter | 10 | 124 | 0 | 12.4 | 31.0
Hutson | 8 | 118 | 1 | 14.8 | 39.3
Phelps | 6 | 82 | 1 | 13.7 | 20.5
DEFENSE
[Name | Tackles | Sacks | INTs | FR | FF]
Johnson | 26 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0
G. Smith | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0
Brown | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0
Harris | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Dansby | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Head to Head
Arizona wide receiver Chris Hunter plays a game of Jenga with Mission View Elementary School students during a celebration to reveal $50,000 in renovations made to the school thanks to donations from the Big 12 and College Football Players’ Foundation.
11 Chris Hunter vs. 5 Bryan McCoy
Hunter leads the team in drops (4) this season, according to Pro Football Focus, but is still one of Arizona's top pass catchers. Hunter had five catches for 59 yards against Iowa State, but only had 5 yards after catch (YAC). Hunter has yet to score a touchdown this season. Last year around this time was when Hunter played more snaps and complemented Tetairoa McMillan.
McCoy leads the Cowboys in tackles in his first season at Oklahoma State after transferring from Akron. The linebacker played three seasons at Akron and led the Zips in tackles in 2023 and ’24. McCoy was a two-time All-MAC selection and averaged 10 tackles per game last season. McCoy was also a three-time state finalist as a wrestler at Joliet West High School in Chicago.
Arizona linebacker Riley Wilson speaks to reporters on media day at Davis Sports Center, July 29, 2025.
16 Riley Wilson vs. 18 Sam Jackson V
Wilson returned from injury last week against Iowa State and started the second half against the Cyclones. In 42 defensive snaps, the Montana transfer linebacker has nine tackles and two sacks. Six of Wilson's tackles are stops (preventing a runner from reaching a first down). Wilson, who signed with Arizona over Oklahoma State, could see more snaps this week and beyond.
The other Chicago product on Oklahoma State's roster is arguably the Cowboys' most versatile weapon on offense. The well-traveled Jackson started his college career at TCU in 2021 and played two seasons for the Horned Frogs, before transferring to Cal in 2023 and Auburn in ’24. Now at his fourth school, Jackson is a do-everything gadget player at receiver and has lined up at quarterback.
The matchup
When Arizona has the ball …
Arizona's offense couldn't have asked for a better get-right opponent in Big 12 play. Oklahoma State's defense is last in the Big 12 in total defense, allowing 473 yards per game, and scoring defense, giving up 35 points per game. The Cowboys are last in the Big 12 in defensive efficiency and have the worst passing defense and rushing defense in the league. After a stagnant passing performance, along with the rise of running back Ismail Mahdi, Saturday could be Arizona's most balanced and efficient offensive game plan of the season.
When Oklahoma State has the ball …
The Cowboys statistically have the second-worst offense in the Big 12, averaging 355.3 yards per game. Oklahoma State is also last in the Big 12 in scoring offense, averaging 17.3 points per game. The bright spot for OSU's offense this season has been placekicker Logan Ward, who has made all seven of his field goal attempts. Jackson, who went 3-for-4 passing and threw a touchdown pass against Baylor last week, could likely line up at quarterback this season.
College Football 26 prediction: Arizona 34, Oklahoma State 20
We simulated Arizona's Big 12 home opener against the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and despite a 14-point rally in the fourth quarter by OSU, the Wildcats hung on to win. Arizona wide receiver Luke Wysong, who's Arizona's highest-rated receiver in the College Football 26 video game, hauled in seven catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Arizona kicker Michael Salgado-Medina punctuated the win with a 45-yard field goal. If reality reflects the simulated version of Arizona-Oklahoma State, the Wildcats will match their win total from last season and have their best start to a season since 2019 — and Oklahoma State covers the 20.5-point spread.
