What would you rather do as an undefeated team: ride the hot hand and keep playing or go into a bye week to hit the reset button and work on fixable mistakes and get players healthy?
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan said, “The beautiful thing about scheduling is that you don’t really have a say.”
“You just have to deal with whatever it is,” he said. “But the good news is, is that we played some good football leading up to it.”
He’s not kidding. Arizona is off to its best start in a decade and has looked dominant every step of the way, outscoring its opponents 111-26 and having a defense that ranks seventh nationally in total defense — third in yards per play behind Texas and Oklahoma.
In addition to rehabilitating injuries — hobbled players such as running back Kedrick Reescano, defensive end Tre Smith and linebacker Riley Wilson — Arizona’s bye week gave the Wildcats “a chance to do some self-scout and dive back into some fundamental stuff and work on some situational football and also get ready for the upcoming opponent, which is obviously one of the best teams in our conference, it’s on the road in a tough environment,” Brennan said.
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan and the Wildcats watch the public feed of a video review on a fourth-down spot in the fourth quarter against Kansas State, Sept. 12, at Arizona Stadium.
Not only are the Wildcats preparing for their first official Big 12 game and road trip of the season, they’re facing 14th-ranked Iowa State, a team that’s also coming off a bye week and is one of seven unbeaten teams in the Big 12. It’s Arizona’s first trip to Ames, Iowa, since its last contest with the Cyclones in 1968.
“There are so many things that come with this game,” Brennan said. “It gave us a chance to talk about all of those things. It’s unique that both teams are coming off a bye. I don’t know if I’ve ever had that in my career. It’s a really important week of work for us, because we know they’ll be ready to go.”
Iowa State is led by 10th-year head coach Matt Campbell, who has led the Cyclones since the 2016 season and is the successor to former head coach Paul Rhoads, who was Arizona’s offensive coordinator under former head coach Kevin Sumlin in 2020.
The 45-year-old Campbell made his head coaching debut with the Toledo Rockets in 2012. His first-ever game as a head coach? A 24-17 overtime loss to the Rich Rodriguez-coached Arizona Wildcats in Tucson. At Iowa State, Campbell is 68-51 all-time and has led the Cyclones to two Big 12 championship appearances, including last season’s loss to Arizona State, and seven bowl games, including a 42-41 win over Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl last year.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell yells to his team from the sidelines as they play Arkansas State during an NCAA college football game, Sept. 13, in Jonesboro, Ark.
The only seasons ISU didn’t have a postseason appearance under Campbell were his first season in 2016 and 2022. ISU has seven winning seasons under Campbell; Arizona has two during that span.
Over the years, Campbell has generated interest from several colleges and NFL teams for their head coaching vacancies, including the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions.
“I have incredible respect for Coach Campbell and that staff there,” Brennan said. “That’s one of those deals where he took over a program that had been up and down and he made it into a consistent and sustainable winner — something we’re trying to do here at the University of Arizona.
“I have an incredible amount of respect for him and their staff and how they built it. ... He’s a universally respected head football coach, he’s a really good guy and he has built a hell of a football program.”
Living the redline (literally)
Arizona’s latest “Redline” collaboration with Phoenix Raceway to cross-promote UA football and NASCAR championship weekend next month was a layup for a football program that uses “redline” as a mantra and rally cry.
Arizona football head coach Brent Brennan stands with Phoenix Raceway president Latasha Causey and Wilbur Wildcat at Phoenix Raceway on Sept. 20, 2025.
“When you look through the lens of the business of college football now, how do we continue to build and push the brand on Arizona football?” Brennan said. “We felt like redline was a simple thing that was in alignment with race cars.”
Added Brennan: “Everything we’re doing here at Arizona is we’re trying to build a program that’s successful and sustainable over time, and how do we find new ways in the world of college football to do that, and I thought it was a great step.”
After watching a 40-minute training video, Brennan “got a chance to redline a race car.”
“I’ll be honest with you, I was a little bit nervous at first,” Brennan said.
Brennan was never one to watch NASCAR, but said former Wildcat Kurt Busch “is my guy, because he’s an Arizona dude.”
“He’s been by a couple of times and spent time with us and is a great person, a lot of fun to talk to,” he added.
The NASCAR diehard of Arizona’s coaching staff is offensive line coach Josh Oglesby.
Arizona offensive line coach Josh Oglesby speaks to reporters on media day at the Davis Sports Center on July 29, 2025.
“He asked me (about it) as soon as I got in the door Sunday morning; he was in my office and wanted to know all about it,” Brennan said. “For Josh, we might have to build a bigger car if we’re going to get him behind the wheel. Those cars are not made for offensive linemen. Josh is the one on Sunday — we’re in the middle of game-planning — and he’s like, ‘Hey, did you hear how the NASCAR race finished today?’ ‘I’m just trying to get a first down, buddy.’
“He’s such a fan. I enjoy that part of Josh and he’s pushing me into being more interested. With this collaboration and relationship, it’s obviously going to be something I care more about. I’m excited about it.”
Kickoff times for Big 12 home opener, Territorial Cup
Arizona’s Big 12 home opener will be an afternoon matinee — and the first day game of the season at Arizona Stadium.
On Monday, the Wildcats announced their contest against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Saturday, Oct. 4, will kick off at noon on TNT, TruTV and HBO Max.
Arizona linebacker Taye Brown (6), center, draws a happy crowd as defensive linemen Mays Pese (99), left, and Julian Savaiinaea (41) celebrate his intercepting of Hawaii in the third quarter of the Wildcats’ season opener, Aug. 30, 2025, at Arizona Stadium.
It marks the second time Arizona has played on TNT, TruTV and HBO Max this season. The Wildcats kicked off the season against Hawaii on the aforementioned platforms.
Arizona’s matchup with Oklahoma State will be the 10th all-time matchup between the two schools, dating back to 1931. Arizona is 4-5 against the Cowboys, winning its last matchup, 59-38, in former head coach Rich Rodriguez’s first season in 2012.
Before 2012, Arizona lost the previous two games to Oklahoma State, a 37-14 setback in Stillwater and a 36-10 beatdown in the Alamo Bowl to cap the 2010 season.
Oklahoma State enters its contest with Baylor this week 1-2 after dropping two straight games to Oregon and Tulsa.
In addition to the Big 12 revealing the kickoff time and TV broadcast for Arizona’s Big 12 home opener against Oklahoma State, the conference also announced the kickoff time and broadcast for the Territorial Cup.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita (11) fires from the pocket in the third quarter against Arizona State, Nov. 30, 2024.
The Wildcats’ regular-season finale against rival Arizona State will kick off at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Friday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m. on Fox.
It’s Arizona’s second Friday game of the season. The Wildcats hosted Kansas State for the final nonconference game of the season on Friday, Sept. 12.
Arizona’s Friday night showdown with ASU in Tempe falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Arizona is 50-46-1 all-time against the Sun Devils. ASU routed Arizona in Tucson last season, 49-7, to end a two-game skid against the Wildcats.
Arizona (3-0) battles 14th-ranked Iowa State (4-0) in Ames this Saturday at 4 p.m. on ESPN.
Extra points
— Iowa State senior defensive back Jeremiah Cooper is the younger brother of former Arizona safety Tristan Cooper, who played for the Wildcats from 2016-19. The younger Cooper and El Paso, Texas native is a four-year starter for the Cyclones and has 134 tackles, eight interceptions and 29 pass deflections.
— Brennan, on Arizona’s coaches visiting recruits in Arizona, California, Texas, Hawaii, Washington, Nevada and Utah during the bye week: “It was great to get out and see high school coaches and see some good high school football.”
— Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita enters this week fifth in UA career passing yards (6,667) and is 256 yards shy of passing Anu Solomon for fourth all-time.
— The ESPN broadcasters for Arizona-Iowa State are Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (color analyst) and Stormy Buonantony (reporter).
— After scoring a touchdown on Sunday, former Arizona running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt leads the Washington Commanders in rushing touchdowns (two) this season. The seventh-round draft choice also leads Washington in rushing yards (125) and is the Commanders’ featured running back after the franchise traded Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.
— Brennan started his news conference on Monday by sending condolences to UCF and the family of offensive line coach Shawn Clark, who died at 50 years old on Sunday. Said Brennan: “Our sincerest condolences go out to all of them. I can’t imagine what they’re all going through and how hard that is for everyone involved. Arizona football is sending thoughts and prayers to everyone there at UCF and obviously Coach Clark’s family.”
