College football fans – you did it! Congratulations on surviving the summer and making it back to the BEST time of the year. The weather is starting to cool off, sounds of marching band fill the morning air, and pumpkin spice is back – if you’re into that sort of thing. It also means that in a little over 24 hours, the Wildcats will be back in Casino Del Sol Stadium for the first time since November of 2025. As year three of the Brent Brennan era and the final season of Noah Fifita’s historic career officially get underway, check out our first Preview & Predictions of the 2026 season as Arizona gears up to host the NAU Lumberjacks in their season-opener.
Offense:
As good as Arizona’s offense was in Seth Doege’s first season as the coordinator, things should be much improved in year two. The Wildcats are no longer learning the offense, they’re running it. Noah Fifita, the program’s first all-conference quarterback selection in 50 years a season ago, has an elite command of the scheme and understanding of where to distribute the football, as well as an incredibly strong relationship and trust with Doege, making the tandem an elite Big 12 duo.
The Wildcats also return a ton of experience on the offensive line. The lone newcomer is Washington transfer Zach Henning, who spent the back half of last season starting for the Huskies and has plugged into the offense seamlessly. At wide receiver, Tre Spivey, Chris Hunter, and Giovanni Richardson anchor the room, but sophomore Isaiah Mizell, West Virginia transfer Rodney Gallagher III, and freshman RJ Mosley, have all made impressions during camp. And at tight end, the combination of Illinois transfer Cole Rusk and veteran Tyler Powell, who is back and healthy after missing last season, give the UA size and strength they haven’t seen in a long time in the tight end room.
In the backfield, the Wildcats return Kedrick Reescano and Quincy Craig, while bolstering the room with the addition of Marshall transfer Antwan Roberts. The trio give the UA a blend of power, size, and the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. If Ismail Mahdi, whose status is in limbo due to evolving five-for-five legislation, can return to the field, Arizona will have one of the top running back rooms in the Big 12, allowing Doege to open up the offense and give Fifita plenty of options.
So how does this translate to NAU? In Week 0 against Eastern Washington, the Lumberjacks gave up 429 yards of total offense, including 307 yards and two touchdowns through the air by Eagles’ quarterback Nate Bell and 122 yards on the ground to a committee of backs. With his experience, arm talent, and depth at the receiver room, Fifita should have similar, if not better, numbers in the season-opener, while Arizona’s stable of running backs get their fair share of chances.
With a high-profile matchup against BYU in Week 2, don’t look for the offense to do anything crazy flashy or unique, but rather, work to move the ball efficiently and effectively while taking advantage of their skill and experience.
Players to watch out for on the Lumberjacks are defensive lineman Jackson Murray and safety Shoes Brinkely, who led NAU with nine tackles apiece last week. Cornerback Jahaad Fort hauled in an interception, while fellow corner Nehemiah Norwood recovered a fumble for the Jacks.
But perhaps more impressive than the turnovers was NAU’s ability to batten down the hatches with in-game adjustments. After trailing 24-3 late in the second quarter, the Lumberjacks responded by allowing just three points the remainder of the game, as the offense orchestrated an improbable comeback. NAU came away with its interception before the half and forced a pair of punts and turnovers on downs in the second half, helping the Lumberbacks claw their way back to a 34-27 victory.
All in all, look for at least 400-500 yards of total offense from the Wildcats, with 300 through the air and other 150+ on the ground. Arizona should win this game, and comfortably, but don’t underestimate the fight of NAU.
Defense:
Defensively, Arizona is anchored by Tre Smith and Taye Brown, who are competing this season for the honor of “Mr. Redline.” Up front, the Wildcats also boast Leroy Palu, Mays Pese, along with Chase Kennedy and Georgetown transfer Cooper Blomstrom at linebacker. The secondary, which lost five players to the NFL, is revamped and ready to prove they can be as good as the Wildcats’ big three of Treydan Stukes, Dalton Johnson, and Genesis Smith a year ago. All-conference cornerback Jay’Vion Cole is back, while transfers Malcom Hartzog and Dwight Bootle are hoping to make an impact right away. Then, there’s guys like Gavin Hunter and Quinn Olson, who have flashed during their opportunities in camp and games, but will now be called upon to raise the standard in the secondary.
Danny Gonzales prides himself on being a schematic guru, but again, with BYU on the horizon, expect the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator to save plenty of tricks up his sleeve for Week 2 in Provo.
Defensively, NAU should be a good, but manageable test for Arizona. One of the things the Wildcats struggled with most a season ago was defending the run, and last week, the Lumberjacks rushed for over 200 yards. Running back Quran Gossett led the charge with 103 yards and a score on 23 carries, while quarterback Ty Pennington scampered for 61 yards on eight carries. Arizona was particularly vulnerable against rushing quarterbacks, especially the likes of Bear Bachmeier (BYU) and Connor Weigman (Houston), so neutralizing Pennington will be key.
Pennington also threw for 164 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception while completing 15-27 passing attempts. While the numbers aren’t eye-popping, he’s an experienced starter who’s been in command of the Lumberjacks’ offense since 2024 and knows what to do and where to go with the football. If the defense can get pressure up front like it’s expected to, the new secondary should be able to make life difficult for Pennington through the air on the backend.
Tight end Jeter Purdy was Pennington’s clear favorite target. The sophomore from Kansas hauled in seven receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown and should be a nice matchup for Taye Brown, Chase Kennedy, Gavin Hunter, and Arizona’s bigger-bodied defenders.
Pennington should be a nice Week1 test for the Wildcats, but Arizona is more than capable of getting home for 2-3 sacks, as well as forcing a pair of turnovers via fumble or interception.
Special Teams:
Why is it that special teams always seem to make an impact in Week 0 and Week 1 games? On Thursday night, the Georgia Tech and Colorado game featured a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by the Yellow Jackets, followed by a game-winning field goal block by the Buffaloes as time expired. Last week for NAU, it was Lindsey Graves’ 100-yard kickoff return late in the first half that sparked the Lumberjacks’ 24 unanswered points and 34-27 come-from-behind victory.
Shoot, even back in 2023 when the Wildcats hosted the Jacks, Tacario Davis returned a blocked field goal 85 yards for a touchdown.
For whatever reason, early-season football, NAU, and special teams shenanigans seem to be a frequent combination.
For Arizona, one of the biggest focuses this offseason has been on the field goal operation and getting more consistency out of the snap and hold for junior kicker Michael Salgado-Medina. Special teams coordinator Craig Naivar, who is an avid barbecuer, described the operation like a “perfectly smoked brisket” this fall and should have the UA sailing smoothing on field goal opportunities.
Aussie punter Chase Ridley could also be an X-factor for the Wildcats. While Arizona hopes it doesn’t have to punt much this fall, Ridley showed during fall camp he is more than capable of launching the football with his leg. The “Boomin’ Onion,” as he was nicknamed in camp, regularly kicked punts of 55-60 yards and should have no problem pinning NAU deep if the Wildcats get into any sticky situations offensively.
Score Prediction:
This game is either going to get rolling right out of the gates with a couple of quick scores, or will take a little time for Arizona to settle in and get comfy, especially with an abridged playbook on both sides of the ball. Either way, Noah Fifita’s Heisman campaign should get off to a strong start, with the Wildcats building a big enough lead that it allows younger players like Sawyer Anderson, RJ Mosley, Wesley Yarbrough, and Dash Fifita to get some quality reps in the third and fourth quarter. I’ve got Arizona taking care of business with a 49-10 victory in Week 1.