On the way to clinching bowl eligibility in the 24-20 win over Kansas last week, Arizona proved that it can win ugly games, something that may prove valuable over the next three weeks. The Wildcats now face the No. 25 team in the land in the latest College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings. Check out this week’s Preview & Predictions ahead of Arizona Football’s first ever matchup against the No. 25 Cincinnati Bearcats.
Offense:
The offense took a step back against Kansas after rolling against BYU, Houston, and Colorado, albeit both games against the Cougars were losses. Even still, the Wildcats’ offense made plays when it needed to, converting on 5-of-13 3rd down conversions with over 300 yards of total offense. Running back Quincy Craig was dynamic, both as a rusher and as a receiving, hauling in a touchdown, while also gashing the defense for 42 yards and the go-ahead touchdown on Arizona’s final two offensive plays of the game.
Cincinnati will present a much tougher defense than any of Arizona’s recent opponents though. The Bearcats are led by defensive lineman Dontay Corleone, better know in the Buckeye State as the “Godfather.” While he hasn’t quite had the impact or eye-popping numbers in 2025, with just 11 tackles in seven games, his size at 6-foot-1 and 335 pounds makes him a force inside. Per PFF, the Bearcats’ top defenders have been safety Antwan Peek Jr. and linebacker Jake Golday with ratings of 82.0 and 81.8 respectively. Peek Jr. has a team-high run-defense grade of 92.6, while Golday has a team-high 54 tackles and 15 pressures.
With Peek Jr. and Golday’s ability to impact the run, look for the Bearcats to make Arizona one dimensional, forcing Seth Doege, Noah Fifita, and the offense to move the ball through the air as opposed to on the ground.
One thing Arizona’s offense cannot do is allow Cincinnati to get to Noah Fifita as much as Kansas did. The Jayhawks got home to Fifita five times last week, after only giving up one sack against Colorado the week prior. If Noah can stay upright and the offense stays ahead of the sticks, balanced, and unpredictable, it make be a closer game than some are expecting.
Whether the Wildcats attack is pass- or run- heavy, or balanced, it’s a shame Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita won’t break the all-time touchdown passing record at home on Saturday, because it’s not a matter of if he throws a the record-setting touchdown, it’s who will be on the receiving end of it.
Defense:
After lapses against BYU and Houston, the defense continues to looked more and more like it did to start the season against Colorado and Kansas. The Wildcats are allowing an average of 18.5 points per game over the last two weeks, holding a high-octane Jayhawks’ offense to just 20 points. But this week will be a true test for Danny Gonzales’ crew.
Brent Brennan called Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby the “best quarterback Arizona has faced this year” on Monday, adding the Bearcats have incredible speed and quickness. The numbers would suggest something similar regarding Sorsby. The Bearcats’ signal caller has the second-highest passer rating in the Big 12 at 161.5, behind only Texas Tech’s Behren Morton. Sorsby is also by far the highest-rated quarterback the Wildcats have faced this season per PFF, with an 89.7 grade.
Without Tia Savea, who is out after suffering an injury against Kansas, the Wildcats will need season-best days from defensive tackles Leroy Palu and Deshawn McKnight, as well as the linebacker core of Taye Brown, Max Harris, and true freshman Myron Robinson, who has flashed in recent weeks.
Arizona also needs to force a takeaway or two. While a repeat of the five-turnover game against Colorado is not going to happen, part of what made the Wildcats’ ugly win last week ugly was not helping the offense out from a field position perspective.
Beside, the turnover sword gets sad and lonely when it doesn’t get to come out of its case and stab a football or two!
Special Teams:
Michael Salgado-Medina’s field goal woes from the beginning of the season are long gone, and Luke Wysong has added some much needed stability to Arizona’s punt return game.
Given the offensive struggles, the Wildcats did punt seven times against the Jayhawks, the most in a game this season. Isaac Lovison did not have any punts that resulted in touchbacks, but also was unable to pin Kansas deep inside its own 20-yard line. While Lovison has been fairly consistent since taking over the starting role, the defense is going to need all the help it can get to slow down a well-oiled machine in Brendan Sorsby and Cincinnati’s offense.
Final Score Prediction:
There’s a reason Cincinnati is in the CFP rankings and Arizona is not. While the Wildcats are not going to look like they did on the road against Iowa State in late September and will play Cincinnati tougher than folks are expecting, Arizona will not return home with a 7-3 record. Look for Brent Brennan and Arizona to put up a tough fight, falling 28-24 against No. 25 Cincinnati.