TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona Wildcats (3-2, 1-1) make the trek to southern California to face the USC Trojans (5-0, 3-0) this Saturday at the Coliseum. The game is set to be televised on ESPN and broadcast on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM.

Arizona looks to get back in the win column and close out their time as conference mates with USC with a win in their final Pac-12 competition in the Coliseum. 

The Wildcats defense has shown tremendous improvement through the first five games of the year, and aims to hold form as they wrap up the first half of their 2023 schedule this Saturday in Los Angeles.

A complete preview of the Wildcats week six road test can be found below.

ARIZONA NOTES & NUMBERS

• Arizona (3-2, 1-1 Pac-12) hits the road to Los Angeles to face USC (5-0, 3-0 Pac-12). Dave Flemming (PxP), Brock Osweiler (Analyst), and Kayla Burton (Reporter) will bring the action on ESPN. Kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. MST. 
• The Wildcats trail the all-time series 8-37 and are looking to secure their first win over the Trojans since Oct. 27, 2012. The current 10-game losing streak is the longest in the series and the longest streak against any foe on the schedule this year.  
• Arizona's last win over USC was a 39-36 victory on Oct. 27, 2012, in Tucson. Arizona's last win in Los Angeles against USC was a 21-17 victory on Dec. 5, 2009. The Wildcats have won just two games in the last 22 years (22 matchups) against the Trojans (2-20 record). 
• The ten-game win streak for the Trojans is the longest win streak in the series. Arizona won back-to-back games against USC in 1999-2000 marking the longest win streak for the Wildcats in the matchup.  
• The Wildcats dropped the most recent matchup in 2022 with the Trojans 45-37 at Arizona Stadium. In that game QB Jayden de Laura went off for 380 passing-yards and three passing touchdowns on 26-of-43 attempts. De Laura also rushed for 54 yards to lead the Wildcats in passing and rushing. With a 34-yard scramble in the third quarter, de Laura set a then career-high for longest rush, which he surpassed with a 53-yard touchdown rush in the 2023 season-opening win against Northern Arizona (9/2).  
• Last Saturday's game (9/30) against Washington was a sellout, with 50,800 fans in attendance. It marked the Wildcats first sellout since Oregon visited Tucson in 2022. Arizona now has two sellout crowds under Head Coach Jedd Fisch after not having one in the five years prior to his arrival. 

1st — QB Noah Fifita is the first Arizona quarterback to make his first collegiate start against a team ranked in the AP Top-10 since Richard Kovalcheck made his starting debut against No. 7 California in 2004 (L, 0-38). 

49 — WR Jacob Cowing has pulled in a reception in 49 consecutive games, giving him the second longest active streak in the nation.

54 — The NCAA record for consecutive games with a reception is 54, set by Bryan Anderson (Central Michigan) from 2006-09. 

19.0 — Arizona's scoring defense, currently allowing an average of 19.0 points per game, is Top 40 nationally and sixth in the Pac-12. The Wildcats allowed 36.5 points per game in 2022.
 

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ABOUT LAST GAME: Michael Penix Jr. threw for 363 yards; Dillon Johnson ran for two touchdowns as Arizona falls 31-24 to No. 7 Washington Saturday night (9/30). The Huskies (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) arrived in the desert with more big plays than any other team in the country. With the Wildcats taking away the deep ball, Penix turned to underneath throws, giving his receivers opportunities to make plays after the catch. They did, following downfield blocking and breaking tackles to turn short throws into chunk plays. Washington's run game provided the finishing touches, scoring all four of the Huskies' touchdowns. Penix completed 30 of 40 passes in Washington's 12th straight win over two seasons. Coming off a one-point win at Stanford, the Wildcats (3-2, 1-1) had few answers for Washington's offense and didn't do enough when they had the ball to pull off the upset. Noah Fifita threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns with an interception in his first career start. He hit Tetairoa McMillan on a 10-yard touchdown pass to pull Arizona to 31-24 with 1:11 left, but Washington recovered the onside kick. Washington was in a similar position a year ago, 4-0 and in the College Football Playoff conversation. The Huskies stumbled in their first road game with a loss to UCLA and lost again to Arizona State. Washington's offense did its part to avoid a repeat. Penix put the Huskies in position, picking apart the Wildcats with short throws to the sidelines. Washington's run game finished off the drives. Johnson ran in a 4-yard touchdown on the Huskies' opening drive, receiver Germie Bernard scored on 3-yard run and Will Nixon added an 8-yard TD run. Arizona's offense got off to a sluggish start without quarterback Jayden de Laura and running back Michael Wiley, both injured last week. Fifita found a rhythm in the second quarter, orchestrating a 12-play, 75-yard drive capped by an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Cowing. Tyler Loop's 30-yard field goal kept the Wildcats within 21-10 at halftime. Washington stuck to the same script to start the second half. Penix hit Josh Cuevas on a 57-yard pass and Devin Culp made a spectacular 18-yard catch with a defender draped on him, putting the Huskies in scoring position. Johnson finished it off, scoring on 4-yard run to put Washington up 28-10. Fifita hit McMillan on an 8-yard touchdown pass to pull Arizona to 28-17, but threw an ill-advised interception on a flip pass while in the grasp of a defender.

WILDCATS TRAVEL TO LA TO FACE USC: Arizona (3-2, 1-1 Pac-12) hits the road to Los Angeles to face USC (5-0, 3-0 Pac-12). The Wildcats trail the all-time series 8-37 and are looking to secure their first win over the Trojans since Oct. 27, 2012. The current 10-game losing streak is the longest in the series and the longest streak against any foe on the schedule this year. Arizona's last win over USC was a 39-36 victory on Oct. 27, 2012, in Tucson. The Wildcats are 4-20 in Los Angeles and the last win over USC on the road was a 21-17 victory on Dec. 5, 2009. The Wildcats have won just two games in the last 22 years (22 matchups) against the Trojans (2-20 record). Arizona won back-to-back games against USC in 1999-2000 marking the longest win streak for the Wildcats in the matchup.  The Wildcats dropped the most recent matchup in 2022 with the Trojans 45-37 at Arizona Stadium. In that game QB Jayden de Laura went off for 380 passing-yards and three passing touchdowns on 26-of-43 attempts. De Laura also rushed for 54 yards to lead the Wildcats in passing and rushing. With a 34-yard scramble in the third quarter, de Laura set a career-high for longest rush, which he surpassed with a 53-yard rushing touchdown in the 2023 season-opening win against Northern Arizona.

FIRST START: Redshirt Freshman QB Noah Fifita made the first start of his career against No. 7 Washington. He finished the night going 27-for-39 through the air for three touchdowns and 232 yards. He set career-high marks in attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, rush attempts, and rush yards. Fifita is the first Arizona quarterback to make his first collegiate start against a team ranked in the AP top 10 since Richard Kovalcheck made his starting debut against No. 7 California in 2004 (L, 0-38).

WE'RE SELLOUTS: Saturday's game against the Huskies was a sellout, with 50,800 fans in attendance. It marked the Wildcats first sellout since Oregon visited Tucson in 2022. Arizona now has two sellout crowds under head coach Jedd Fisch after not having one in the five years prior to his arrival.

CAREER HIGHS: 

• Redshirt Freshman QB Noah Fifita made his first collegiate start against Washington (9/30). He finished 27-for-39 passing with 232 yards and three touchdowns. Fifita set career-high marks in attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, rush attempts (6), and rush yards (19).
• Safety Dalton Johnson's team-leading 10 tackles against Washington were a career-high mark (previous: 7, twice, last, at Mississippi State 2023).
• LB Daniel Heimuli's 1.5 tackles for loss against Washington were a career-high (previous: 1.0, twice, last, vs. Colorado 2022).
• Senior tight end Tanner McLachlan reeled in a 36-yard touchdown grab at Stanford (9/23) marking the longest touchdown reception of his career. 
• RB Jonah Coleman rushed for 75 yards (at Stanford), marking a career-best in rushing yards and surpassing his previous high of 74 yards against Oregon (2022). 
• Junior QB Jayden de Laura posted his highest completion percentage (79.3%, 23-of-29) as a Wildcat against UTEP (9/16), only surpassed by his performance in 2021 (84.4%) with Washington State at Washington.   
• Coleman broke off a career-high 59-yard run in the third quarter against UTEP, the longest rush by a Wildcat this season. His previous high was 43 against Oregon in 2022. 
• Sophomore wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan reeled in a 55-yard reception for the longest catch of his career and recorded 161 receiving yards on eight receptions marking career highs against Mississippi State (9/9). 
• Sophomore linebacker Jacob Manu set a career-high with 12 total tackles and matched a career-high with 2.5 tackles for loss against Mississippi State. 
• Coleman made a career-high three receptions for a career-high 59 yards and his first-career touchdown reception in the win over NAU (9/2). Coleman now has five-career touchdowns (4 rushing, 1 receiving). 
• Sophomore tight end Keyan Burnett reeled in a 17-yard reception late in the first quarter against NAU, marking the longest reception of his career (previous: 5 yards vs. Oregon, 2022). Like Coleman, he recorded more receiving yards on the play than he did during the entire 2022 season. 
• QB Jayden de Laura rushed for a 53-yard touchdown against NAU marking the longest rush and rushing touchdown of his career. De Laura finished the NAU game with a passer-by rating of 207.7, the third best mark of his career (first: 211.2, at Washington, 2022). 

DESERT SWARM: Arizona's two sacks against Washington were the most surrendered by the Huskies this season. It marked the first time since Oct. 22, 2022, that Washington allowed more than one sack in a game. Arizona's defense held Washington to season-low marks in passing yards (363; next: 389 vs. Cal), total offense (474; next: 529 vs. Cal), points (31; next: 41 at Michigan State) and passing yards per attempt (9.08; next: 11.35 vs. Tulsa). Safety Dalton Johnson's team-leading 10 tackles were a career-high mark (previous: 7, twice, last, at Mississippi State 2023). LB Daniel Heimuli's 1.5 tackles for loss on Saturday were a career-high (previous: 1.0, twice, last, vs. Colorado 2022). The Wildcats' 13 sacks through five games is close to surpassing the 16 total sacks in 2022. Saturday (9/30) marked the first time that Washington hasn't logged a passing touchdown in 12 games (last: at Arizona State, 2022). Arizona's five sacks against Stanford (9/23) are the most recorded by the team since notching five against Colorado in 2018. The Wildcats are 7-0 during the Pac-12 era when notching at least five sacks. DE Taylor Upshaw recorded a career-high 2.0 sacks at Stanford. He is the first Arizona player with 2.0+ sacks in a game since Kyon Barrs logged 2.5 against California in 2021. Upshaw is tied for 5th in the Pac-12 with 3.5 sacks this season. LB Jacob Manu is tied for 7th in the Pac-12 with 3.0 sacks. Arizona's defense is tied for 6th in the Pac-12 with 11 sacks. The Wildcats defense logged 11 tackles for loss against the Cardinal, their most since posting 12 on the road at UCLA in 2018. Arizona limited UTEP to 1.9 yards per carry for a total of 49 rushing yards. UTEP's QB Gavin Hardison was held without a touchdown for the first time in 2023. Arizona held NAU to three points marking the fewest allowed by the Wildcats defense since holding California to three points during a 10-3 victory in 2021. It was also the fewest points allowed by the Wildcats in a season opener since shutting out NAU 35-0 to kick off the 2013 season. The 35-point win was Arizona's largest margin of victory since beating UTEP 63-16 in 2017. Arizona has held opponents scoreless in home openers 40 times and held opponents to three points seven times in home openers dating back to 1899. The Wildcats limited UTEP to just 49 yards on the ground, marking the 24th time that an Arizona opponent has gone for 50 or fewer yards since 1996. The Wildcats defense held the Cardinal to just 20 points, the fewest Arizona has allowed on the road to a Pac-12 opponent since 2018 (W, 35-14; at OSU).

TOP OF THE LINE: Arizona OL Jonah Savaiinaea has the highest pass-blocking grade per Pro Football Focus (PFF) in the conference with a minimum of 208 pass-blocking plays. Savaiinaea is rated 82.5 per PFF and has not allowed a sack in five games. OL Wendell Moe is ranked 3rd in the nation by PFF, with a 88.4 pass-blocking grade with a minimum of 200 snaps (207).  Center Josh Baker has the 19th best pass-protection rating per PFF (79.6) in the nation. 

DEFENSIVE RANKINGS: Currently, Arizona is in the top-35 nationally in the following defensive categories, rushing defense (22nd, 98.2), scoring defense (34th, 19.0), 4th down conversion percentage defense (17th, .333), red zone defense (23rd, .722). Arizona's defense has forced a turnover in eight of the last nine games dating back to last season.

PAC-12's LEADING TACKLERS: Linebacker Jacob Manu is first in the Pac-12 with 49 tackles (17 solo, 32 assist) for an average of 9.8 tackles per game. He's also in the top-10 in sacks with three. Tied for 11th in tackles for loss with 5.5. Safety Dalton Johnson is tied for 8th in the Pac-12 with 31.0 tackles (6.2 tackles per game). Johnson is also tied for first in the conference with three forced fumbles. (3; Solomon Byrd, USC). 

OFFENSIVE OUTPOURING: The Wildcats offense also put-up notable numbers, posting their first 300-yard passing and 200-yard rushing performance since throwing for 350 yards and running for 216 against Colorado in 2018. Saturday's (9/16) 544-yard performance is the best mark for the Arizona offense since putting up 673 yards against Colorado in 2022 and the fifth 500+ yard game under head coach Jedd Fisch.

WILEY VETERAN: Michael Wiley is the 2nd Arizona running back with 100 career receptions (110) The other is Vance Johnson, who had 104 from 1981-84. Wiley's career-high in receptions was 36, which was posted in 2022. He made six receptions for 57 yards against NAU in the season opener. His 110 career-receptions are the most of any Arizona running back dating back to at least 1996.

FOREVER IN THE RECORD BOOKS: Senior wide receiver Jacob Cowing has caught a pass in 49 straight games, marking the second-longest active reception streak in college football. Cowing has 3,921 (1,326 at Arizona) yards in his career (leads active players). Since 1956, only 21 players have recorded 4,000-plus receiving yards in their career. His 24 receiving touchdowns are tied for second among active players, with Tory Horton (Colorado State), Xavier Worthy (Texas), and trailing Zakhari Franklin (37, Ole Miss). The NCAA record for consecutive games with a reception is 54, set by Bryan Anderson (Central Michigan) from 2006-09.

McMILLAN VS. WASHINGTON: Tetairoa McMillan's two two-touchdown games in his career came against Washington. The first was a seven-reception 132-yard, two-touchdown performance on Oct. 15, 2022, and the second was a six-reception, 45-yard, two-touchdown performance against Washington on Sept. 30, 2023. McMillan has racked up 177 receiving yards and four touchdown receptions in two games against the Huskies. He has five receiving touchdowns in five games this year and has scored at least once in 11-of-17 games in his career. McMillan's five touchdowns are tied for third in the Pac-12 in 2023. He has made a catch in 16 of 17 games played in his collegiate career for 1,088 yards and 13 touchdowns. He is 551 receiving yards away from cracking into the top-16 in career-receiving yards in Arizona football history. 

AERIAL-ZONA: Jayden de Laura has thrown for 34 touchdowns during his career with Arizona. On the heels of one of his best completion percentages with Arizona (79.3%) against UTEP, (23-of-29). He threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns and has moved into a tie for 11th in Arizona program history with 34 career passing touchdowns. De Laura tied Matt Scott (33, 2008-12) and is two away from the top 10 in Arizona football history. He is also 13th in Arizona football history with 4,754-career passing yards sitting 167 yards behind 12th-place Matt Scott (4,921; 2008-12).

NICE KICKS: Kicker Tyler Loop is 34-for-38 on field goal attempts (89.5%). He is 58-of-58 on extra points and 28-of-28 from under 39 yards. Loop made the game-tying field goal from 36 yards out to force overtime at Mississippi State (9/9). The longest of his career was 48 yards at Washington on Oct. 15, 2022. Loop remains perfect from under 39 yards after connecting on a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter against Washington (9/30) to move to 28-for-28 for his career on kicks inside 40 yards.

SECURING THE FUTURE: Following the 2022 season, the University of Arizona and head football coach Jedd Fisch agreed to a contract extension through the 2027 season. Fisch has elevated the football program in two seasons, which included a four-win improvement in his second year as head coach. The four-win improvement in Fisch's second year tied for the second-largest win increase in a single season in program history. The 2022 season saw the Wildcats defeat No. 9 UCLA at the Rose Bowl, which was Arizona's first top-10 win on the road since 2015. The team went on to defeat Arizona State in the Territorial Cup two weeks later, snapping its in-state rival's five-game winning streak. The successful start to his tenure has been highlighted by historical recruiting success. Arizona signed its highest rated recruiting class ever in 2022 that ranked at the top of the Pac-12 and in the top 25 nationally. The program's elite recruiting was bolstered by the addition of key transfers in the portal. Player development has also been a staple of the program with a litany of offensive players rewriting the record book this season.

TIGHT END U: Tanner McLachlan continues to climb up the tight end record books at Arizona. He made 34 receptions for 456 yards and two touchdown grabs a season ago. McLachlan's 456 receiving yards are the third-most in a single season (StatsPass era, since 1996) for an Arizona tight end. His 34 receptions in 2022 are second-most in a single season for Arizona and most since Rob Gronkowski caught 47 during the 2008 season. McLachlan made a 36-yard touchdown grab at Stanford (9/23), marking the longest touchdown reception of his career. He made six receptions for 51 yards against No. 7 Washington (9/23) to bring his total at Arizona to 670. McLachlan is second since 1996 in receiving yards among tight ends at Arizona, trailing Rob Gronkowski's 1,197. 

HISTORICAL BLOCK: The Wildcats blocked a field goal and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter against NAU, their first in 21 years (last: Gary Love, 2002, vs. North Texas, 60 yards). Davis and Love's returns are the only blocked field goals returned for touchdowns since 1996 for the Wildcats. The kick was blocked by Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei and returned by Tacario Davis. Davis' 85-yard return was the longest blocked field goal returned for a touchdown in the Pac-12 since at least 1996 (next longest: 83 yards, Dennis Weathersby, 2002, for Oregon State vs. UCLA).

WILDCATS IN THE NFL: The Wildcats are once again well represented in the National Football League this year with seven former letterwinners across the league. One of Arizona's most prestigious alumnus, tight end Rob Gronkowski, retired following the 2021 season after winning the fourth Super Bowl of his career. Gronk was a five-time Pro Bowl selection, a four-time First Team All-Pro selection, and was selected to the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team and NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. Over 11 seasons with New England and Tampa Bay, Gronkowski recorded 9,286 yards (5th all time) and 92 touchdowns (3rd all time). The most recent Wildcats to make the transition to the NFL are defensive lineman Jalen Harris (Chicago Bears) and linebacker Christian Young (Seattle Seahawks). For a complete list of former Wildcats in the NFL, see the comprehensive chart below. *Practice squad
 

Player	Position	Team
Jalen Harris*	DL	Chicago Bears
Lucas Havrisik*	PK	Cleveland Browns
Nick Folk	PK	Tennessee Titans
Gary Brightwell	RB	New York Giants
Demetruis Flannigan-Fowles	LB	San Francisco 49ers
Roy Lopez	NT	Arizona Cardinals
Dane Cruikshank*	S	Tennessee Titans