TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona Wildcats host the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks this Saturday, Sept. 2 at Arizona Stadium to kick off the 2023 football season. The game kicks off at 7:00 p.m. MST with a television broadcast slated for the Pac-12 Networks. Saturday's game marks the beginning of the third season for Arizona under head coach Jedd Fisch.

JB Long (play-by-play) and Max Browne (analyst) will be on the call with the Pac-12 Networks. A radio broadcast of the game can be found on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM and The Varsity app with play-by-play from Brian Jeffries.

The Wildcats enter the year with renewed hope and increased expectations, carrying in tow one of the best passing attacks in the nation from a year ago and an improved defensive unit.

A complete preview of the Wildcats 2023 season opener can be found below.

ARIZONA NOTES & NUMBERS

• Arizona hosts Northern Arizona at Arizona Stadium with a 7:10 p.m. MST kickoff on Pac-12 Network. JB Long (PxP) and Max Browne (analyst) will be the announcers. Listen live to the game on 1290 AM Wildcats Radio with Brian Jeffries (PxP), Lamont Lovett (analyst), and Dana Cooper (sideline) on the call.
• The Wildcats lead the Lumberjacks 15-2 in the all-time series with NAU taking the most recent matchup, 20-19, in 2021. These two in-state competitors meet up for the 18th time in series history.
• Arizona Football named its captains, tapping Treydan Stukes, Jayden de Laura, Jordan Morgan, Jacob Cowing, Michael Wiley, Jacob Manu, Gunner Maldonado, and Martell Irby to lead the 2023 Wildcats.
• Arizona secured a top 40 recruiting class for the second time in the last two years. The additions of Leviticus Su'a, Brayden Dorman, Genesis Smith, and Raymond Pulido have added to the depth of talent that the Wildcats contain on the roster.
• After going 5-7 last season, the Wildcats tied for the second-largest win improvement in program history and ended one game shy of a bowl berth. The University of Arizona and Head Coach Jedd Fisch agreed to a contract extension through the 2027 season. Fisch has elevated the football program and secure big wins over No. 9 UCLA on the road marking the first top-10 road win since 2015.
• Arizona had two players (Cowing and Morgan) selected Preseason Second-Team All-Pac-12 and six players (Wiley, McMillan, Jonah Savaiinaea, Ostendorp, Flowe, and Loop) selected Honorable Mention.

0 — Arizona tailbacks posted zero fumbles on 263 total carries in 2022. It marked the first time since 2015 that an Arizona tailback did not fumble during a season.

34 — TE Tanner McLachlan finished 2022 second in a single season with 34 receptions, trailing only Rob Gronkowski's 47 receptions during the 2008 season. 

702 — WR Tetairoa McMillan broke the UA freshman record for receiving yards with 702. Nate Phillips (696, 2013) held the previous mark. 

3rd — QB Jayden de Laura finished last year 3rd in single-season school history with 3,685 passing yards and 6th with TD 25 passes. The school records are 4,334 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes.

44 — WR Jacob Cowing has recorded 44 consecutive games with at least one reception, the second longest active streak among all FBS players.
 

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SEASON OPENER AGAINST NAU: The Wildcats welcome a familiar foe to Arizona Stadium for the season opener. Arizona faces Northern Arizona for the 18th time in school history. The Wildcats own a 15-2 record against the Lumberjacks including the longest winning streak in the series, 14 games. All 18 matchups have taken place in Tucson. Arizona dropped the most recent contest against NAU 21-19 in 2021. This series opened on Nov. 7, 1931, with a 19-12 win for the Arizona Wildcats. Following a 7-6 loss in 1932, Arizona went on to win 14 straight games from 1933 to 2019. Michael Wiley and Stevie Rocker Jr. are the only remaining members of the offense from the 2021 team and Gunner Maldonado is the only member of the that team on the defense remaining. The Wildcats dropped 77 points on NAU in the Sept. 19, 2015, matchup which still stands as the most points scored in a game by Arizona. The 77-13 drubbing is the fourth-largest margin of victory in Arizona football history. The Wildcats' rushing game has found success against the Lumberjacks, rushing for 506 yards in 2017 and 499 yards in 2015 marking two of the top four rushing performances in program history. Running back Nic Grigsby rushed for 207 yards against NAU in 2009, marking the most rushing yards for an Arizona tailback against NAU. Grigsby broke off a rush of 94 yards against NAU which tied for the second-longest run in program history. Quarterback Nick Foles passed for 417 yards against NAU in the Sept. 23, 2011, matchup, which is a top-15 passing performance in program history. 

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!: The Arizona Wildcats have named defensive back Treydan Stukes, quarterback Jayden de Laura, offensive lineman Jordan Morgan, wide receiver Jacob Cowing, running back Michael Wiley, linebacker Jacob Manu, safety Gunner Maldonado, and defensive back Martell Irby captains of the 2023 football team. 

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.

ALWAYS RECRUITING: The Arizona Wildcats secured the No. 40 recruiting class (247Sports) in the country with key signings like Trinity League MVP four-star linebacker Leviticus Su'a, four-star quarterback Bradyen Dorman, safety Genesis Smith, and Alabama decommit offensive lineman Raymond Pulido. Included in this class were veteran transfers Montana Lemonious-Craig (WR, Colorado), Taylor Upshaw (DL, Michigan), Sio Nofoagatoto'a (DL, Indiana), Daniel Heimuli (LB, Washington), Justin Flowe (LB, Oregon), Bill Norton (DL, Georgia), Orin Patu (LB, California), and Tyler Manoa (DL, UCLA). It marked the second consecutive top-40 recruiting class and first time in program history that the Wildcats have posted back-to-back top-40 classes. 

COWING NAMED PRESEASON AP SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICAN: Senior wide receiver Jacob Cowing has been named Associated Press Preseason Second-Team All-American. Cowing earns a preseason AP Second-Team All-American nod for the first time since joining the Wildcats in the spring of 2022. He led the Pac-12 in receptions (85), fourth in receiving yards (1,034), and tied for second in touchdown grabs (7) last season. Cowing's 1,034 receiving yards in 2022 were the seventh-most in a single season in program history. Cowing adds this honor to a list of preseason recognition, including preseason All-Pac-12 Second Team; preseason Biletnikoff Award Watch List; Paul Hornung Award Watch List; and the Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List. The preseason All-American Teams are named by voters in the AP Top 25. Cowing earned a plethora of preseason honors including the Paul Hornung Award Watch List, Biletnikoff Award Watch List, Maxwell Award Watch List, and All-Pac-12 Second-Team Honors. Cowing enters 2023 having caught a pass in 44 straight games, marking the second-longest reception streak in college football.

SALUTE TO SERVICE: Arizona Football unveiled special Military Appreciation uniforms that will be worn on Nov. 18 against Utah. The team and University will honor those who have and continue to serve our country with a special edition Military Appreciation uniform during select games in 2023. The Wildcats have unveiled brand new military uniforms, switching from the white primary color with camouflage infused on the numbers and shoulders of years past to a blue primary home jersey with camouflage numbers alongside camouflage on the shoulders. Arizona will wear these uniforms against Utah on Nov. 18 during the Military and Veteran Appreciation game at Arizona Stadium.

GO WITH THE FLOWE: One of the biggest signings for the Wildcats came on the defensive side of the ball and through the NCAA Transfer Portal. Former five-star linebacker our of high school, Justin Flowe, decided to transfer to Arizona prior to the spring of 2023. The linebacker has reeled in preseason honors since, earning the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, preseason All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention, and Butkus Award Watch List honors leading up to the 2023 season. Flowe made 35 tackles (14 solo, 21 assists) with 2.5 tackles for loss over 10 games played at Oregon last season. He was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week in 2021, after making 14 tackles marking the most by an Oregon freshman since Troy Dye in 2016.  Flowe became the first Oregon player since 2007 and the fourth since 2000 to record at least 14 tackles and force a fumble in the same game. He was a consensus five-star prospect, top-11 player in the nation, No. 1 inside linebacker, and the top defensive player in California by ESPN, Rivals, and 247Sports. Flowe earned the 2019 Butkus Award in high school and was named 2019-20 All-USA High School Defensive Player of the Year by USA Today.

SIX WILDCATS ON POLYNESIAN CFPOTY WATCH LIST: Arizona football was represented by Jayden de Laura, Jonah Savaiinaea, Jacob Manu, Tetairoa McMillan, Sio Nofoagatoto'a, and Tiaoalii Savea on the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List. Savaiinaea, Manu, and McMillan return to the watch list for the second consecutive season. Nofoagatoto'a has been selected to this watch list for the third straight year after making the list in 2021 and 2022. Meanwhile, Savea makes his second straight appearance on this watch list after being selected to the 2021 Polynesian Bowl roster out of high school. De Laura makes the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List for the first time since joining the Wildcats.
DE LAURA ON PRESEASON WATCH LISTS: Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura was named to the Manning Award Watch List, the Maxwell Award Watch List, and the preseason Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List. The junior from Honolulu threw for 3,685 yards which marks the third-most in a single season in program history. De Laura threw 25 touchdowns marking the sixth-most in program history. The junior from Honolulu, Hawai'i, finished third in the Pac-12 in passing yards per game (307.1) and tied for third in touchdown passes. He led the sixth-best passing attack and the number one explosive play offense in the country last season.

BIG BOYS UP FRONT: Jordan Morgan and Jonah Savaiinaea lead a strong offensive line heading into 2023. Morgan and Savaiinaea were named to the Outland Trophy Watch List. The Outland Trophy honors the nation's best interior lineman from all 10 Division I FBS conferences and independents. Morgan was picked preseason Second-Team All-Pac-12 and returns to a dynamic Wildcats offense that was sixth in the nation in passing and number one in explosive plays a season ago. He was rated by Pro Football Focus as the top offensive tackle in college football, with a grade of 83.1, which ranks third in the nation. Morgan allowed one sack in 443 pass-blocking snaps. He was also named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List after winning the CATSYs Community Service Award. He recorded the most community service hours of any student-athlete at the University of Arizona in 2022. Morgan volunteered at the Boys and Girls Clubs and football camps racking up more than 145 hours of service. Savaiinaea adds another preseason accolade to the list after being named Preseason All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. The sophomore offensive lineman has been selected to the Outland Trophy Watch List for the first time in his collegiate career after a freshman season that saw him start all 12 games. He posted a 77.3 pass-blocking grade (per PFF), did not commit a penalty, and gave up only two sacks as a true freshman in 2022. The St. Louis High School (Hawai'i) product was named 2022 FWAA Freshman All-American, All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention, PFF All-First-Team True Freshman, and to the 247Sports.com True Freshman Player of the Year Watch List last season.

WILEY ON DOAK WALKER AWARD WATCH LIST: Michael Wiley has been included on the Doak Walker Award Watch List; an award given to the nation's best running back. Wiley earned this honor after rushing for a career-high 771 yards on a career-high 113 carries, and a career-high eight touchdowns in 2022. He rushed for a career-high 214 yards and three touchdowns against Arizona State in the Territorial Cup, helping lift the Wildcats to a 38-35 win. It marked the second-most rushing yards in the Territorial Cup game, as he earned the Bob Moran Award for being the MVP of the Territorial Cup. Wiley was selected to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List, which honors the top college football player originally from Texas. The senior from Houston was named 2023 Preseason All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention after earning 2022 All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. Wiley became the first Wildcat to rush for over 700 yards in a season since JJ Taylor (721) in 2019.

STRONG IN THE KICKING GAME: Kyle Ostendorp and Tyler Loop have been added to preseason watch lists once again heading into the 2023 season. Ostendorp was placed on the Ray Guy Award Watch List, which honors the nation's best punter and Tyler Loop was selected to the Lou Groza Award Watch List, which honors the nation's best kicker. Ostendorp appears on the Ray Guy Award Watch List for the second straight year after averaging 45.5 yards per punt with three touchbacks and 10 inside the 20 a season ago. He uncorked nine punts of 50-plus yards during the 2022 season. Ostendorp booted a long 64 yards against Mississippi State in a game where he launched three punts of 50-plus yards. He was named 2023 Preseason All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. Loop earned 2023 Preseason All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention and has been selected to the Lou Groza Award Watch List for the second straight year. He appeared in all 12 games as the team primary kicker and kickoff specialist. Loop made 18 of 21 attempts with a career long of 48 yards against Washington. Loop made nine straight field goals to end the season moving his career kicking totals to 30-for-33.

REESE'S SENIOR BOWL WATCH LIST: Wide receiver Jacob Cowing, tight end Tanner McLachlan, offensive lineman Jordan Morgan, defensive end Taylor Upshaw, and running back Michael Wiley were named to the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List. Arizona had five players selected to the watch list. Reese's Senior Bowl is widely regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and the first stage in the NFL Draft process. The longest continual-running all-star game has taken place in Mobile the past 74 years. More than 900 NFL personnel, including key decision-makers from all 32 teams, and over 1,100 media members from around the country were credentialed last year. In each of the past three years, the Reese's Senior Bowl has had 100 or more players drafted and over 40 percent of the entire draft class, which are both record-setting figures for any all-star game.

PLAYMAKERS AT WIDE RECEIVER: Wide receiver Jacob Cowing finished seventh for a single season in program history with 85 receptions in 2022. With three catches for 34 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter against Colorado, Cowing eclipsed the 3,000-yard (3,629) mark for his collegiate career (2,595 at UTEP, 1034 at Arizona) while catching seven touchdowns. Cowing surpassed the Arizona wideout with the most career receiving yards Bobby Wade (3,351) from 1999-2002. Sophomore wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan led the Wildcats with eight touchdown grabs in 2022. It tied for first in the Pac-12 and was the most touchdown grabs by a freshman in program history. McMillan finished just three touchdown grabs shy of the Arizona single-season touchdown record (11) held by Juron Criner (2010, 2011), Mike Thomas (2007), Theopolis Bell (1974), Austin Hill (2012), and Shawn Poindexter (2018).

AERIAL-ZONA: Jayden de Laura threw 25 touchdown passes during the 2022 season. In his first season, he moved into the top 15 at No. 13 in passing touchdowns in Arizona football history. Leading the way is Super Bowl Champion Nick Foles with 67 (2009-11), alongside Willie Tuitama (67, 2005-08). De Laura was outstanding during his first season guiding the Wildcats' offense. He completed 272-of-435 pass attempts for 3,685 yards which puts him 13th in program history in career passing yardage.

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 are second-most in a single season for Arizona and most since Rob Gronkowski caught 47 during the 2008 season.

COACHING STAFF ADDITIONS: The offseason saw two new coaches, including a return of a defensive mastermind, to the Arizona football coaching staff. Long-time Arizona assistant coach Duane Akina has returned to Tucson to serve as Senior Defensive Assistant helping with the Secondary. Akina has 42 years of football coaching experience and was apart of the famed Desert Swarm defense back in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Akina has coached three Jim Thorpe Award winners, six Jim Thorpe Award finalists, seven pro bowlers, nine Super Bowl participants, 12 All-Americans, and 41 defensive backs in the NFL. John Richardson also joined the defensive coaching staff as Cornerbacks Coach. Richardson most recently coached at Washington State and has 12 years of coaching experience. He has coached nine NFL players, over 10 All-Conference players, three-time FCS National Champion, and a 22-game starter at FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. With the additions of Akina and Richardson alongside safeties coach Chuck Cecil, the Wildcats' secondary has a combined 77-plus years of coaching experience at the highest levels of college and professional football. 

TERRITORIAL CUP RETURNS HOME: Arizona extended its all-time lead in the Territorial Cup to 50-45-1, snapping a five-game skid in the series with a 38-35 win over Arizona State. The Wildcats are now 32-21 against the Sun Devils in Tucson and 25-20 at Arizona Stadium. The Wildcats finished the season with five wins, a four-win improvement over the 2021 squad. Four wins is tied for the second-best year-over-year improvement in the program's history. It's the sixth four-game improvement in school history and the first since 2016 (3-9) to 2017 (7-6). Running back Michael Wiley had a career game in Friday's win over Arizona State, amassing 214 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries. Wiley became the first Wildcat to break 100 yards rushing in a game since he and Gary Brightwell achieved the feat against Colorado in 2020. Wiley was selected by the media in attendance as the recipient of the Bob Moran Award as the MVP of the 2022 Territorial Cup. He is the first Arizona running back to win the award since Nick Wilson in 2014. Wiley became Arizona's first 200-yard rusher in a game since J.J. Taylor rushed for 212 versus Oregon in 2018. Wiley rushed for the second-most yards in Territorial Cup history, behind only Trung Candidate who gained 288 yards on the ground against ASU on Nov. 27, 1998. He also tied for the most rushing touchdowns in Territorial Cup history with three. (Candidate in 1998, Wilson in 2014, Grant in 2016).

WILDCATS IN THE NFL: The Wildcats are once again well represented in the National Football League this year with 11 former letterwinners active 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.
 

Player	Position	Team
Christian Young	ILB	Seattle Seahawks
Jalen Harris	DL	Chicago Bears
Lorenzo Burns	CB	Cleveland Browns
Jace Whittaker	CB	Washington Commanders
Dane Cruikshank	S	New York Jets
Roy Lopez	NT	Houston Texans
Lucas Havrisik	PK	Indianapolis Colts
Nick Folk	PK	New England Patriots
J.J. Taylor	RB	New England Patriots
Gary Brightwell	RB	New York Giants
Demetruis Flannigan-Fowles	LB	San Francisco 49ers