Wildcats Clash With Wildcats in Week Two Matchup

TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona Wildcats (1-0) stay home for their second game of the season, a matchup against the Weber State Wildcats (0-1) this Saturday night at Arizona Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. MST with a television broadcast on ESPN+ and a radio broadcast on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM.

Tickets for Saturday's game are available for purchase now and can be secured HERE.

Arizona is fresh off a dominant 40-6 win over Hawai'i in their season opener, a performance that saw four players rush for touchdowns, 10 different players combine for 10 tackles for loss, the defense log six takeaways, and more.

For more news and notes on Saturday's game, continue below.

Arizona Notes & Numbers

• The Arizona Wildcats, fresh off an opening week victory, face a week two matchup against the Weber State Wildcats this Saturday at Arizona Stadium.
• Saturday’s game will be televised on ESPN+ with Ted Emrich (PxP) and Jeff Woody (Analyst) on the call. It will also be broadcast live on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM, with play-by-play from Brian Jeffries.
• This weekend will mark the first-ever matchup between Arizona and FCS foe Weber State. Arizona has won three consecutive matchups against FCS opponents, with their last loss to an FCS team coming in 2021 (vs. Northern Arizona; L, 19-21).
• Arizona’s defense totaled 10 tackles for loss in week one against Hawai’i, their most since week two of the 2024 season against NAU. The Wildcats 10 TFL are the fifth most in the nation and the most in the Big 12 Conference.
• The Wildcats five sacks were their most since collecting five at Stanford in 2023; Arizona’s five sacks are the third most in the nation and the most in the Big 12.
• Arizona pulled in three interceptions in week one against Hawai’i, giving them the fourth most INT in the nation. The Wildcats hauled in only eight INT all of last year.
• The Wildcats coaching staff was shaken up during the offseason, highlighted by new faces at all three coordinator positions. Seth Doege now serves as Offensive Coordinator / QB Coach, Danny Gonzales now serves as Defensive Coordinator, and Craig Naivar now serves as Special Teams Coordinator.
• Arizona's offense is led by redshirt junior QB Noah Fifita. He ranks 6th in program history with 6,116 passing yards and 6th all-time with 45 passing touchdowns.

SOME GAME THEMES: The Arizona Wildcats look to continue their winning ways in week two with a matchup against the FCS Weber State Wildcats on Saturday at Arizona Stadium...This weekend’s game will be televised on ESPN+ with play-by-play from Ted Emrich and broadcast live on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM with play-by-play from Brian Jeffries...The pair of Wildcats are matching up for the first time on the gridiron; Arizona has won three consecutive matchups against FCS opponents dating back to 2022...The Wildcats have 16 players on their roster with previous stops at FCS schools, including running back Quincy Craig who played Weber State twice during his prior time at Portland State.

LAST TIME OUT: Arizona posted a dominant defensive performance — complete with five turnovers, five sacks, and 10 tackles for loss — to secure a 40-6 season-opening victory over the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors. Following the impressive defensive effort, the Wildcats now rank among the top 10 teams in the nation in tackles for loss, sacks, and turnovers. Arizona’s offense also shined, piling up 183 rush yards while four different players pushed the ball into the end zone for rushing scores. Additional highlights from last week’s game include...

Notable Postgame Notes

• The Arizona defense forced five Hawai’i turnovers, their most since collecting six takeaways in the 2023 Valero Alamo Bowl vs. Oklahoma.
• Saturday was Arizona’s first game recording five sacks and five takeaways since 2016 vs Grambling State.
• The Wildcats 34-point victory marked their first time winning by 30+ and not allowing a touchdown to an FBS opponent since 2010 at Toledo.
• 10 different Wildcats recorded tackles for loss on Saturday, led by 1.5 TFL from LB Jabari Mann.

RUN, FOREST, RUN: Four different Wildcats logged rushing touchdowns in week one against Hawai’i: RB Kedrick Reescano, RB Quincy Craig, QB Noah Fifita, and RB Ismail Mahdi. It marked the first time since 2019 that Arizona had four different players log rushing touchdowns. Since 1996 Arizona has punched in four rushing touchdowns on 40 occasions; in that same time span the Wildcats have scored four or more times on the ground and thrown for one or fewer passing touchdowns just 21 times (per OptaStats). In total, the Wildcats rushed for 183 yards and threw for just 161 yards, marking the first time since facing Northern Arizona in 2024 that Arizona tallied more yards on the ground than through the air. Since 2019 the Wildcats have posted more rushing yards than passing yards eight times and are 6-2 in those contests.

CATS COACHES: Head Coach Brent Brennan leads the Wildcats for his second season in 2025; he is accompanied by a mix of new and returning coaches. The Wildcats coaching staff features three new coordinators this season: Seth Doege will lead the Widlcats offense and quarterbacks, Danny Gonzales will serve as the team's Defensive Coordinator, and Craig Naivar will spearhead special teams efforts. Doege and Naivar are new to the program, while Gonzales spent the 2024 season leading the Wildcats special teams and linebackers. Also new to the Wildcats coaching staff in 2025 are Associate Head Coach / Defensive Line Coach Joe Salave'a, Tight Ends Coach Josh Miller, and Linebackers Coach Josh Bringuel.

GONE PORTALIN’: According to research done by ESPN’s Max Olson, the Wildcats are ranked fourth among Power Four programs and second in the Big 12 Conference in experience added via the transfer portal. Arizona added 27 transfers that brought with them 403 starts and 25,467 snaps of Division I experience.

NOAH'S ARC: Redshirt junior quarterback Noah Fifita returns under center to lead the Wildcats offense in 2025. The California native has logged three-plus seasons and 28 games with the Wildcats since his true freshman campaign in 2022. Over that span he has etched his name into the Arizona record books and looks to cement his legacy even further this season. Fifita currently sports 6,116 career passing yards and 45 career passing touchdowns, marks that ranks sixth and tied for sixth in program history, respectively. Fifita is 203 yards shy of moving past Khalil Tate (2016–19) for fifth all-time, while also standing one passing touchdown shy of a tie for fifth and four shy of a tie for fourth. The fourth-year signal caller was selected to a trio of watch lists this preseason, earning national recognition from the Maxwell Award, the Polynesian Player of the Year Award, and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

WATCH THIS SPACE: The Wildcats core of returners and talented class of incoming players have garnered an impressive 12 preseason watch list selections. Ranging from the Maxwell Award to the Polysensian Player of the Year Award, 10 different players picked up national recognition of some sort; the group is led by quarterback Noah Fifita, who earned a spot on three separate watch lists.

RUNNING WILD: The Wildcats running back room added two proven rushers from the transfer portal this offseason: Ismail Mahdi (Texas State) and Quincy Craig (FCS Portland State). Mahdi has logged time at Houston Christian (2022) and Texas State (2023–24) and earned three All-Sun Belt selections in 2023 & 2024, and three All-America nods as an all-purpose player in 2023. Craig logged three seasons at Portland State (2022–24) and earned All-Big Sky Honorable Mention recognition as a sophomore in 2023. In anticipation of his contributions this season, Mahdi was selected to the Paul Hornung Award Preseason Watch List.

COOL HAND LUKE: Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Luke Wysong has been honored with a spot on the Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club announced earlier this month. The Biletnifkoff Award is presented annually to the nation's most outstanding FBS receiver; any player, regardless of position, who catches a pass is eligible for the award. Arizona wideout Tetairoa McMillan was one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award last season prior to becoming a first round NFL Draft selection. Wysong, a transfer in his first year with the Wildcats, began his collegiate career with four seasons at New Mexico. Across four seasons and 37 games (25 starts) with the Lobos he combined to tally 134 receptions for 1,465 yards and three touchdowns. Wysong's breakout campaign came as a redshirt junior in 2024, when the Rio Rancho native pulled in 69 catches for 840 yards, marks that led the team and earned him All-Mountain West Second Team honors. In 11 starts last season Wysong registered three 100-yard receiving games, five-plus receptions 10 times, and an average of 12.2 yards per catch. He pulled in his lone touchdown of the season against the Wildcats at Arizona Stadium, finishing the game with eight receptions for 129 yards and one score.

STATE 48: The Wildcats have made in-state recruiting a priority — keeping top talent at home is a crucial piece of the program's success historically and will continue to be emphasized under Head Coach Brent Brennan. Of the 110 players on the Wildcats 2025 roster, 29 of them hail from hometowns in the 48th state in our union; those Arizona players account for over a quarter (26.4%) of the roster. Included in that bunch are four players who call Tucson home — they are highlighted in the table below.

WILDCATS IN THE NFL: The Arizona Wildcats are once again well represented in the NFL, with 10 players currently sprinkled throughout league rosters. Highlighting the group of former Wildcats are a pair of first round picks in Tetairoa McMillan (2025) and Jordan Morgan (2024). With his selection earlier this year, McMillan became the 12th Arizona player to earn a first round NFL Draft pick. He joined a list that includes Morgan (2024; 25th, Green Bay), Antoine Cason (2008; 27th, San Diego), Trung Canidate (2000; 31st, St. Louis), Chris McAlister (1999; 10th, Baltimore), John Fina (1992; 27th, Buffalo), Chris Singleton (1990; 8th, New England), Anthony Smith (1990; 11th, Oakland), Rickey Hunley (1984; 7th, Cincinnati), Mike Dawson (1976; 22nd, Arizona), Bill Lueck (1968; 26, Green Bay), and Walt Nelson (1939; 10th, New York Giants). McMillan was the first of four Wildcats selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, marking the most Arizona picks since 2008.

Current Wildcats on NFL Rosters (as of 08/31/25)

• Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Miami Dolphins
• Nick Folk, K, New York Jets
• Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders
• Tanner McLachlan^, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
• Tyler Loop, K, Baltimore Ravens
• Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, LB, New York Giants
• Roy Lopez, DT, Detroit Lions
• Jordan Morgan, OT, Green Bay Packers
• Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers
• Jacob Cowing^, WR, San Francisco 49ers

*Practice Squad    ^Reserve/Injured