The Arizona Wildcats aren’t sneaking up on anyone anymore-at least not if you’ve been paying attention. After a 2025 season that saw them flip the script from a 4-8 campaign in 2024 to a 9-4 finish, there’s real buzz building in Tucson.
And it’s not just about the win column. It’s about the foundation being laid, the coaching continuity, and most importantly, the return of quarterback Noah Fifita.
Fifita is the engine that makes this Arizona offense go, and in 2026, for the first time in his college career, he’ll be working with the same offensive coordinator in back-to-back seasons. That kind of stability matters-especially when your OC is someone like Seth Doege, who helped unlock Fifita’s full potential last fall.
The chemistry between the two has been well documented, and it showed in the results. Fifita enters the 2026 season with 73 career touchdown passes, the most of any returning quarterback in the country.
That’s not just a stat-it’s a statement.
But let’s not overlook the other side of the ball. Brent Brennan made a pivotal move last offseason when he promoted Danny Gonzales to defensive coordinator.
The result? A more disciplined, aggressive unit that helped Arizona close the 2025 regular season on a five-game win streak.
That run gave the Wildcats momentum heading into bowl season, where they ultimately fell to SMU-but the tone had already been set. This is a program trending up.
And credit Brennan for steering the ship through some choppy waters. After a rocky 2024, his job security was a question mark.
Now? He’s firmly in command, thanks in large part to smart staff hires and a locker room that’s clearly bought in.
Of course, the road ahead won’t be easy. Arizona’s 2026 schedule is no cakewalk.
It starts with a tune-up against Northern Arizona on September 5, but things ramp up fast. Week 2 sends them to BYU for their first Big XII matchup of the season-a rematch of last year’s double-overtime thriller that handed Arizona its only home loss of the year.
That game could set the tone for what’s to come.
Other Big XII road tests include trips to West Virginia, Texas Tech, and Kansas State-three environments that are anything but welcoming. If Arizona wants to make a real push toward playoff contention, they’ll likely need to steal at least one of those road wins. BYU and Texas Tech in particular loom large.
On the flip side, Arizona’s home slate gives them opportunities to stack wins-if they can defend Casino Del Sol Stadium the way they did in 2025. The Wildcats went 6-1 at home last year, and this fall they’ll host Cincinnati, Iowa State, TCU, Utah, and rival Arizona State in Big XII play. They’ll also welcome Northern Illinois in non-conference action and travel to Washington State for another out-of-league matchup.
There are some personnel questions, no doubt. Arizona will need to replace several starters on both sides of the ball.
But with Fifita back under center, Doege calling plays, and Gonzales leading the defense, the core pieces are in place. This isn’t just a team hoping to be competitive-they’ve got the look of a program ready to take the next step.
So, when ESPN’s Jake Trotter called Arizona a team that could “surprise us” in 2026, he wasn’t just throwing darts. The Wildcats may not be the loudest name in the playoff conversation right now, but if they build on last season’s momentum and navigate their schedule with a few key wins-especially on the road-don’t be shocked if they’re still in the mix come November.
Arizona isn’t just rising. They’re arriving.