Arizona heads to Pullman on Saturday afternoon for a Week 4 meeting with Washington State, a matchup that puts Brent Brennan’s team back on the road against a familiar Pac-12 name.
The Wildcats enter at 2-1 after a 42-17 home win over Northern Illinois, a game that gave them a few notable milestones. Noah Fifita set the program record for career passing yards, while Isaiah Mizell and freshman punt returner Caleb “Jet” Smith each found the end zone for the first time in their careers.
Washington State comes in at 1-2, but the Cougars also put together a convincing performance in Week 3, beating FCS opponent Duquesne 48-7. That one turned in the second half, when WSU broke things open with back-to-back punt return touchdowns.
The Cougars are now part of the rebuilt Pac-12 and will be looking to make a statement against a former league opponent in Pullman. Their early schedule has already included a 24-10 loss to Washington and a 34-7 defeat to Kansas State in Week 2.
This is still a work in progress for Washington State, which has an entirely new coaching staff and several new starters, including UC Davis transfer Caden Pinnick at quarterback. Pinnick has had his ups and downs as a passer, but he brings real value as a runner. Behind an offensive line that stayed intact through the coaching change, he can create problems if Arizona doesn’t bottle him up.
The Cougars also have Kirby Vorhees back at running back, which adds another layer of difficulty for Arizona’s defense.
On the other side, Arizona finally got Tre Spivey going against Northern Illinois after a slow start to his season. Fifita has done a solid job spreading the ball around, but the Wildcats still need clearer answers on who their dependable targets are from week to week as Big 12 play approaches.
The run game remains a concern after Arizona struggled badly to move the ball on the ground last week against Northern Illinois, even with Ismail Mahdi back in the mix after leading the team in rushing last season. With Mahdi, Kedrick Reescano, Antwan Roberts and Quincy Craig available, the Wildcats have plenty of options there and will expect more production, even in a road game against a solid Washington State defense.
Game time is set for 4:30 p.m. Pacific time on Saturday, Sept. 26.
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In Other News...
Arizona Fans Had Two Reasons To Be Furious During BYU Loss
Arizona fans already had plenty to digest as BYU hung around long enough to turn a tight game into a frustrating finish, and the mood only got worse as the Cougars pulled away late. Arizona carried a halftime lead into the break, but the second half belonged to BYU, which steadily took control and left the Wildcats staring at a loss they could feel slipping away before it was over.
The broadcast added its own distraction when Fox Sports analyst Robert Griffin III spent time on an odd anecdote about Bear Bachmeiers family traditions, a side note that quickly started making the rounds. Between the comeback on the field and the offbeat call from the booth, Arizona fans wound up with two separate reasons to be irritated on a night that was supposed to bring a different result. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Suddenly Has A Depth Problem Before Washington State
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The bigger concern is that Arizonas available options are still not fully settled, especially at a spot where the staff had hoped for more clarity by now. Brennan said one injury has already ended a players season, and another key piece remains in limbo after leaving the NIU game, leaving the Wildcats to prepare without knowing exactly how much of the rotation will be intact when they line up against the Cougars. For a team trying to stabilize its identity, that uncertainty only raises the stakes on a game where the details may matter as much as the matchup itself. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Faces A Real Test In The Matchups That Could Decide Saturday
Saturdays meeting with Washington State is shaping up as more than a standard Big 12 measuring stick for Arizona. The matchup carries familiar coaching threads and a clear tactical edge on both sides, with the Cougars adjusting their offensive line and the Wildcats bringing the kind of pressure-heavy defense that can force an offense out of rhythm. For Arizona, the question is whether that pressure can disrupt Washington State before the Cougars get comfortable attacking downfield.
The other side of the equation rests with Noah Fifita, who has enough experience to handle a tough road test but has also spent the last couple of weeks dealing with more frequent sacks and the aftermath of those hits. Washington State, under defensive coordinator Trent Bray, will try to make the quarterback think twice and limit the deep passing game that can change the feel of the night. If Arizonas protection holds up, the Wildcats can make this one about execution; if it does not, the game could hinge on a handful of snaps very quickly. [Read more 🡒]