Arizona’s home date with Northern Illinois didn’t start cleanly, but the Wildcats found their rhythm fast enough to turn it into a comfortable night - and a historic one, too. After a rough trip to BYU the week before, Arizona shook off the early sluggishness and separated quickly once it got rolling.
The biggest spotlight belonged to Noah Fifita, who was the clear headliner on offense. He looked sharp from the start and finished with a 91% completion rate, while also peppering the field with a handful of high-level throws.
One of the best came when he climbed the pocket and fired to Chris Hunter, leading him perfectly for a touchdown across the middle. He also dropped a perfectly placed ball to Spivey on the corner route for the Spider-Man touchdown.
Later in the game, Fifita added a 30-yard touchdown run to cap off a standout night.
On the defensive side, Noah Blomstrom kept showing up wherever the ball went. The linebacker has been a steady presence since the season began, and Saturday was more of the same.
He finished with 10 tackles and a half sack, including a quick burst off the edge alongside Taye Brown that helped send NIU quarterback Taron Dickens backward in a hurry. Blomstrom’s early-season impact in Tucson keeps growing.
Caleb Smith made his mark in the return game, and that part of the night was just as important. Late in the second quarter, Northern Illinois punted the ball to the 31-yard line, and Smith took over from there.
He made a tackler miss, then sliced through the coverage and took it all the way for a touchdown. He also showed the kind of poise you don’t always expect from a true freshman when he later handled a muffed punt by falling on it instead of forcing a risky play, preserving Arizona’s possession.
Honorable Mention
In Other News...
Arizona Defense Faces A New Test From Washington State's Ground Game
Washington States offense gave Arizona a fresh reason to pay attention after its opener, leaning on the run in a way the Cougars have not done in a long time. Against Duquesne, the ground game controlled the game from the start and turned into the kind of performance that can change how a defense prepares for the next week, especially when a team is still trying to establish identity in the trenches.
For Arizona, the challenge is less about what the Cougars did once and more about whether that kind of physical push is becoming part of the plan. Washington States coaches have already pointed to run-blocking as a point of emphasis, and the Wildcats will have to sort out how to handle a backfield that can stay fresh and punish missed fits if the lane stays open. [Read more 🡒]
Noah Fifita's Arizona Legacy Just Added Another Milestone
Noah Fifita kept adding to his place in Arizona history during the win over Northern Illinois, when a routine completion in the fourth quarter pushed him past Nick Foles for the Wildcats' career passing yards record. The milestone fit the broader arc of his career in Tucson, where he has already become the program's benchmark for touchdown passes and continues to stack accomplishments while leading Arizona's offense.
Fifita's latest number sits at 10,017 career passing yards, and his 80 touchdown passes remain the standard for the Wildcats. With the season still moving along, he is also on pace to challenge additional Arizona records for completions and attempts, giving this record book chase a little more room to grow before it is finished. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Had To Adjust Fast As Key Absences Hit Northern Illinois
Arizona had to sort through some late changes before facing Northern Illinois, with defensive lineman Mays Pese and wide receiver Gio Richardson ruled out and linebacker Chase Kennedy listed as a game-time decision. The absences forced the Wildcats to keep adjusting on both sides of the ball, the kind of pregame shuffle that can alter rotations and special teams plans before a snap is even taken.
There was also a wrinkle in the secondary, where another absence left Arizona needing a different look in the lineup. With a start lined up in that spot, the Wildcats entered the game trying to settle things quickly and avoid letting the personnel issues spill into the flow of a matchup that was already turning into a detailed, possession-by-possession battle. [Read more 🡒]