Arizona is heading into Week 3 with a chance to reset at home, and the biggest development may be the return of a major piece in the backfield.
Offensive coordinator Seth Doege said Tuesday that running back Ismail Mahdi is expected to make his season debut against Northern Illinois, giving the Wildcats another proven option as they try to bounce back from last week’s 28-17 loss at BYU. Mahdi, who led Arizona with 859 rushing yards last season, did not play in Provo after being granted eligibility ahead of Week 2 by a Pima County judge. Linebacker Max Harris also received eligibility and was in the mix against BYU, but Mahdi stayed on the sideline.
Brent Brennan was more cautious when discussing Mahdi’s status, saying the staff would “see how that plays out in practice this week” while pointing to the depth of the running back group. Doege, though, made the expectation clearer for Saturday night’s matchup with the Huskies.
That backfield already includes Kedrick Reescano, Antwan Roberts and Quincy Craig, and Mahdi’s arrival adds another proven producer to the mix. He brings more than 3,100 career rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, which gives Arizona even more firepower for a unit that already has options.
The Wildcats will also have to work around a different kind of absence on the outside. Gio Richardson has been Arizona’s most productive receiver through two games, with 14 catches for 161 yards, but Brennan said he’ll be out for a bit with a lower leg injury. Richardson’s injury leaves the door open for someone else to step forward as Noah Fifita’s top target.
Tre Spivey is the obvious candidate. After transferring from Kansas State, he posted 23 catches for 381 yards and seven touchdowns last season, but his start to 2026 has been quiet by comparison.
Through two games, he has six receptions for 59 yards. Saturday’s game gives the senior wideout a clear chance to shake that off.
Arizona also has a personal angle at tight end with Cole Rusk. The Illinois native came in as a senior transfer from Illinois and has already given the Wildcats a steady presence as a run blocker with reliable hands. He has three catches for 61 yards this season, and this week carries extra meaning: Rusk grew up rooting for NIU, took an official visit there during his recruitment out of Rock Island High School, and followed the Huskies when Jordan Lynch was quarterbacking the program.
Northern Illinois arrives in Tucson at 0-2 after a 40-0 loss to Iowa and a defeat to FCS Illinois State, and Arizona is a heavy favorite at home. Even so, the storyline inside Casino Del Sol Stadium goes beyond the matchup itself. After getting shut out in the second half against BYU, how the Wildcats’ offense responds is a key thing to watch.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM PT, with the game airing on TNT.
In Other News...
Seth Doege Revealed What Undid Arizona In The Second Half
Arizonas offense looked sharp enough early against BYU to believe the night could tilt in the Wildcats favor, but offensive coordinator Seth Doege made clear the second half told a different story. He pointed to a run of costly plays and penalties after intermission, along with missed chances that left Arizona chasing the game instead of closing it, and said the first-half rhythm never carried over once the margin for error got tighter.
Doege also pushed back on the easy blame game aimed at the wide receivers, framing the issues more broadly around execution, passing accuracy and protection. The Wildcats now have a familiar kind of postgame task on their hands: sorting through the mistakes, finding the snaps they let slip away and figuring out how to clean up an offense that showed enough early promise to make the missed opportunities sting all the more. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Has A Real Shot At A Recruit Wildcats Fans Know Well
Arizona is set to host a familiar name this fall, and not just because Kamsi Awaka already carries plenty of recruiting buzz. The 4-star center in the 2027 class is the younger brother of Tobe Awaka, giving Wildcats fans an immediate connection to a prospect who is already drawing national attention. Arizona has lined up an official visit for the big man around the Red-Blue showcase, a setting that should give him a close look at the program in a more high-energy environment.
Awakas recruitment is already shaping up like one worth monitoring closely for Arizona, with multiple high-major programs in the mix and several of the usual heavyweight names involved. The Wildcats will try to use that visit and the family tie to their advantage, but they are not alone in chasing him, and the next few weeks should help clarify where Arizona really stands in a crowded race. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Still Has One Big Frontcourt Question Hanging Over This Season
Arizonas frontcourt picture still comes with an asterisk, even after Clemson transfer RJ Godfrey arrived in Tucson and got into the flow of the program. He has been cleared to practice and has traveled with the Wildcats, giving Tommy Lloyd another experienced piece to work with on the floor and around the team while Arizona waits for the rest of the process to sort itself out.
Godfreys status remains tied to the NCAAs new 5 for 5 eligibility policy, and the larger legal fight around it is still moving through the courts. He and his lawyers are continuing to press for a resolution, with the case in Georgia not yet settled after a stayed ruling, leaving Arizona in the familiar position of planning around a frontcourt piece whose role is still up in the air. [Read more 🡒]