Brent Brennan isn’t pretending Arizona’s trip to Provo is just another game.
The Wildcats head to No. 15 BYU on Saturday to open Big 12 play, and Brennan made it clear this is the kind of matchup that demands full attention.
Arizona is coming off a 35-7 win over FCS NAU in Week 1, a game that showed off real strength up front and a sharp outing from quarterback Noah Fifita. But it also came with blemishes - three turnovers and some shaky defense early - and Brennan knows those issues can’t travel with the Wildcats if they want a clean start in conference play.
"[They've] been one of the best teams in the conference for the last few years. They have outstanding players in lots of different positions.
They're coached very well and this is a big-time football game. We get to go on the road, we get to play in a tough environment, it's going to be a lot of fun."
Brennan also brushed aside the temptation to dwell on last year’s painful 2OT loss to BYU in Tucson. For him, the focus is on the work ahead, not the memory behind it.
"It's all about tomorrow's practice and what we are going to do with that. How serious are they going to be about their recovery?
We have 50 new players and I'm sure they have a bunch new also. So we're really not focused on that as much as you might think.
It's in the past, so we're focusing on right now."
That doesn’t mean the matchup lacks meaning. Brennan has a long history with BYU coach Kalani Sitake, and he spoke warmly about that relationship this week.
"Kalani is one of my favorite people in this profession. I have a lot of respect for him.
When he came to Corvallis I was the only guy on the [Oregon State] staff that was a holdover, so he asked me where to live and moved into our neighborhood. Our kids ran around the neighborhood together, which was so fun.
I definitely think fondly on those times, it's been fun to get to compete against him the last few years."
On the field, Brennan knows exactly what kind of challenge BYU presents. He singled out running back LJ Martin as a force Arizona has to handle collectively, not individually.
"When you play these guys you know it's going to be a physical game. Their running back [LJ Martin] is a total stud.
He's powerful, he can finish runs, he's hard to bring down. We got to get population of the football, one guy is not going to get him down.
He's a really impressive player."
As for the atmosphere in Provo, Brennan doesn’t buy the idea that the crowd alone swung last year’s result.
"I didn't feel like the crowd was a problem in 2024. I feel like we didn't play very well.
I think we turned the ball over too many times. They have a great crowd though, I think that's one of those things that if you let that be an excuse it will be."
In Other News...
Arizona Suddenly Has A Defensive Strength BYU Can't Ignore
Arizonas linebacker room has become one of the more interesting parts of the defense, and the progress has not gone unnoticed inside the building. Defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales singled out the groups growth while pointing to the work of linebackers coach Josh Bringuel, whose ability to connect with players has helped accelerate the rooms development despite his young age. Gonzales also mentioned the continued rise of Cooper Blomstrom and Chase Kennedy, two linebackers who have given the Wildcats more depth and stability at a spot that can shape a defenses identity.
Taye Brown has been at the center of that surge, and Arizona is starting to see just how much of an impact he can make from the middle of the field. The challenge now is whether that strength holds up when the schedule turns tougher, especially against a BYU team that will be looking for answers in a hurry. If the Wildcats keep winning at linebacker, it could become one of the clearest reasons this defense keeps drawing attention. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Faces A Real Recruiting Test For Coveted Defensive Big
Arizonas pursuit of Kamsi Awaka is headed into a meaningful stretch as the 6-foot-10 Blair Academy big continues to draw interest from a national list of contenders. Awaka has built his reputation on the defensive end, and his recent Defensive MVP recognition in the 17U All Circuit Honors only adds to the appeal for programs looking for a rim protector with upside.
His recruitment now has the feel of a true five-team fight, with Arizona among the schools still in the mix alongside UConn, Florida, Michigan and Michigan State. The next move will matter, too, with Awaka set for an official visit to UConn this weekend as the race for one of the better defensive bigs in the class keeps tightening. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Suddenly Has A Frontcourt Problem Tommy Lloyd Didn't Expect
Arizonas frontcourt picture changed quickly this week when RJ Godfrey was ruled ineligible to practice or compete in college athletics after the Georgia Court of Appeals granted a stay in the NCAAs fight over fifth-year eligibility. The decision lands in the middle of a still-unfolding legal battle involving plaintiffs from the class of 2022, with appeals still pending, and it leaves Arizona sorting through roster plans it had already been building around for the coming season.
Godfreys status matters because the Wildcats were counting on his size and versatility to help anchor the four spot in a lineup that also includes Mo Krivas, Ivan Kharchenkov, Caleb Holt and Derek Dixon. Now Arizona has to consider several ways to adjust before the situation settles, a reminder that even in the middle of offseason planning, the legal calendar can move faster than the basketball one. [Read more 🡒]