Brent Brennan doesn’t need to rebuild Arizona the way he did in his first two seasons in Tucson. This time around, the Wildcats enter Year 3 with real continuity, bringing back 18 starters from last season and opening 2026 with a Week 1 matchup against Northern Arizona that should offer a clean first look at several key pieces.
Arizona has owned this series, going 17-2 all-time against NAU. The Wildcats beat the Lumberjacks 33-3 in 2023 and 22-10 in 2024, and Saturday gives them a chance to top both of those margins.
The game also sets the stage for a handful of players who either arrived with something to prove or are ready to step into much bigger roles. Here are five worth keeping an eye on when Arizona kicks off against Northern Arizona.
Cole Rusk is one of the most interesting additions on the roster. The tight end has already bounced through Illinois, Eastern Michigan and Murray State, so new systems clearly haven’t rattled him. That showed this spring, when he settled in quickly and started building chemistry with Noah Fifita while also making an impact as a blocker.
“He’s got great body control, great feel for space, he knows how to separate to create lanes we know to throw in,” said Tight Ends coach Josh Miller. “I’ve been really pleased with what he’s been doing in the run game, and so I think he can be a complete tight end.”
Rusk caught 19 passes for 217 yards last season at Illinois, and Arizona looks like a place where he can put together a bigger 2026.
The secondary is another area worth watching closely, especially after Arizona lost five players from last year’s team to the NFL. Dwight Bootle is one of the newcomers expected to help steady that group after transferring in from Charlotte.
Bootle made 38 tackles in 12 games last season and is positioned to fill the role left behind by Michael Dansby and Ayden Garnes. Cornerbacks coach Chip Viney made it clear he likes what he’s seen so far.
“Really proud of who he’s become since arriving here in the spring to now,” Viney said. “I think Dwight is just starting to scratch the surface of who he could be.”
On offense, one of the more intriguing storylines is behind Fifita. Redshirt freshman Sawyer Anderson won the backup job over Luke Haugo, giving Arizona a quarterback with enough familiarity in the system and enough mobility to make things interesting if he gets on the field.
That opportunity could come Saturday if Arizona builds a sizable lead. The Wildcats opened as 33.5-point favorites at FanDuel, and if they’re sitting on a 20-plus cushion in the second half, Fifita will likely be pulled to avoid any injury risk. That would create a chance for Anderson to make his college debut and show the arm and scramble ability that helped him win the job in camp.
Another player to watch is wide receiver Zach Richardson, who earned a starting spot on the depth chart after a strong freshman year. The Chandler native finished last season with 21 catches for 299 yards and two touchdowns, and he’ll line up next to Tre Spivey and Chris Hunter III on the outside.
Saturday could be the kind of game where Richardson makes a bigger statement now that he has a season under his belt.
And then there’s Dash Fifita, Noah’s younger brother, who is on the roster because of his play, not his last name. The 185-pound linebacker drew praise throughout fall camp from defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales and earned a place on Arizona’s depth chart as one of four true freshmen, listed behind Taye Brown at middle linebacker.
“Dash Fifita is going to be special because he is a good football player and explosive,” Gonzales said at the conclusion of fall camp. “I don't care what they look like, I want guys that choose violence and play like mad dogs and he's one of them.”
It should be a memorable debut if Fifita gets into the game, especially with Noah set to start his 36th straight game at quarterback for the Wildcats.
Arizona and NAU kick off at 6:30 PM PT on Saturday, Sep. 5. The game will be available on ESPN+.
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