Arizona Eyes Historic Finish in Holiday Bowl Clash with SMU
Arizona football has come a long way in a short amount of time. Just a few weeks ago, the Wildcats were teetering on the edge of bowl eligibility. Now, after rattling off five straight wins, they’re not only heading to San Diego for the Holiday Bowl-they’re looking to cap off one of the most impressive turnarounds in program history.
There’s a clear sense of déjà vu here. Much like the 2023 squad, this year’s team rebounded from a pair of gut-wrenching one-score losses to ranked opponents-including one in overtime-and flipped the script with a dominant November.
The Wildcats went 5-0 in the final month of the regular season, something no Arizona team had done before. That run included road wins at Cincinnati and Arizona State, and it propelled the program to the final College Football Playoff rankings.
Now sitting at 9-3, Arizona has a shot at hitting double-digit wins for just the second time in the past three years. But to truly match the 2023 team’s legacy, they’ll need to finish the job. That means taking care of business against SMU in the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday night.
A win would give Arizona the largest year-over-year improvement in school history-a crowning achievement for a team that’s steadily built momentum all season.
“Extra Life” and a Final Chapter
Head coach Brent Brennan summed it up well earlier this week: “Since we got bowl eligible we’ve been talking about this extra life that this team gets by getting to go to a bowl game. We always talk about at the beginning of the year, like in January, that every football team has a lifespan. It’s either 11 months or 10 months or nine months, but the longer the better, right?”
That extended lifespan now includes a shot at history.
Arizona is 1-1 all-time in the Holiday Bowl. The Wildcats knocked off Nebraska back in 1998 to finish a school-best 12-1 season, then were shut out by the Cornhuskers in 2009.
Their last stretch of back-to-back bowl wins came under Rich Rodriguez in 2012 and 2013. SMU, meanwhile, enters at 8-4 and has dropped four straight bowl games.
Their last postseason win came in 2012.
Roster Watch: Who’s In, Who Might Sit
As is the case with bowl season across college football, player availability is always a storyline. Opt-outs have become common, especially for NFL-bound players looking to protect their draft stock. Arizona saw this firsthand two years ago when standout tackle Jordan Morgan sat out the Alamo Bowl to avoid risking injury after knee surgery.
So far, neither Arizona nor SMU has announced any opt-outs. But if any Wildcats choose to sit, it’ll likely be for professional reasons. Nearly 30 Arizona players will exhaust their eligibility after Friday’s game, and for many, this is one final opportunity to put something special on tape.
Expect at least one Wildcat to make their first career start in this game. And health-wise, Arizona appears to be in solid shape. No significant injuries were reported in the regular-season finale at ASU, and defensive lineman Tia Savea-who missed the last three games-could be ready to return.
Strength vs. Strength: Arizona’s Defense Meets SMU’s Passing Attack
If you’re a fan of chess matches between elite units, this one’s for you.
Arizona’s pass defense has been lights-out for the better part of two months. The Wildcats have held eight straight opponents under 200 passing yards-the longest streak in the FBS since 2004. That’s no small feat in today’s pass-happy game.
But that streak will be put to the test against an SMU offense that loves to air it out. The Mustangs rank 12th nationally in passing, averaging 283.5 yards per game.
Quarterback Kevin Jennings has been the engine, throwing for 3,363 yards and 26 touchdowns. He’s topped 250 yards and two scores in eight games this season.
“I would say probably they’re the best offense we’ve played all season,” said Arizona defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales. “Statistically, they’re right there with Baylor. And so we’re going to have to be as physical as we can on that day and find ways that we can try and confuse Kevin Jennings, and that’s going to be really, really hard to do.”
For context, Arizona held Baylor-the No. 4 passing offense-to just 162 yards in their matchup earlier this year. That kind of effort will be needed again if the Wildcats want to keep SMU in check.
Opportunities Through the Air
While Arizona’s defense will be tested, the Wildcats’ offense may find plenty of room to operate-especially through the air.
SMU ranks near the bottom nationally in pass defense, giving up 284.7 yards per game and 23 touchdowns. The Mustangs have been aggressive, racking up 34 sacks and 17 interceptions, but they’ve also been vulnerable to big plays. Opponents have hit them for 50 pass plays of 20-plus yards and 20 plays of 30-plus.
That’s music to the ears of Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita.
Fifita’s Big Stage
Fifita has already etched his name into the Arizona record books. He’s now the program’s all-time leader in career touchdown passes, and he’s on the verge of breaking the single-season record as well. With three more passing scores, he’ll surpass the 26-TD mark shared by Willie Tuitama (2007), Nick Foles (2011), and Anu Solomon (2014).
He’s also just 37 yards shy of 3,000 for the season-something only seven other UA quarterbacks have ever done. Another 82 yards will put him over 9,000 for his career, and if he throws for at least 315 yards, he’ll crack the top 250 in FBS passing history.
It’s fitting that this next chapter comes at Snapdragon Stadium, where his college journey began in 2022. He didn’t play in that win over San Diego State, but since taking over as the starter in 2023, Fifita has been outstanding-especially away from Tucson.
In 15 road games and last year’s Alamo Bowl, Fifita has thrown for 4,482 yards and 31 touchdowns. And since a two-pick outing at Iowa State to open the 2025 road slate, he’s been nearly flawless: 86-of-121 (71.1%) for 1,062 yards, eight touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
What’s at Stake
This isn’t just a bowl game-it’s a chance to cement a legacy.
Arizona has a shot at 10 wins, a statement victory over a strong SMU team, and the kind of finish that could resonate well into next season. The defense is peaking, the offense is clicking, and the quarterback is chasing history.
The Wildcats have already made a statement. Now they’ve got one more game to make it stick.