Arizona’s season opener is here, and the biggest question hanging over the Wildcats isn’t about the depth chart or the game plan. It’s whether linebacker Max Harris and running back Ismail Mahdi will be cleared to play.
Both players have filed a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the NCAA in an effort to gain eligibility for this season, according to the Arizona Daily Star’s Justin Spears. Harris and Mahdi are trying to secure a fifth year under the “5 for 5” eligibility policy.
Their argument centers on the NCAA’s Division I manual. The players contend that there is no language in the manual excluding the 2022 high school class from the “5 for 5” rule.
For now, Arizona has been operating as if neither player will be available for Saturday’s opener against NAU. The two have been practicing with the team, but only under the assumption that their eligibility won’t be approved in time.
The timing makes this a tight race. Because the TRO was filed late Friday and Saturday is a non-business day, the earliest a judge could rule would be early next week. If the order is granted then, Harris and Mahdi could theoretically be back in the mix before Arizona’s game at BYU next Saturday.
Harris was a starter in 12 games for Arizona in 2025 and finished third on the team with 78 tackles, including 3.5 for loss. Mahdi started 10 games last season and led the Wildcats in rushing with 859 yards.
In Other News...
Noah Fifita And Arizona Have One Thing To Prove In Opener
Arizona opens at Casino Del Sol Stadium in a familiar in-state meeting with Northern Arizona, the 20th all-time matchup between the programs. The Wildcats bring back a strong offense led by senior quarterback Noah Fifita and enter the game as the clear favorite, with this opener carrying the sort of expectations that come with a veteran group trying to set the tone right away.
Northern Arizona arrives with a win already on its ledger under coach Brian Wright, which gives the Lumberjacks at least some early confidence heading into a tougher stage. For Arizona, the bigger question is less about whether it should win and more about how cleanly it can handle business in front of a home crowd while showing the kind of sharp start this team believes it can make. [Read more 🡒]
Arizonas Opener Will Reveal Which Wildcats Are Ready To Break Through
Arizona opens its third season under Brent Brennan with a familiar kind of measuring-stick game, one that should tell the Wildcats plenty about where they stand early and which players are ready to take the next step. Noah Fifita remains the clear centerpiece on offense, and the opener against Northern Arizona also puts a spotlight on names like wide receiver Giovanni Richardson, along with a few newcomers and depth pieces whose camp work has made them worth watching closely.
Northern Arizona brings its own familiar threats, including running back Quran Gossett and defensive tackle Jackson Murray, so this is more than a tune-up for Arizona even if the gap in expectations is obvious. For the Wildcats, the real intrigue is which supporting players turn August momentum into September production, and which of them can turn a first-game opportunity into something bigger as the season starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Opens With One Big Noah Fifita Question
Arizona heads into its 2026 opener against Northern Arizona at Casino Del Sol Stadium with plenty of continuity and plenty left to prove. The Wildcats are bringing back more than half of their starters from a 9-4 season, while also blending in newcomers and first-time starters, including transfers and freshmen, as the roster starts to take shape around another run.
At the center of it all is Noah Fifita, who is closing in on school records and is being talked about as a Heisman Trophy candidate. Even with that buzz, the early-season focus remains on the broader picture, because the staff has made clear that the opener is about getting the team ready to win rather than turning September into a personal showcase for its quarterback. [Read more 🡒]