Wildcats Set to Host Northern Arizona

WELCOME THE JACKS: The No. 20 Arizona Wildcats opened the 2024 season with a thunderous 61-39 win over New Mexico and now welcome the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks to Arizona Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+. Chris Sylvester (PxP), Brad Hopkins (Analyst), and Shane Sparks (Sideline) will be the broadcast team. Arizona holds a 16-2 record against Northern Arizona all-time with all the games taking place in Tucson. The Wildcats defeated the Lumberjacks 38-3 following the last matchup on Sept. 2, 2023. Arizona owns the longest winning streak in the series of 14 games.

ABOUT LAST WEEK: Arizona won its third straight season opener with a 61-39 victory over New Mexico. Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan had a career game, pulling in a single-game program record 304 yards receiving and tying a single-game program record four receiving touchdowns. McMillan averaged 30.4 yards on 10 catches and broke the Arizona single-game record of 283 yards receiving set by Jeremy McDaniel in 1996. McMillan matched Jacob Cowing’s touchdown catches record set against Southern California last season and fell 10 yards short of the Big 12 record set by Baylor’s Terrance Williams in 2012. Noah Fifita finished with 422 yards and four touchdown passes, all to McMillan, on 19-of-31 passing with one interception. Quali Conley rushed for 90 yards and three touchdowns and Jacory Croskey-Merritt rushed for 109 yards and one touchdown to round out an Arizona offense that racked up 627 total yards.

MATCHUP HISTORY: The Cats took down the Lumberjacks 38-3 in the 2023 season opener behind 285 yards passing and three touchdowns through the air from then starting quarterback Jayden de Laura. De Laura also recorded his longest rush of his career, 53 yards for a touchdown. Tetairoa McMillan caught three passes for 65 yards and one touchdown. WR Jacob Cowing caught three passes for 38 yards and one touchdown, and RB Michael Wiley made six catches for 57 yards. The three points allowed at the time were the fewest allowed by the Arizona defense since holding California to three points during a 10-3 victory in 2021. It was also the fewest points allowed by the Wildcats in a season opener since shutting out NAU 35-0 to kick off the 2013 season. Arizona owns a 16-2 record all-time against Northern Arizona dating back to the first meeting on Nov. 7, 1931. The Wildcats posted the longest winning streak in the series of 14 games from 1933-2019 and dropped their one of two losses on Oct. 29, 1932. The second loss was 21-19 on Sep. 18, 2021, but outside of those two games, Arizona has owned the series against an FCS opponent out of the Big Sky Conference.

O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!: Head Coach Brent Brennan and the Arizona Wildcats proudly announced their six team captains for the 2024 season on Thursday afternoon. Arizona’s six captains, serving for the entire 2024 season, will be: QB Noah Fifita, OL Josh Baker, OL Jonah Savaiinaea, LB Jacob Manu, DB Treydan Stukes, and DB Gunner Maldonado. All three defensive captains — Stukes, Maldonado, and Manu — are serving as captains for a second consecutive season after earning those roles in 2023. Combined, the Wildcats team captains have earned 132 starts in an Arizona uniform, with four of the six proudly boasting 20+ career starts with the Wildcats.

HELLO BIG 12 RECORD BOOK: McMillan became the first player in FBS history to have a game with 10-plus receptions, 300-plus receiving yards, 30.0-plus yards per reception, and 4-plus receiving TD (per OptaSTATS). In Arizona’s first game as a member of the Big 12, McMillan added his name to the record books, recording the second-most receiving yards (304) in a single game in Big 12 history. His four touchdowns also tied for third most in a single game in Big 12 history.

THE X FACTOR: After making four touchdown grabs in Game 1 against New Mexico, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan is 6th in program history in career-receiving touchdowns (22), 7th in career-receiving yards in program history (2,408). McMillan pulled in the second-most receiving yards in a single-season in program history in 2023 (1,402). He has now recorded the most receiving yards in a single game (304) and the third-most receiving yards in a single game in program history in 2023 (266; at ASU, Nov. 25, 2023).

TOP OFFENSE: The Wildcats recorded 627 yards of total offense in the season-opening win over New Mexico last Saturday. It marked the most since recording 673 (178 rush, 495 pass) against Colorado in 2022. The offensive output tied for 8th in program history (627; California, Sept. 20, 2014).

NEW FACES FROM NEW PLACES: The Wildcats return a veteran core of the roster including Noah Fifita, Tetairoa McMillan, Jonah Savaiinaea, Josh Baker, Montana Lemonious-Craig, Rayshon Luke, Leif Magnuson, Wendell Moe (pronounced Moi) Jr., Justin Flowe, Jacob Manu, Gunner Maldonado, Treydan Stukes, Dalton Johnson, Tacario Davis, and Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei to the 2024 roster that has mixed in newcomers to make up the team. Of the 109 players on the roster, the Wilcats return 65 and add 44 newcomers. Of the 44 newcomers, 32 are transfers from junior college (7) or FBS/FCS transfers (24) and 12 true freshmen join the roster in 2024.

NEW ERA: Arizona’s new Head Coach Brent Brennan takes the helm of the Wildcats after seven seasons as the Head Coach of San Jose State. Brennan is an experienced leader in college football who enjoyed two stints coaching under legendary Arizona head coach Dick Tomey, the winningest coach in program history. The San José native first learned under Tomey with the Wildcats as a graduate assistant in 2000, and again from 2005-09 at SJSU as an assistant coach. The ties between Brennan and the University of Arizona run deep, with Brent’s brother Bradley playing five years as a wide out in Tucson under Tomey, and Brent’s wife Courtney being an alumna of the University.  Among a multitude of accomplishments at San José State, Brennan became the first head coach in SJSU history to lead the Spartans to three bowl games in a four-year span. He also steered SJSU to back-to-back winning seasons in 2022 and 2023, marking the first time it had been accomplished by the Spartans since the 1991-92 campaigns. The 2023 season at San José State saw Brennan’s Spartans charge down the final stretch of the season, winning six consecutive conference games to close out the regular season and earn a bowl berth. During that six-game stretch Brennan’s offense averaged over 38 points per game while the defense held opponents to a meager 17.8 points per game. SJSU’s offensive efforts were fueled by ball security, turning the ball over just 10 times, the best mark in the Mountain West and the ninth best in the nation. The trend was continued from the 2022 campaign in which the Spartans led the country with only six turnovers on offense and a +12 turnover margin that led the MWC.

NEW COACHING STAFF: The Wildcats will feature 10 new coaches of 11 on the coaching staff. Duane Akina returns as defensive coordinator after serving as a defensive analyst in 2023. Brett Arce moves to STARS Coach after serving as an analyst last season. Alonzo Carter (Assist. Head Coach/RB), Dino Babers (Offensive Coordinator), Josh Oglesby (Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach), Matt Adkins (Pass Game Coordinator/ Tight Ends Coach), Danny Gonzales (Special Teams Coordinator/ Linebackers Coach), Joe Seumalo (Defensive Line Coach), Bobby Wade (Wide Receivers Coach), Chip Viney (Cornerbacks Coach), Brett Arce (Stars Coach), and Lyle Moevao (Quarterbacks Coach) join Coach Brennan’s staff heading into a new season.

KICK OF THE LITTER: Tyler Loop has led the program in multiple kicking records, first the most consecutive extra-points made (110) and he is chasing down the top-career field goal percentage (86.4%, 51 of 59) in program history. Loop is chasing the record for the most consecutive games with a made field goal (23) in program history. He is tied for the highest percentage of extra-points made (100%, 53-53 in 2023), and fourth in career-scoring in program history (263; 2022-present). Loop is currently 8th in career-field goal percentage. (86.4%) in college football history, which is second among active kickers in FBS (1st; Jonah Dalmas, 88.9% – Boise State). Loop was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2023. He booted a career-long 54-yarder against New Mexico last Saturday.

RECORD QUARTERBACKING: Noah Fifita continues to climb up the Arizona passing record charts with another outstanding performance to open the 2024 season, throwing for 422 yards and four touchdowns. In 13 of 16 games, Fifita has finished with a completion percentage above 60% during his career. He has never thrown more than one interception in any single game in his collegiate career (16 games; 383 pass attempts). Fifita’s career-completion percentage is 70.2% (269-of-383) for 3,419 yards and 30 touchdowns. He posted the second-best quarterback rating of his collegiate career against New Mexico (211.8 QBR).

POLYNESIAN PIPELINE: Arizona continues to build its program with some of the top Polynesian College Football Players in the nation on its roster. The Wildcats had seven players selected to the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award watch list including quarterback Noah Fifita, defensive lineman Keanu Mailoto, linebacker Jacob Manu, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea, defensive lineman Stanley Ta’ufo’ou, and defensive lineman Ta’ita’I Uiagalelei. The seven players included in this watch list is second in the nation behind only BYU in 2024. It also marked the most for the Wildcats since the inception of the award preseason watch list. Fifita joined the college watch list for the first time. Savaiinaea makes his second straight appearance on the list. McMillan advanced to the finals of the 2023 award consideration after being named to the preseason list. Mailoto, Manu, Ta’ufo’ou, and Uiagalelei made their first appearance as Wildcats on this award watch list.

WELCOME TO THE BIG 12: The Arizona Wildcats embark on a new journey in a new conference after joining the Big 12 in Aug. 2024. The Wildcats end an era of Pac-10/12 that began in 1978 and finished with a 277-256-7 record while playing in the Pac-10/12, including a 171-202-6 Conference record over 45 years in the conference. The legendary Dick Tomey led the Wildcats through 13 years of the Pac-10/12 Conference and recorded the most wins of any head coach in program history (95).

WATCH THIS SPACE: Arizona returns much of the 2023 roster that lifted the program to its fourth 10-win season in school history. Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan began preseason award watch list season with their selection to the Maxwell Award Watch List. In all 16 awards named Wildcats to their watch lists in the preseason.

BIG 12 PRESEASON POLL: The Arizona Wildcats were picked to finish 5th in the Big 12 Preseason Media Poll (762 points), receiving three first-place votes, as voted on by media representatives. Utah was the leading vote recipient, reeling in 20 first-place votes and 906 total points. Kansas State (2nd; 889, 19), Oklahoma State (3rd; 829, 14), Kansas (4th; 772, 5), and Arizona complete the top five. Two of the four newcomers to the conference were voted into the top five (No. 1 Utah and No. 5 Arizona). At the same time, Colorado was voted to finish 11th and Arizona State was picked to finish 16th.

PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 TEAM: Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea, kicker Tyler Loop, linebacker Jacob Manu, and defensive back Tacario Davis were named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, as announced today by the conference. The Wildcats earned five All-Conference selections to their first-ever preseason All-Big 12 Team. McMillan, Savaiinaea, Loop, Manu, and Davis continue to reel in preseason accolades as voted on by chosen media representatives who cover the conference. Arizona garnered the second-most selections from one team in the Big 12 (1st; Oklahoma State, 6).

10 WINS IN 2023: The Wildcats closed out the 2023 season with 10 wins, reaching the double-digit win total for the first time since 2014 and just the fourth time in school history (2023, 2014, 1998, and 1993 seasons). Arizona tied its longest single season winning streak with seven straight victories to close the 2023 campaign.

PRESEASON POLLS: The Wildcats earned the No. 21 ranking in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Top 25. It is the first time since 2015 that Arizona was ranked in the preseason polls, marking the highest preseason AP ranking for the Wildcats since 1999, when they were ranked fourth. Arizona is the fifth ranked Big 12 team with Utah (12), Oklahoma State (17), Kansas State (18), and Kansas (22) all ranked in the preseason poll. Arizona currently has two ranked opponents on its 2024 schedule featuring No. 12 Utah and No. 18 Kansas State.

WILDCATS IN THE NFL: Arizona currently has 12 players on NFL rosters heading into the 2024 season. Former offensive lineman Jordan Morgan was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round (25th overall) following the 2023 season. He was the first first-round selection since Antoine Cason was picked 27th overall in 2008. He joined a list that includes Cason (2008; 27th, San Diego), Trung Canidate (2000; 31st, St. Louis), Chris McAlister (1999; 10th, Baltimore), John Fina (1992; 27th, Buffalo), Chris Singleton (1990; 8th, New England), Anthony Smith (1990; 11th, Oakland), Rickey Hunley (1984; 7th, Cincinnati), Mike Dawson (1976; 22nd, Arizona), Bill Lueck (1968; 26, Green Bay), and Walt Nelson (1939; 10th, New York Giants) to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Wide receiver Jacob Cowing was picked in the fourth round (135th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers and became the highest wide receiver selected since Mike Thomas in 2009 (4th Rd, 107 overall by Jacksonville) and the first wide receiver since Juron Criner (5th Rd, 168th overall by Oakland) in 2012. Tight End Tanner McLachlan was the third Wildcat selected in the 2024 NFL Draft when the Cincinnati Bengals picked him the 6th round (194 overall). The three draft picks matched the most selected in one draft since 2014 when Ka’Deem Carey (4th Rd, 117 overall), Shaquille Richardson (5th Rd, 157th overall), and Marquis Flowers (6th Rd, 212 overall) were picked in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Current Wildcats on NFL Rosters (as of 9/1/24)

*Practice Squad