The University of Arizona football team returns to play in a new season, looking to have a more successful year building off Brent Brennan’s first season at the helm. The Wildcats came just short of reaching a bowl game in 2024 and ended the season with a 4-8 overall record and 2-7 conference record in their first year competing as a part of the Big 12 conference. Ahead of entering its second year as a part of the Big 12 conference, the team will host its Red-Blue spring showcase which will be played on Saturday, April 19.
The season ended for the Wildcats with a 49-7 blowout loss to in-state rival ASU. With the offseason bringing the loss of players to the NFL Draft and the transfer portal, the stakes continue to rise for the program.
Arizona football recently released its schedule for the upcoming season, with some old foes to new faces in its second year in the Big 12. While Arizona is coming off a difficult season, the Wildcats look to avenge the previous season and power ahead in order to make a farther run in a new season. Here is a brief preview of next season:
Week 1: Arizona vs. University of Hawai’i on Saturday, Aug. 30
Arizona football faces Hawai’i for the first time since the 2019 season when the Wildcats traveled to Honolulu to compete against the Rainbow Warriors. The two programs’ last meeting resulted in a 45-38 Hawai’i victory in the Wildcats’ first game of the season. However, this time around the Rainbow Warriors will be traveling to Tucson to face the Wildcats. The last time these foes met in the desert was when Arizona walloped the Rainbow Warriors 47-28 on Sep. 17, 2016. Arizona’s all-time record over Hawai’i is 5-1.
Week 2: Arizona vs. Weber State University on Saturday, Sept. 6
Arizona football hosts Weber State for the programs’ first-ever matchup. Weber State has found success at the Football Championship Subdivision level, making five-straight FCS playoff appearances from 2016-2020. Their last time in the playoff was in 2022; after 2022, Weber State lost their head coach Jay Hill, who became BYU’s defensive coordinator and associate head coach. Weber State’s last win over an FBS opponent came in 2022 when they beat Utah State University 35-7.
Week 3: Arizona vs. Kansas State University on Friday, Sept. 12
Arizona will host Kansas State for the first time since 1978, in which Arizona won 31-0. Arizona’s most recent outing against Kansas State saw them travel up to Manhattan, Kansas, and fall in a 31-7 loss. Arizona’s loss in this matchup last season would be the start of a steady decline, in which the Wildcats would only win two of their following nine games. Former Arizona defensive back Gunnar Maldonado joined Kansas State over the offseason which makes this matchup even more meaningful for Arizona.
Week 4: Arizona at Iowa State University on Saturday, Sept. 27
Arizona travels to Ames, Iowa for the Wildcats’ first matchup against the Cyclones since 1968, when the Wildcats made the same voyage to win 21-12. Arizona’s new Big 12 peer comes off a stellar 2024 season that saw them go 11-3, with the Cyclones ultimately losing the conference championship to Arizona State and winning the Poptart Bowl against the University of Miami.
Week 5: Arizona vs. Oklahoma State University on Saturday, Oct. 4
Arizona hosts Oklahoma State for the first time since 2012, a matchup that saw the scoreboard run high with the Wildcats beating the Cowboys 59-38. Oklahoma State was projected to finish third in the Big 12 last season, but after a very tumultuous season, the Cowboys finished 3-9 and went 0-9 in conference play.
Week 6: Arizona vs. BYU on Saturday, Oct. 11
Arizona and BYU met last year in Provo, Utah, when the Cougars outmatched the Wildcats 41-19 on Oct. 12, 2024. These foes have a storied history together from when they were conference opponents in the bygone era of Arizona’s time in the Western Athletic Conference from 1962 to 1978. From 1978 onward, the two have only met seven times, with the Wildcats only winning twice.
Week 7: Arizona at University of Houston on Saturday, Oct. 18
Arizona heads on the road to face the University of Houston in mid-October at TDECU Stadium. Throughout the programs’ brief five-game history, Houston leads Arizona in the lead series 3-2. Notably, the teams’ most recent meeting resulted in a 27-3 victory for Arizona, ending a five-game losing streak for the team. Redshirt sophomore and starting quarterback Noah Fifita threw for 2 touchdowns in the game. The Cougars and Wildcats first met in 1969, when Arizona suffered a 34-17 loss at home.
Week 8: Arizona at University of Colorado Boulder on Saturday, Nov. 1
Coming off a bye week, Arizona travels to Colorado to face the Buffaloes. Through the two programs’ history competing, the schools recorded their first matchup back in 1931, with November’s matchup marking their 28th meeting. Notably, Arizona built a 12-game losing streak in the Wildcats’ first ever games against the Buffaloes but have now won two of the teams’ last three meetings in the past three seasons. Arizona suffered a 34-7 loss just last year on Oct. 19, 2024, and are looking to redeem themselves come November.
Week 9: Arizona vs. University of Kansas on Saturday, Nov. 8
As the Wildcats return home to take on the Jayhawks, Arizona looks to improve to three wins over Kansas in the two programs’ seventh meeting. The Wildcats will be hosting the Jayhawks for the first time since 1966, looking to start up the matchups between the two programs in a new conference. The last two games between Arizona and Kansas resulted in a victory for each team.
Week 10: Arizona at University of Cincinnati on Saturday, Nov. 15
Heading back on the road to compete in Cincinnati, Ohio in Nippert Stadium, Arizona looks to take on the Bearcats for the first time in program history. This game will mark week 12 of the 2025 season.
Week 11: Arizona vs. Baylor University on Saturday, Nov. 22
Arizona will take on the Baylor Bears in the Wildcats’ final home matchup of the season. In the lone game that occurred between the two programs back on Dec. 31, 1992, Arizona fell in a 20-15 away loss in El Paso, Texas. This time, the Wildcats look to secure a win in the final matchup at Arizona Stadium.
Week 12: Territorial Cup vs. ASU on Friday, Nov. 28
Mountain America Stadium will hold the 99th Territorial Cup between Arizona and ASU. On Nov. 28, Arizona looks to secure a rivalry victory against the Sun Devils to claim the trophy. A win on that Friday would allow the Wildcats to be 3-2 against ASU in the last five matchups. The Sun Devils aim to maintain their competitive edge; the most recent rivalry matchup resulted in a 49-7 loss for Arizona at home on Nov. 30, 2024. Despite the upset, Arizona plans to make a comeback against its rival, hoping to find a way to stop ASU.
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