Arizona
UCF opponent previews: Arizona enters Big 12 armed with Noah Fifita, Tetairoa McMillan
- Nickname: Wildcats
- Location: Tucson, Ariz.
- Enrollment: 51,134
- Home field: Arizona Stadium (Capacity: 50,782)
- Conference: Big 12
- 2023 record: 10-3, 7-2 Pac-12
- All-time series record vs. UCF: First meeting
Editor’s note: This is the ninth installment in a 12-part series highlighting UCF’s 2024 football opponents.
UCF grounded Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon last year to keep its Space Game record perfect. To do so again, the Citronauts will need to shut down one the nation’s premier passing combinations.
Big 12 newcomer Arizona, which begins the year ranked No. 21 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, visits the Bounce House for the first time on Nov. 2 — right in the heart of a crucial conference stretch for UCF. The Wildcats earned three first-place votes in the league’s preseason media poll, settling for fifth behind Utah, Kansas State, Oklahoma and Kansas.
Last season, Arizona posted double digits in the win column for the first time since 2014, closing with seven straight victories including five against ranked opponents. It punctuated a resurgent campaign with an Alamo Bowl triumph over Oklahoma, which exited the Big 12 officially in July to join the SEC.
For context, the Wildcats began the decade with just one win in their first 17 games.
UCF, meanwhile, is not only undefeated in its seven Space Game showdowns but has done so in dominant fashion. Its all-time margin of victory is 349-147, an average of 28.9 points per game.
Brent Brennan takes over for Jedd Fisch, hires Dino Babers as OC
Fisch completed a gigantic turnaround, a nine-win improvement in the space of two seasons. However, the former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator bolted for Washington when Kalen DeBoer was named Nick Saban’s successor at Alabama.
Arizona filled its vacancy with Brent Brennan, who spent the previous seven seasons at San Jose State. The Spartans have gone bowling six times since 2000, and three of those instances came during Brennan’s regime.
Brennan, 51, played five seasons at UCLA as a wide receiver and lettered for the Bruins during their 1993 Rose Bowl run. He worked as a Division I assistant for 16 years before taking the head job at San Jose State, where he posted a 34-48 overall record.
Upon taking the job, Brennan promoted Duane Akina to defensive coordinator and hired Dino Babers as the offensive coordinator. Babers, an Arizona assistant from 1995-2000, lasted eight years as the head coach at Syracuse. He compiled a 41-55 record with two bowl trips.
Noah Fifita, Tetairoa McMillan stay loyal to Arizona amid coaching change
Top Offensive Returners: OL Josh Baker, QB Noah Fifita, WR Montana Lemonious-Craig, OL Leif Magnuson, WR Tetairoa McMillan, OL Wendell Moe Jr., OL Raymond Pulido, OL Jonah Savaiinaea
Top Defensive Returners: DB Tacario Davis, LB Justin Flowe, DB Dalton Johnson, DB Gunner Maldonado, LB Jacob Manu, DB Genesis Smith, DB Treydan Stukes, DL Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei
Once Fisch departed Tucson, it could well have been open season on the Arizona roster. A fair number of Wildcats followed their coach to the Pacific Northwest (more on that in a bit). But, all things considered, the team’s most important players shockingly stayed put.
That includes the über-talented quarterback/wide receiver pairing of Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan. The duo — high school teammates at Servite in Anaheim, California — announced they had “unfinished business” in Tucson during a media timeout of the Wildcats’ men’s basketball game against UCLA on Jan. 20.
Fifita sported the fifth-best completion percentage in the Football Bowl Subdivision last year (72.4%), throwing for 2,869 yards with 25 touchdowns and six picks. McMillan ranked fifth in the nation with 1,402 receiving yards, scoring on 10 of his 90 receptions.
McMillan checks in at No. 5 on Pro Football Focus’ big board for 2025 NFL draft prospects, and he’s not the lone returning Wildcat gaining first-round traction. Cornerback Tacario Davis (No. 32), at 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, led the Pac-12 with 15 pass breakups. Offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea posted the team’s second-highest blocking grade, per PFF’s metrics, and allowed just two sacks.
All-Pac-12 linebacker Jacob Manu paced the conference with 116 tackles, surpassing double digits on five occasions. He added 9½ tackles for loss, 6½ sacks, 13 quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and an interception. Arizona has five of its top six tacklers back, including starting safeties Dalton Johnson and Gunner Maldonado.
Arizona loses D-linemen, adds talented New Mexico running back
Transfer Portal Additions: DL Jarra Anderson (Memphis), RB Quali Conley (San Jose State), RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (New Mexico), QB Adam Damante (Northern Arizona), DL Kevon Darton (Syracuse), OL Alexander Doost (Northwestern), DB Demetrius Freeney (Miami), QB Anthony Garcia (San Jose State), DB Owen Goss (Colgate), DB Marquis Groves-Killebrew (Louisville), DL Lance Keneley (Stanford), EDGE Chase Kennedy (Utah), DB Jack Luttrell (Tennessee), DL Chubba Ma’ae (UC Davis), OL Shancco Matautia (Arizona State), WR Reymello Murphy (Old Dominion), TE Sam Olson (San Jose State), RB Kedrick Reescano (Ole Miss), OL Jonah Rodriguez (San Diego State), DB Jordan Shaw (Indiana), EDGE Tre Smith (San Jose State), OL Ryan Stewart (San Jose State), DL Stanley Ta’ufo’ou (USC), OL Michael Wooten (Oregon)
Transfer Portal Losses: LB Ammon Allen (Northern Arizona), OL Joe Borjon (San Diego State), RB Jonah Coleman (Washington), EDGE Russell Davis II (Washington), QB Jayden de Laura, WR Deric English, WR Kevin Green Jr. (Washington), WR Audric Harris (Washington), EDGE Jason Harris (Marshall), LS Kameron Hawkins (Colorado), LB Daniel Heimuli (Georgia State), DL Jacob Rich Kongaika (Arizona State), RB Adam Mohammed (Washington), DB Kanyon Moses (Northern Arizona), DL Bill Norton (Texas), OL Anthony Patt (Old Dominion), EDGE Orin Patu (Bethune-Cookman), DB Ephesians Prysock (Washington), RB Stevie Rocker Jr. (Montana), DB Cruz Rushing (Oregon), DL Tiaoalii Savea (Texas), DB Isaiah Taylor (Miami), DL Isaiah Ward (Washington), DB DJ Warnell (Indiana), RB Jordan Washington (Washington), OL Michael Watkins (Washington), QB Demond Williams Jr. (Washington), DB Charles Yates Jr. (Old Dominion)
While the narrative surrounding the Wildcats’ offseason has, justifiably, focused on the players who stayed, it bears mentioning that they suffered a handful of key departures as well.
Ephesians Prysock partnered with Davis to give Arizona one of the best cornerback tandems in college football last year, but he chose to head to Washington, as did leading rusher Jonah Coleman (871 yards, five TDs) and pass rusher Isaiah Ward (four sacks), among others. The defensive line was gutted between the portal and the draft, with interior linemen Bill Norton and Tiaoalii Savea following former coordinator Johnny Nansen to Texas.
Brennan brought reinforcements along from San Jose State, filling a big hole on the edge with All-Mountain West defensive end Tre Smith (66 tackles, 9½ TFLs, 6½ sacks). Quali Conley rushed for 842 yards and nine touchdowns, and tight end Sam Olson set career highs with 310 receiving yards and three TDs.
Arizona added a 1,000-yard rusher from the MWC in New Mexico’s Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who scored 17 touchdowns and outgained Damien Martinez, Quinshon Judkins and Jonathon Brooks on the ground. Chubba Ma’ae, Kevon Darton and Jarra Anderson will each seek to make an impact in the middle of the Wildcat defense.
Could any freshmen make an impact for Arizona?
Top Incoming Freshmen: LB Stacy Bey (Fontana, Calif.), LB Jabari Mann (San Mateo, Calif.), EDGE Eduwa Okundaye (Katy, Texas), WR Brandon Phelps (Gilbert, Ariz.), TE Dylan Tapley (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
The effects of Fisch’s exit might most be felt on the recruiting front, at least in terms of the Wildcats’ 2024 haul.
Four signees hit the transfer portal and followed their coach to Washington, including Arizona’s top two consensus recruits — quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (Chandler, Ariz.) and running back Jordan Washington (Long Beach, Calif.). Williams will be groomed behind Mississippi State transfer Will Rogers as the Huskies’ QB of the future.
In-state tight end Dylan Tapley is the highest-rated player remaining in Arizona’s freshman class. He caught 41 passes for 604 yards and nine touchdowns for Scottsdale’s Desert Mountain.
Transfers lifted Arizona to 48th in 247Sports’ overall team recruiting rankings, but it finished 84th in terms of its high school signees (15th of the Big 12’s 16 programs).
Since the Arizona Cardinals want to trade back from the No. 3 picks, here are three deals that could work.
The Arizona Cardinals have the third pick in the 2026 NFL draft, which begins this week on Thursday. All the reports coming out are saying that they want to trade out of the pick to acquire more draft picks.
But what does a trade look like and who could be involved?
The Kansas City Chiefs are involved in talks at some level. ESPN’s Adam Schefter expects trade talks to heat up this week.
NFL teams use a variation of a trade value chart when it comes to draft picks. Now, what a team actually is willing to give up can be influenced by potential competition with other teams, but we can’t count on that.
Here is the general trade value chart teams use.
Here are some potential deals that could be done.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have two first-round picks, which would be appealing to the Cardinals, who reportedly want to make a move for quarterback Ty Simpson, and the 29th pick might be just the spot to get him.
The third overall pick is worth 514 points.
The Chiefs’ picks at No. 9 (387 points) and No. 29 (202 points) together are worth 589.
To make up the difference, the Cardinals could give up No. 65 (78 points) for a total of 592 points.
One deal could be:
- Cardinals receive get No. 9 and No. 29 (589 points)
- Chiefs receive No. 3 and No. 65 (592 points)
Another could be:
- Cardinals receive No. 9, No. 29, No. 74 and 2027 third-round pick (653 points + value of future third-round pick, which is 36-78 points)
- Chiefs receive No. 3 and No. 34 (689 points)
The Cardinals keep their third-round pick and the Chiefs essentially move back five spots from No. 29.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have the 12th and 20th picks but no pick in the second round.
Pick No. 12 is 347 points and No. 20 is 269 for a total of 616.
This deal is close:
- Cardinals receive No. 12, No. 20 (616 points)
- Cowboys receive No. 3, No. 65 (592 points)
New Orleans Saints
The Saints are perhaps a dark horse to move up, although they do not have two first-round picks. They have the No. 8 pick, worth 406 points. Their second-round pick, at No. 42, is worth 142 points.
This deal could work:
- Cardinals receive No. 8, No. 42 (548 points)
- Saints receive No. 3, No. 104 (547 points)
Then the Cardinals could use their two second-round picks to then move back into Round 1 to get Ty Simpson.
They could trade No. 34, No. 42 and No. 65 (395 points) for No. 28, No. 38 and No. 106 (398 total points).
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
PHOENIX — Breezy winds kicked up a blanket of dust across the Valley on Sunday, and forecasters say more is on the way this week.
Visibility in Phoenix became so bad on Sunday that Sky Harbor airport stopped flights for over an hour
The wind and dust peaked Sunday afternoon and gradually improved into the evening, said Michael Graves, an air quality meteorologist with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
“You might’ve seen the mountains a bit obscured in the distance,” Graves told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday. “A lot of haze in the air.”
By Monday morning, skies had largely cleared and dust levels near the ground had dropped significantly.
Expect more gusty, dusty days this week
The relief may be short-lived.
ADEQ is watching for increased afternoon breezes Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, this time from the west and southwest. Though the winds are expected to be weaker than Sunday’s, Graves said forecasters cannot rule out dust.
“I wouldn’t say windstorm,” Graves said. “I would just say we’ve got some waves coming in. They’re going to increase our afternoon breeziness.”
It’s enough to kick up dry, exposed dirt, which could create pockets of dust. There is a slight chance of broader regional dust transport, Graves said.
It will impact people with asthma, COPD or respiratory conditions the most. Graves advised those with issues to monitor conditions and stay indoors during the dustiest hours.
“If you’re going to be outside, be outside during the times when it’s less dusty or hazy,” Graves said.
Graves noted that spring weather systems typically pass to the north of the Phoenix area, delivering wind and slight temperature drops but little to no rain, a pattern likely to continue.
KTAR News reporter Kellen Shover contributed to this report.
The University of Arizona and Tucson are known for yearlong warm weather, but when is it too much? With temperature reaching record highs in March, the city of Tucson has already reported increased temperatures for this year.
In the wake of the third annual Southern Arizona Heat Summit, integrating voices throughout the City of Tucson, community stakeholders and experts from UA gather to speak about possible solutions and policies to address rising temperatures and extreme heat.
The summit strives to ensure that the lived experiences of Southern Arizona residents are voiced. The first summit commenced in 2024, in response to the declaration of an extreme heat emergency in Arizona by Gov. Katie Hobbs, as part of a larger plan called Arizona’s Extreme Heat Response Plan.
With representation from organizations such as the American Red Cross, the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, Arizona Jobs with Justice, Tucson Indian Center and many more, the summit emphasized the importance of the perspective and concerns of stakeholder groups throughout the community.
The summit included a variety of UA experts, including faculty representing the School of Geography, Development and Environment; the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy; the Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture.
One particular project, led by Ladd Keith at the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning, is a part of the Southwest Urban Corridor Integrated Field Laboratory, which is funded by the United States’ Department of Energy to explore extreme heat throughout Arizona. SW-IFL works in collaboration with other national laboratories including those at ASU and NAU.
The team works to analyze extreme heat in the southwest and rural areas, and how communities deal with heat by conducting interviews. The team has also prescribed policy to Pima County and the City of Tucson regarding more effective strategies to combat rising temperatures, such as green stormwater infrastructure.
Anne-Lise Boyer, a post-doctoral researcher with the Climate Assessment for the Southwest, shared that the team particularly analyzed extreme heat in three parts: heat mitigation, heat management and heat governance.
Mitigation deals with prevention through strategies such as green infrastructure and planting trees, while management includes cooling sensors and heat warning systems. Governance allows these measures to be enacted through policy.
In Tucson, some of the most meaningful work the team has engaged in has been drafting the City of Tucson’s Heat Action Roadmap in 2024, which outlines goals to mitigate and mandate extreme heat and its impacts while prioritizing community voices.
The goals of the roadmap include informing and educating citizens of Tucson on the adverse effects of extreme heat and cooling people’s homes and neighborhoods by incorporating heat risk in regional planning. These steps are essential to practicing heat management, especially as the city of Tucson grows.
“I think the most interesting thing about being based in Tucson is that because the heat has been here for a long time, it’s like a laboratory in itself,” Boyer said. “We have all this research and all this collaboration happening with local actors because it’s a pressing issue in Arizona.”
As the annual heat summit recurs, new ideas and perspectives continue to be shared throughout the community. Boyer shared that this year, the Southern Arizona Heat Summit focused on the youth perspective, highlighting middle school and high school students and how heat impacts their everyday lives. Many students spoke about how heat shaped their lives at home, school and sports.
“That’s one of the goals, to have community members participate and give their input in how they wish the city will deal with the heat,” Boyer said.
Boyer and Kirsten Lake, a program coordinator for the SW-IFL team, also shared how the impacts of extreme heat impact some neighborhoods and communities in Tucson more than others, and that their research often evaluates these factors to determine where heat management efforts would make the greatest impact.
“Its important when you’re putting into effect some of these measures, that you make sure you put it where it’s going to make the biggest difference,” Lake said.
The work of the SW-IFL team is not just locally known. The Brookhaven National Lab based in New York deployed a specialized truck to Tucson to collect information on the atmosphere and rising temperatures. The SW-IFL team hosted the Brookhaven team.
Additionally, Keith’s work has led to a guidebook called “Planning for Urban Heat Resilience” which focuses on the adverse effects extreme heat poses to marginalized communities across the country.
“It is so different from place to place and neighborhood to neighborhood because you have to take the whole context into account,” Boyer said. “They recommend first to document the heat impacts in your communities.”
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