Arizona’s massive senior class was honored before the final home game of the season, the first at newly named Casino del Sol Stadium. And they went out on top, with many stepping up to keep the win streak going.
Arizona
Arizona vs. BYU is a battle of elite defenses. Which one is better?
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By almost every statistical measure, the three best defenses in the Big 12 Conference so far this season belong to Arizona, BYU and Texas Tech.
Two of those teams happen to be facing each other on Saturday, Oct. 11, at Arizona Stadium.
Which one actually has the better defense?
That’s what we’re going to explore in this week’s “Cats Stats.” The answer might surprise you.
At first blush, one would give the edge to the Cougars. They’re first in the league in total defense (239.6 ypg) and second in scoring defense (12.2 ppg). The Wildcats are third (244.8) and fourth (15.6), respectively.
Even if you adjust the latter to account for the pick-six against Arizona last week, the Wildcats are still two points worse per game than the Cougars.
But we like to dig beneath the surface here at Cats Stats Inc. Other numbers better illustrate the effectiveness of the UA defense under Danny Gonzales.
The statistic most often cited to measure a defense’s worth is yards per play. Arizona has the edge in that category — over everyone else in the conference.
The UA has allowed 3.92 yards per play. Texas Tech is second at 3.94. BYU is third at 4.06. No one else is under 4.50.
If you separate run and pass defense, you can argue that the advantages each side has basically cancel each other out. But we would argue that the gap between BYU and Arizona against the run is narrower than the gap between the Wildcats and Cougars against the pass.
BYU allows 92.2 rushing yards per game and 2.8 per attempt; Arizona is at 96.6 and 3.0. Not much of a difference.
The Wildcats have the No. 1 pass defense in the conference in terms of yards allowed per game (147.2) and per attempt (4.9). The Cougars are barely behind them in the former (147.4). They’re nearly a full yard behind in the latter (5.8).
Arizona also has a sizable edge in completion percentage allowed (51.3% vs. 57.0%) and sacks per game (2.6 vs. 2.0). Overall, the Wildcats spend more time in the opposition’s backfield, averaging a league-best 8.60 tackles for loss per game. BYU is sixth at 6.20.
Conversion case
Still not convinced? Let’s dig deeper.
Two areas that are critical to team success are third-down and red-zone efficiency. Arizona’s defense has been better than BYU’s, both through five games.
The Wildcats have allowed opponents to convert 25.7% of their third downs. Only Texas Tech, at 25.4%, has been better in the Big 12. BYU is third at 29.7%.
(In a related development, Arizona has been slightly better at first-down prevention. The UA has allowed 13.2 first downs per game, tied with Texas Tech for the fewest in the Big 12. BYU is third at 14.8.)
Arizona is No. 1 in the conference at keeping the opposition out of the end zone once it crosses the 20-yard line. The Wildcats have allowed a touchdown on only 42.9% of opponents’ red-zone opportunities. The Cougars are tied for fourth in the league at 50%.
Who’s better at taking the ball away? Again, at least so far, it’s been Arizona.
The Wildcats average 2.2 takeaways per game, second in the conference behind Texas Tech (2.4). The Cougars are fourth at 1.8.
Even if you include fourth-down stops — Gonzales classifies those as takeaways, worthy of footballs being punctured by the Turnover Sword — Arizona has the edge. The Wildcats have 18 combined takeaways and fourth-down stops, an average of 3.6 per game. The Cougars have 15, or 3.0 per game.
BYU has been better at preventing big plays, but the difference is negligible. The Cougars have allowed 13 plays of 20-plus yards, per cfbstats.com, or 2.6 per game. The Wildcats have allowed 14 — 2.8 per game.
The real deal?
Both defenses have been elite at almost all of the above. BYU has a more extensive track record; the Cougars finished first in the Big 12 in total defense and yards allowed per play last season.
As such, it’s reasonable to believe that what BYU has accomplished so far on defense is real — and wonder whether Arizona is due for some regression. The Wildcats are new to this shutdown business, after all.
Skeptics also might question Arizona’s schedule so far. “U of A hasn’t played anybody.” About that …
We looked at three websites that calculate strength of schedule: ESPN, Sagarin and Massey. Arizona’s average SOS on those sites entering this weekend was 91. BYU’s was … also 91.
Both have faced an FCS opponent from the Big Sky Conference — Portland State (BYU) and Weber State (Arizona). Both have faced a Group of Five foe — East Carolina (BYU) and Hawaii (Arizona). Both have faced a Power Four opponent — Stanford (BYU) and Kansas State (Arizona). Both have played two conference games.
BYU has played one more road game; the ECU contest was in Greenville. Counterpoint: Arizona blew out Hawaii, which defeated Stanford the previous week. And although Stanford has a better record (2-3) than Kansas State (2-4), KSU is considered superior by most metrics. For example, ESPN’s FPI ranks K-State 43rd and Stanford 86th.
BYU coach Kalani Sitake, for one, doesn’t need any convincing. He believes Arizona’s defense is legit.
“Danny’s done a great job with the defense,” Sitake told reporters on Oct. 6. “They tackle well. They’re aggressive.
“Danny’s done a great job everywhere he’s been. He’s from that same lineage as Rocky Long, Bronco Mendenhall and them. So we’re very familiar with the defense.
“But the way he’s able to combine their base coverages with the pressures — he calls a really good game, and he can make things really difficult for any offense. So we’re going to have to be at our best.”
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The Republic
If you’re an Arizonan, you’ve probably heard the tales of the state’s rattlesnakes or experienced them firsthand.
There are 13 different kinds of rattlesnakes in Arizona. The Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake is even the official state reptile.
Rattlesnakes are particularly common to see from May to October, since the snakes typically hibernate during the colder months.
While rattlesnakes have earned a reputation for being dangerous, they generally only attack when they feel threatened. You might encounter them while on a hike or even in your backyard, so you might want to watch your step.
Take a look at these photos of some of Arizona’s different kinds of rattlesnakes.
Which state has the most rattlesnakes?
You guessed it — Arizona has the most species of rattlesnakes in the country with 13 different kinds of rattlesnakes.
Texas is next with 10 different species of rattlesnakes.
What area of Arizona has the most rattlesnakes?
While rattlesnakes can be spotted all throughout Arizona, there are five places where they’re particularly common:
- Sonoran Desert
- Chiricahua Mountains
- Superstition Mountains
- Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
- Grand Canyon region
Rattlesnakes are generally more common in areas with lower elevation. So, if you’re afraid, you might want to head north to Flagstaff.
Arizona Cardinals commit 17 penalties in loss to 49ers
Theo Mackie and Bob McManaman discuss the Arizona Cardinals’ 41-22 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium on Nov. 16, 2025.
The Arizona Cardinals continue their 2025 NFL regular season schedule with an NFL Week 12 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars today.
The Cardinals are coming off a 41-22 loss against the San Francisco 49ers in their NFL Week 11 game.
The Jaguars beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the 11th week of the season, 35-6.
This is the first game between Arizona and Jacksonville Jaguars since 2021, when the Cardinals defeated the Jaguars in Jacksonville, 31-19.
Follow our live updates of the game, which is being played at the Cardinals’ State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, for the latest score, news, notes and analysis of the Week 12 NFL game on Sunday, Nov. 23.
Watch Jaguars at Cardinals with FUBO (free trial)
Cardinals vs Jaguars schedule: What time is NFL Week 12 game?
The NFL Week 12 game between the Cardinals and Jaguars is on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2:05 p.m. MST, 4:05 p.m. ET.
Jaguars vs Cardinals TV: What channel is NFL Week 12 game on?
The Jaguars vs Cardinals NFL Week 12 game can be seen on CBS.
Cardinals vs Jaguars streaming: How do I watch NFL Week 12 game on livestream?
Streaming options for the Cardinals vs Jaguars game include FUBO, which offers a free trial, and other streaming services that carry CBS, like Paramount+.
Jaguars vs Cardinals announcers: Who is calling the NFL Week 12 game?
Spero Dedes (play-by-play) and Adam Archuleta (analyst) are scheduled to be the announcers for the Cardinals-Jaguars Week 12 NFL game.
Cardinals vs Jaguars game odds: Who is favored in NFL Week 12?
The Jaguars are a 2.5-point favorite over the Cardinals in NFL Week 12 odds for the game, courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.
Jacksonville is -145 on the moneyline, while Arizona is +120.
The over/under (point total) is set at 47.5 points.
Jaguars vs Cardinals picks, predictions: Who will win NFL Week 12 game?
The Arizona Republic’s Jeremy Cluff is predicting a 24-20 win for the Jaguars over the Cardinals in the Week 12 NFL game today.
Other sites lean toward the Jaguars beating the Cardinals in their NFL Week 12 picks and NFL Week 12 predictions for the game, but not everyone is taking Jacksonville to cover the point spread.
Pregame reading for Cardinals vs Jaguars Week 12 NFL game today
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The Wildcats outscored Baylor 27-0 in the second half, including 20 points in just over four minutes in the fourth quarter, for a 41-17 win. It was the fourth in a row overall for the UA (8-3, 5-3 Big 12) and improved its home record to 6-1, tying the school record for most home wins in a season.
Kedrick Reescano ran for three touchdowns, including a 19-yarder to turn a 4-point game into a 2-score advantage, while Noah Fifita threw for 183 yards and a TD and Arizona’s defense forced three turnovers and made three stops on fourth down.
Several UA seniors had huge games. Kris Hutson had nine catches for a career-high 133 yards and a TD, Ismail Madhi ran for 93 yards and a score, Dalton Johnson had 18 tackles and Treydan Stukes intercepted a pass in the end zone to preserve what at the time was a 4-point lead.
Baylor (5-6, 3-5) scored on its first two drives then had one field goal the rest of the way, gaining 129 yards after taking a 17-14 lead at halftime. FBS passing leader Sawyer Robertson was limited to 162 yards with a TD and two interceptions, making the Bears the ninth opponent not to reach 200 passing yards.
The UA won for the third straight game despite trailing at the half but went ahead for good just over three minutes into the third quarter on a 1-yardReescanorun. That came after the game’s fourth pass interference penalty thrown in the end zone.
Four consecutive 3-and-outs followed before Baylor put together a sustained drive, getting into the red zone to start the 4th quarter. The Bears went for it on 4th and 3 from the UA 12 but Robertson’s pass was picked off in the end zone byStukes.
The UA drove into the red zone after the interception but had to settle for a field goal, with Michael Salgado-Medina missing to the right from 38 yards out. It was his ninth miss of the season.
Yet a play later the Wildcats had the ball back, with Taye Brown forcing a fumble and Michael Dansby recovering it. The next snap saw Ismail Madhi score on a 28-yard run for a 28-17 lead with 10:29 to go.
Reescano’s third TD, from 19 yards out, came with 6:38 remaining, and 11 seconds later Jabari Mann returned a pick 34 yards for a score.
Baylor scored on its opening drive, only the third opponent to do so this season. A 30-yard pass on the first play and a pass interference call on 4th down set up Robertson’s 9-yard TD pass to Josh Cameron for a 7-0 lead less than three minutes in.
Arizona matched that score on its first possession, also benefitting from a pass interference call, with Reescano scoring on a 2-yard run immediately after.
The Bears went up 14-7 in the final minute of the first quarter on a 2-yard Robertson run after another pass interference call on Arizona. The Bears converted a 4th down earlier in the drive after also catching a break when forward progress was ruled on what looked like a UA fumble recovery.
The first stop of the game came with 4:59 left before halftime when, after Arizona forced a 49-yard field goal attempt, Baylor’s Connor Hawkins was wife left. But the Wildcats didn’t capitalize, with a Fifita pass going off Tre Spivey’s hands to Baylor’s DJ Coleman for an interception.
That snapped a streak of 140 consecutive attempts for Fifita without a pick.
Baylor turned that into points just before the half, getting a 48-yard field goal from Hawkins.
The UA wraps up the regular season Friday at ASU, looking to take back the Territorial Cup and win for the second time in a row in Tempe.
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