Arizona
Arizona Wildcats Boss Talks About ‘Damaging’ Trend Entering Bye Week
The No. 20 Arizona Wildcats are coming off a 31-7 loss to the No. 14 Kansas State Wildcats on Friday, and they are smarting about a lot of things entering their bye week.
Perhaps no single statistic is rankling coach Brent Brennan more than the self-inflicted penalties that Arizona is creating on their own.
Through three games, the Wildcats (2-1) have 28 penalties for 269 yards. Through two games Arizona was already tied for No. 118 in FBS with 19 total penalties. That put the Wildcats at No. 121 in penalties per game (9.50).
So the nine penalties for 74 yards the Wildcats gave up against Kansas State will certainly keep them in the lower echelon of that list until Big 12 action kicks off in two weeks.
Frustration doesn’t begin to cover where Brennan is at with that particular area of the game.
Fixing it is on his to-do list once the team gets back to Tucson.
“The biggest thing we learned as a football team is we have to be more disciplined,” Brennan said to reporters after the game. “The penalty game, especially tonight and in Week 1 (against New Mexico) has been damaging.”
With no game until Sept. 28 for the Wildcats, this will give Brennan and staff time to work with players to try and correct the issues.
But some of that will come down to his players, too.
“That’s something where, as coaches, I think we can be more demanding of players in the small, technical pieces that can hopefully help you avoid some of those penalties. Every player has to do look at that and say, ‘What am I doing with my technique? My footwork?’ That gives them a chance to block someone correctly or cover a receiver correctly. I think that’s a big part of it. The good news is we have two weeks and we can go to work.”
Penalties certainly made a difference on Friday night, but so did Arizona’s inability to consistently run the ball.
The Wildcats had Quali Conley, but he gained 48 yards and scored a touchdown. Arizona was without Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who sat out due to an eligibility issue related to his 2019 redshirt season.
Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan had a great bounce-back game on the edge, as he caught 11 passes for 138 yards but was unable to score a touchdown. His quarterback, Noah Fifita, threw for 268 yards but did not find the end zone and threw an interception.
When Arizona returns to the field, they will go to Utah to open Big 12 action on Sept. 28.
Arizona
Where to watch Arizona Diamondbacks vs San Diego Padres: TV channel, start time, streaming for July 6
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.
The MLB action continues on Monday as the Arizona Diamondbacks visit the San Diego Padres.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Arizona Diamondbacks vs San Diego Padres?
First pitch between the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks is scheduled for 9:40 p.m. (ET) on Monday, July 6.
How to watch Arizona Diamondbacks vs San Diego Padres on Monday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Monday, July 6, 2026, at 6:34 a.m.
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for July 6 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
Arizona
Fiery crash on Loop 202 in Tempe under investigation
TEMPE, AZ — The Arizona Department of Public Safety is investigating a fiery crash on the Loop 202 in Tempe on Sunday evening.
Around 5:30 p.m., DPS officials say they were called to the freeway just west of McClintock Drive for an “unknown injury collision.”
The Arizona Department of Transportation confirmed that at least one vehicle had caught fire. The westbound lanes of the freeway have been closed because of the crash.
The smoke was also impacting eastbound Loop 202 traffic.
It’s not yet clear if anyone was hurt in the crash and how severe the injuries are.
How long the traffic restrictions in the area will last is not yet known.
Want more news in your community? Add ABC15 as a preferred source on Google below:
Arizona
3 Arizona Cardinals Now on the Chopping Block Entering Training Camp
ARIZONA — The Arizona Cardinals will be one of the first teams to hit training camp this summer.
Arizona’s July 22 report date is among the earliest in the league thanks to their participation in the NFL’s Hall of Fame Game to begin preseason festivities.
Eyes and ears are curious to see what Mike LaFleur’s first training camp in the desert looks and sounds like. With four preseason games and numerous camp practices, Arizona will begin the process of trimming their roster down to 53 players ahead of the regular season.
These four Cardinals could find themselves on the chopping block:
RB Trey Benson
Benson’s had arguably the worst offseason of any returning veteran in Arizona, as numerous faces have arrived to his position room to ultimately push him down the depth chart.
Benson’s play in the prior two seasons leading up to the 2026 offseason was shaky at best. Injuries and erratic play in the backfield offset any flashes of potential the Florida State product has had.
Many thought Benson may have been the potential lead back this season, though after James Conner restructured his deal, Tyler Allgeier signed in free agency and Jeremiyah Love was drafted with the third overall pick — Benson’s playing time has been massively dwindled.
If the Cardinals keep four running backs, Benson is in line to compete with Bam Knight for the final spot.
CB Kei’Trel Clark
I’ve often included Max Melton’s name in similar lists, and while there’s no doubting the pressure facing Arizona’s former second-round pick, Melton’s spot on the roster feels safe.
Kei’Trel Clark, on the other hand, is a different discussion.
Clark started seven games his rookie season but has combined for just two starts in the last two years after. The Cardinals have continuously poured resources into the cornerback room, and Clark’s hung around.
Injuries to Starling Thomas and Sean Murphy-Bunting helped solidify Clark’s roster spot last season, yet with both working their way back to full health (on top of Garrett Williams potentially being ready for Week 1), the Cardinals will have a crowded depth chart.
Clark will need to have a big training camp and leapfrog somebody ahead of him to retain his roster spot.
QB Kedon Slovis
This is more circumstantial than regarding talent.
Slovis moves into training camp as the heavy favorite to get the axe with Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew and Carson Beck over him on the projected depth chart.
Brissett has (reportedly) been told by Arizona he’s the starter. Minshew has more guaranteed money than Brissett on his contract and Beck is a third-round pick.
None of the three quarterbacks are going to be cut, leaving Slovis with two options: Turn into the greatest quarterback we’ve seen or be an unfortunate cut candidate.
Slovis probably won’t make his way back to the desert on the practice squad, either — especially if Arizona indeed keeps three active quarterbacks on the roster.
Was Slovis ever going to start for the Cardinals? No. However, he’s on the chopping block merely because of the new faces added this offseason.
Charge it to the game.
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