Predicting which teams will make the NCAA Tournament six weeks before the season even begins is a difficult task. This year, with hundreds of players still in eligibility limbo, it feels like an impossible task.

But that’s exactly what Joe Lunardi of ESPN has done, and with it comes more sky-high expectations for Tommy Lloyd and the Arizona Wildcats entering the 2026-27 season.

Lunardi has Arizona as the No. 1 seed in the West Region, where they would play in Sacramento against the winner of a play-in No. 16 matchup between Bethune-Cookman and Long Island.

The other two teams in the projected pod are No. 8 Ohio State and No. 9 Oklahoma out of the Big Ten and SEC, respectively.

Arizona enters 2026-27 with massive expectations

Lloyd enters his sixth season in Tucson after finally breaking through in the NCAA Tournament last year, taking the Wildcats to the Final Four for the first time since 2001. But Lloyd had tremendous regular-season success prior to last year’s deep run, with Arizona earning two No. 1 seeds, two No. 2 seeds, and a No. 4 seed in the five years he has been on the sideline.

Lunardi clearly believes this Arizona squad will be back atop the mountain in 2027, and it’s not hard to see why. The Wildcats return two high-level starters in center Mo Krivas and forward Ivan Kharchenkov, who will both be in the preseason All-Big 12 conversation after averaging in double figures last year.

The Wildcats once again bring in a loaded freshman class as well, with 5-star guard Caleb Holt a legit candidate to go No. 1 overall in the 2027 NBA draft, while 4-star wing Cameron Holmes has an NBA pedigree thanks to his older brother DaRon, and is a good athlete and projectable two-way talent.

Arizona still has questions to answer

The core is excellent for Arizona, but there are questions about the team’s overall guard depth and at power forward. RJ Godfrey was a beast last year at Clemson and is a near-perfect fit to replace Koa Peat at the four…but he’s currently ineligible after the NCAA granted a stay request in the Georgia lawsuit, which initially gave him eligibility.

While his status certainly could change, for now, the 6’7 bruiser is not eligible to suit up for Lloyd’s club – putting more pressure on Kharchenkov, Holmes, and backup Maxsim Brnovic to contribute right away.

Additionally, the Wildcats are relying heavily on a pair of sophomore transfers to run the point in North Carolina’s Derek Dixon and Washington’s JJ Mandaquit.

Both were excellent facilitators with high assist and low turnover numbers last year on power conference clubs, and Dixon is a high-level shooter and scorer who should start right away next to Holt and Kharchenkov.

But after Mandaquit, the backcourt depth dramatically falls off, with Bryce James – who redshirted last year – the only other guard expected to play rotation minutes on the roster.

Lunardi projects 10 Big 12 teams in the field

Lunardi projects 10 teams from the Big 12 to make the field in 2027, with the expansion to 76 teams playing a key role in getting that many teams in the mix.

Joining the Wildcats from the Big 12 are Houston (3 seed), Kansas (4), Texas Tech (5), Iowa State (5), BYU (6), Oklahoma State (10), Baylor (11), TCU (11), and West Virginia (12).

Baylor and West Virginia are included in the last four in, while Cincinnati and Arizona State are the top two teams listed among the first four out.

Arizona begins the season Nov. 2 in Las Vegas against former Pac-12 rival, and projected No. 7 seed, UCLA. The game is set to tip at 7:00 PM PT at T-Mobile Arena.

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Two teams hovering just outside the playoff picture meet in Phoenix with the Marlins carrying genuine momentum and the Diamondbacks desperate to stop a slide that has cost them ground they can’t easily recover. Miami has gone 7-3 over its last ten games, a stretch that includes a stunning ninth-inning comeback against the Dodgers — capped by a pinch-hit, two-run homer from Agustín Ramírez — that speaks to a club that refuses to fold. Arizona, meanwhile, has dropped five straight and watched its margin for error shrink to nearly nothing.

The offensive contrast is sharp. Otto Lopez is having a quietly excellent season for Miami, hitting .307 with 180 hits, 88 runs, and 30 stolen bases — a table-setter who makes everything around him work. For Arizona, Gabriel Moreno is batting .301 with 131 hits, providing one of the few reliable bats in a lineup that has struggled to generate consistent offense during the losing streak. Geraldo Perdomo adds depth with 131 hits, 66 runs, and 20 stolen bases, giving the D-backs another weapon if they can get things going.

The pitching picture adds another layer. Michael Soroka slots back into Arizona’s rotation with a 3.53 ERA and 8 wins, while Miami counters with a staff that has been quietly effective down the stretch.

Miami Marlins at Arizona Diamondbacks Game Information

Game Date: September 15, 2026
Game Time: 09:40 PM ET
TV Channel: Arizona Diamondbacks, Miami Marlins, and MLB Network
Location: Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Live Stream: Fubo (free trial)

Game Preview

Arizona sits 13 games back in the division and is running out of runway, while Miami trails by 17 games but has played well enough recently to complicate things for teams ahead of them in the wild card chase. The Diamondbacks have gone just 3-7 over their last ten games — a stretch that has turned what was a manageable deficit into something far more daunting. Miami’s 7-3 run over the same span tells the opposite story: a team that has found something late. With Arizona at 43-38 at home and Miami at 41-40 on the road, the Marlins’ road form makes them a credible threat here.

Arizona Diamondbacks Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 80-82
Home Record: 43-38
Away Record: 37-44
Division Record: 14-18
Streak: 5 Loss streak
Winning Percentage: .494

Miami Marlins Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 79-83
Home Record: 38-43
Away Record: 41-40
Division Record: 16-16
Streak: 1 Win streak
Winning Percentage: .488

Stat Leaders

Arizona Diamondbacks (80-82, #4 in division)

Batting Average Leader: Gabriel Moreno, 0.301
RBI Leader: Ketel Marte, 73 RBI
Home Run Leader: Nolan Arenado, 25 HR
Runs Leader: Corbin Carroll, 88 Runs
Hits Leader: Gabriel Moreno, 131 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Corbin Carroll, 21 SB
ERA Leader: Dennis Santana, 0.90 ERA
Strikeout Leader: Eduardo Rodriguez, 135 K
Wins Leader: Eduardo Rodriguez, 15 W
Saves Leader: Paul Sewald, 24 SV

Miami Marlins (79-83, #3 in division)

Batting Average Leader: Otto Lopez, 0.307
RBI Leader: Otto Lopez, 69 RBI
Home Run Leader: Heriberto Hernández, 24 HR
Runs Leader: Otto Lopez, 88 Runs
Hits Leader: Otto Lopez, 180 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Otto Lopez, 30 SB
ERA Leader: Anthony Bender, 2.62 ERA
Strikeout Leader: Eury Pérez, 155 K
Wins Leader: Sandy Alcantara, 13 W
Saves Leader: Pete Fairbanks, 19 SV

What to Watch For

Michael Soroka re-enters Arizona’s rotation carrying a 3.53 ERA and 8 wins — numbers that make him one of the more reliable arms on a staff that has been reshuffled after Zac Gallen’s move to the bullpen following a 6.22 ERA season. Soroka gives the D-backs a legitimate anchor at a moment when they need length and stability. On the offensive side, Ketel Marte’s 73 RBI and Corbin Carroll’s 88 runs and 21 stolen bases represent the kind of production Arizona needs to rediscover during a five-game skid.

For Miami, the injury report creates opportunity. With Max Meyer on the injured list and Anthony Bender also unavailable, other arms will need to carry the load — and Tyler Phillips, with a 3.56 ERA, is positioned to be a factor. Offensively, Kyle Stowers brings 19 home runs and 61 RBI, while Liam Hicks has contributed 14 home runs and 62 RBI. Javier Sanoja, hitting .293 with 9 home runs and 63 RBI, rounds out a lineup that has been productive enough to go 7-3 over its last ten games and could keep that going against a rotation in transition.

Arizona Diamondbacks Injury Report

Ryan Thompson – Back (D60) – The Arizona Diamondbacks transferred RHP Ryan Thompson to the 60-day injured list due to a strained lower back.
Ryne Nelson – Elbow (D60) – The Arizona Diamondbacks transferred RHP Ryne Nelson to the 60-day injured list due to strained right elbow.
Cristian Mena – Shoulder (D60) – The Arizona Diamondbacks placed RHP Cristian Mena on the 60-day injured list with strained right shoulder.
Andrew Saalfrank – Shoulder (D60) – The Arizona Diamondbacks placed LHP Andrew Saalfrank on the 60-day injured list following his shoulder surgery.
A.J. Puk – Elbow (D60) – The Arizona Diamondbacks placed LHP A.J. Puk on the 60-day injured list.
Tyler Locklear – Thumb (D60) – The Arizona Diamondbacks recalled 1B Tyler Locklear from the minors and placed him on the 60-day injured list.

Miami Marlins Injury Report

Owen Caissie – lumbar stress (D10) – Caissie is Out of the game for Sunday’s (Sept. 13) game against the Dodgers.
William Kempner – Elbow (D60) – The Miami Marlins placed RHP William Kempner on the 60-day injured list with a right elbow sprain.
Anthony Bender – Shin (D15) – The Miami Marlins placed RHP Anthony Bender on the 15-day injured list with a right shin stress reaction.
Adam Mazur – Elbow (D60) – The Miami Marlins placed RHP Adam Mazur on the 60-day injured list with right elbow surgery.
Ronny Henriquez – Elbow (D60) – The Miami Marlins placed RHP Ronny Henriquez on the 60-day injured list with right elbow UCL surgery.
Max Meyer – Neck (D15) – The Miami Marlins placed RHP Max Meyer on the 15-day injured list due to neck a injury.
Andrew Nardi – Ribs (D60) – The Miami Marlins transferred LHP Andrew Nardi from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list due to a stress reaction in his left ribcage.
Robby Snelling – Elbow (D60) – The Miami Marlins transferred LHP Robby Snelling from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list with a left UCL sprain.

Arizona Diamondbacks Upcoming 2026 Schedule

September 15, 2026 vs Miami Marlins
September 16, 2026 vs Miami Marlins
September 18, 2026 vs New York Yankees
September 19, 2026 vs New York Yankees
September 20, 2026 vs New York Yankees
September 22, 2026 at Colorado Rockies
September 23, 2026 at Colorado Rockies
September 24, 2026 at Colorado Rockies
September 25, 2026 at San Diego Padres
September 26, 2026 at San Diego Padres

Miami Marlins Upcoming 2026 Schedule

September 15, 2026 at Arizona Diamondbacks
September 16, 2026 at Arizona Diamondbacks
September 18, 2026 at San Diego Padres
September 19, 2026 at San Diego Padres
September 20, 2026 at San Diego Padres
September 22, 2026 at Chicago Cubs
September 23, 2026 at Chicago Cubs
September 24, 2026 at Chicago Cubs
September 25, 2026 vs Atlanta Braves
September 26, 2026 vs Atlanta Braves

Our game previews are produced programmatically using real-time data via Sportradar and AI writing tools. Articles are regularly reviewed for accuracy before publication.

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Arizona doesn’t have a US Senate race on the ballot this election, but there are a few US House races drawing national attention.

The outcome in Arizona’s Congressional District 1 and Congressional District 6 could help determine control of the US House, as Republicans attempt to hold onto their majorities in Congress.

Both parties are spending heavily in these two competitive races, as Republicans try to keep Democrats at bay.

Congressional District 1

Democrats aim to flip Arizona’s Congressional District 1, which has been within their grasp the past few elections.

The district is currently represented by GOP Rep. David Schweikert, who vacated his seat to run for governor and lost in the July GOP primary.

Former Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely, who’s never held political office, is hoping to be Schweikert’s successor.

He’s competing against Democratic nominee Amish Shah, who ran for the seat in 2024 and lost by less than four percentage points.

Feely bills himself as a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump and has embraced the president’s endorsement. In an interview on Arizona’s Family “Politics Unplugged” in April, he defended Trump’s war with Iran, expressed support for Trump’s handling of the economy and tariff policy, and backed the administration’s immigration enforcement tactics.

Feely also attended the GOP’s unprecedented midterm convention, which some other Arizona Republicans skipped, as midterms have historically been a referendum on the president and party in charge.

Shah, a former state legislator and emergency room doctor, emerged as the victor in the Democratic primary marred by political infighting, beating the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s preferred candidate. He has centered his campaign on health care costs and the economy.

Shah and Democrats have attacked Feely over his ties to Trump, arguing that the Republican would be an “unquestioning rubber stamp” for the president, an accusation Feely has denied. Meanwhile, Feely is attempting to cast Shah as a “socialist” Democrat.

But before becoming political opponents, Feely and Shah were part of the same team — the New York Jets. Shah was a doctor on the sidelines, while Feely was the kicker.

The two are scheduled to debate on October 7 at 6 p.m.