Arizona
The History Between Arizona and Houston

Arizona’s second season in the Big 12 means the program will continue to visit venues that aren’t entirely familiar. Houston is one of those places, having only visited TDECU Stadium once before, back in 2018.
The Wildcats have hosted the other four past matchups in Tucson. Yet, Arizona is just 2-3 against the Cougars all-time. This weekend, the Wildcats will face Houston for a second consecutive season, but this time at John O’Quinn Field, otherwise known as “The Cage.”
Both teams squared off last season at Arizona Stadium, with the Wildcats coming out on top in a 27-3 thumping on Nov. 15, 2024. It marked one of just two wins for the program last season against Big 12 foes.
Noah Fifita threw for 224 yards, two touchdowns, and one pick in that game, while former Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan caught six balls for 70 yards and one score. Quali Conley led the Wildcats’ backfield today, rushing for 107 yards on just 11 carries. The Wildcats held Houston to just three points, with safety Genesis Smith coming away with an interception off quarterback Zeon Chriss.
The last trip Arizona took to Houston in 2018 had the opposite result, with the Cougars dominating 45-18. The battle of dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks saw Houston’s D’Eriq King toss four touchdowns, while Arizona’s Khalil Tate threw two picks.
The teams also met in 2017, when Houston pulled off a road non-conference win over the Wildcats, 19-16, the closest margin of victory in the series. Houston’s Kyle Allen threw two interceptions, but the Cougars held on thanks to a safety in the early third quarter on Arizona QB Brandon Dawkins.
The other two matchups in the series happened in Tucson, with Arizona winning 37-3 in 1986 and the Cougars taking the first-ever matchup between the schools by a score of 34-17 in 1969. The schools have never met in postseason play or a bowl game.
Now facing off for the second time as conference rivals, Fifita has a chance to build off a strong performance last season. He has already tossed 15 touchdowns this season, and the Wildcats’ defense is one of the best units in the country against the pass and forcing turnovers.
Houston is led by quarterback Conner Weigman, who transferred from Texas A&M during the offseason. Arizona is fifth in the nation in turnovers forced, and that will be key to taking down the 5-1 Cougars this week in an early start.
Let us know what you think of Arizona’s matchup with Houston this week. To do so, follow us on our X account by clicking on the link.

Arizona
Kyler Murray limited, Marvin Harrison Jr. has concussion

TEMPE — Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was listed as limited on the team’s Thursday injury report ahead of their home game against the Green Bay Packers this Sunday.
He missed the team’s loss to the Colts last week due to a foot injury.
Arizona’s official injury report on Wednesday listed Murray as limited, but it was an estimation because the team only held a walk-through. On Thursday, the quarterback during the open portion of practice worked with practice squad players, while Jacoby Brissett and Kedon Slovis got reps with starters.
Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. remained in concussion protocol on Thursday, wearing a yellow non-contact jersey.
The wide receiver exited Sunday’s 31-27 loss to the Colts after going down hard on his second catch of the afternoon.
Before he left the game, Harrison caught both of his targets for 32 yards.
It marks Harrison’s second concussion in as many seasons.
Across six games played, Arizona’s No. 1 wide receiver has recorded 22 catches on 34 targets for 338 yards and two touchdowns.
With Harrison sidelined for the rest of Sunday’s game, Zay Jones had his best day as a Cardinal behind five catches for 79 yards.
But Jones (knee) and running back Emari Demercado (ankle) were other notable players listed as out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday.
Starting linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither (foot) and backup running back Zonovan Knight (knee) were each upgraded from limited to full-go on Thursday.
Cardinals’ Darius Robinson back at practice
While Harrison works through the concussion protocol, another 2024 first-rounder is back practicing.
After missing two games with a pectoral injury, Robinson was back on the grass Wednesday.
Robinson isn’t the only young defensive lineman returning to the practice field, either.
Walter Nolen III’s practice window was opened Wednesday, as the 2025 first-round pick works his way back from a calf injury he picked up ahead of training camp.
Garrett Williams remains on the shelf
Nolen’s practice window may be opened, but cornerback Garrett Williams’ remains closed as he works his way back from a knee injury that placed him on IR.
Williams was seen working off to the side last week.
“He’s doing well. He won’t be out there this week but he’s doing well,” Gannon said.
Cardinals injury report for game against Packers
Player | Pos | Injury | Wednesday* | Thursday | Friday | Game Status |
Kelvin Beachum | OL | NIR-Rest | DNP | Full | ||
Emari Demercado | RB | Ankle | DNP | DNP | ||
Zay Jones | WR | Knee | DNP | DNP | ||
Kitan Crawford | S | Ankle | Limited | DNP | ||
Akeem Davis-Gaither | LB | Foot | Limited | Full | ||
Darren Hall | CB | Quadricep | Limited | Limited | ||
Marvin Harrison Jr. | WR | Concussion | Limited | Limited | ||
Zonovan Knight | RB | Knee | Limited | Full | ||
Kyler Murray | QB | Foot | Limited | Limited | ||
Walter Nolen III | DL | Calf | Limited | Limited | ||
Darius Robinson | DL | Pectoral | Limited | Limited | ||
Dadrion Taylor-Demerson | S | Ankle | Limited | Full | ||
Michael Wilson | WR | Foot | Limited | Full | ||
Bilal Nichols | DL | NIR-Personal | Full |
Here’s what the injury picture looks like for the Packers:
Player | Pos | Injury | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Game Status |
Brandon McManus | K | Right Quadricep | DNP | DNP | ||
Zach Tom | OL | Oblique/Back | DNP | Limited | ||
Lukas Van Ness | DL | Foot | DNP | DNP | ||
Devonte Wyatt | DL | Knee | DNP | DNP | ||
Aaron Banks | G | Groin/Knee | Limited | Limited | ||
Anthony Belton | T | Ankle | Limited | Limited | ||
Josh Jacobs | RB | Illness | Limited | Limited | ||
Jacob Monk | C/G | Hamstring | Limited | Limited | ||
Jordan Morgan | T/G | Knee | Limited | Limited | ||
Christian Watson | WR | Knee | Limited | Limited | ||
Dontayvion Wicks | WR | Ankle | Limited | Limited | ||
Warren Brinson | DL | Abdomen/Neck | Full | Full | ||
Javon Bullard | S | Concussion Evaluation | Full | |||
Matthew Golden | WR | Shoulder | Full | Full |
Arizona
Packers rally information and other things to know for Arizona Cardinals game

Packers get back in the win column against the Bengals
Pete Dougherty joins Dominique Yates to recap the Packers’ 27-18 win over the Bengals.
Packers Everywhere will host a free pep rally Saturday before the Arizona Cardinals game.
The pep rally is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 18 at Loco Patron Brewery, 14950 N. Northsight Blvd., Scottsdale, Arizona. Scheduled to appear are Packers alumni James Jones, Nick Barnett and Robert Brooks. A roundtable discussion between Packers.com’s Wes Hodkiewicz and Mike Spofford, as well as Packers alumnus and Packers Radio Network sideline analyst John Kuhn, will conclude the event., which will include photo opportunities, Packers giveaways and music and entertainment provided by a local DJ.
The free event is first-come, first-served. If maximum capacity is reached, no more fans will be allowed to enter until space opens up.
Another pep rally will be in Denver on Dec. 13.
It will be hot outside State Farm Stadium
State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, is domed, so conditions will be good for the game. Outside, the forecast calls for sunny skies and a high temperature of 86 degrees.
Where is the Arizona Cardinals’ State Farm Stadium?
State Farm Stadium is in Glendale, a suburb of Phoenix, 20 miles northwest of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
For fans using rideshare services, the preferred drop-off and pickup spot is the Black Lot located south of State Farm Stadium.
State Farm Stadium is 1,868 miles from Lambeau Field, about a 28-hour drive.
State Farm Stadium a middle-ranked NFL venue
State Farm Stadium is ranked 13th among NFL stadiums by USA TODAY and 16th by Sports Illustrated.
“On the outside, it’s one of the more outlandishly designed stadiums in the league. But once you walk inside, it’s almost a bit underwhelming how generic and stripped down the concourses are … The stadium is better known for hosting classic Super Bowls and college games than it is for anything related to the Cardinals. It’s a fine stadium, but there’s room for improvement with the venue and its disastrous playing surface,” Andrew Joseph wrote for USA Today.
State Farm Stadium, like Lambeau Field, is cashless.
When do gates open at State Farm Stadium?
Parking lots open four hours before kickoff. Gates open two hours before the 1:25 p.m. (local time) kickoff.
Secondary market ticket prices fall during last week
The lowest average get-in price as calculated by the Green Bay Press-Gazette for this game dropped $43 during the last week to $157. The price on Sept. 15 was $230 but fell steadily during the intervening weeks.
Where can you watch the Packers-Cardinals game?
The game will be broadcast on Fox at 3:25 p.m., Central time, Oct. 19. Kenny Albert will do play-by-play, with Jonathan Vilma as analyst and Jen Hale as sideline reporter.
The game will be viewable across the upper Midwest and in most of Arizona. On Fox, the rest of the country will see Dallas and Washington.
Here’s where to listen to the game on radio
Packers games can be heard on the Packers Radio Network, which includes 54 stations in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, North Dakota and South Dakota.
The Packers announced this week that the radio network will get a new flagship station, WRIT-Milwaukee, 95.7 BIG FM. Owner iHeart Radio is switching current flagship station, WRNW-Milwaukee, 97.3 The Game, to an all-music format. Both stations will broadcast the next two Packers games as part of the transition to 95.7 WRIT. There are no changes to other stations in the network.
Wayne Larrivee does play-by-play and two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren provides analysis. That will not change.
The radio broadcast will be streamed at Packers.com. The Packers mobile app will stream the radio broadcast within the Packers’ home market, per NFL broadcast restrictions. Fans within the Packers’ local home marketing area can watch the game on Packers.com.
Phoenix is 7th largest NFL market, Green Bay the smallest
The Phoenix metro area is 7.6 million people to Green Bay’s 328,268. Green Bay’s metro area, which includes Brown, Oconto and Kewaunee counties, is the smallest in the NFL.
Contact Richard Ryman at rryman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RichRymanPG, on Instagram at @rrymanPG or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardRymanPG
Arizona
Arizona DC Danny Gonzales Discusses Decision on Tre Smith surgery

The loss of defensive lineman”Tre Smith is a vital part to what we do defensively because he’s so physical…it wasn’t showing up for him having significant tackles for loss, sacks…” according to coordinator Danny Gonzales when he spoke to reporters on Tuesday.
Smith has seven tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, 1.0 pass defended and one fumble recovery in four games played in 2025. In 2024, Smith was fourth on Arizona with 53 tackles, second with 7.5 TFLs, first with 4.5 sacks and had one pass defended and one forced fumble.
Smith was expected to be the top DL for Arizona in 2025. Malachi Bailey, Deshawn McKnight and Tia Savea started on the DL for Arizona with Smith out in the 33-27 loss at BYU on Saturday. Gonzales stated there are multiple ways to compensate for the loss of Smith.
Gonzales mentioned multiple DL, including the three who started versus BYU, as players who will be expected to contribute with Smithout for the season. Savea leads Arizona DL with 18 tackles in 2025 and has 2.0 TFLs. McKnight leads Arizona with 7.0 TFLs and Wildcat DL with 1.0 sack.
“The young man…really wanted to play through his injury…has not gone into a season in the last two years without something. He had surgery on his shoulder to fix his collarbone in the…early summer. So he missed the majority of summer weightlifting, recovering from that…We decided to have the surgery right now. We can get Trey another year of eligibility…And if we can get Trey Smith healthy with a full year and a half of development under coach Salave’a, I’m super excited for what that can do for our front next year with him. “
Arizona DC Danny Gonzales
Smith played in season-opening wins over Hawaii and Weber State, missed the game against Kansas State and played against Iowa State and Oklahoma State before the decision to have surgery was made. Players can participate in up to four games in a season and maintain their redshirt.
Smith transferred to Arizona after playing under current Wildcat head coach Brent Brennan at San Jose State from 2021 through 2023. Smith played in 10 games as a true freshman at San Jose State in 2021, one in 2022 and had 66 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 13 games in 2023.
The hope is that the injury-limited seasons in 2022 and 2025 will grant Smith a sixth year as a medical redshirt. Arizona DL coach Joe Salave’a has an extended history of success developing players at the collegiate level. Arizona is eighth nationally in 2025, averaging 7.83 TFLs per game.
Bailey, McKnight and Savea are all seniors. If Smith returns, he will help set the foundation for Arizona on the DL in 2025 with the other starting defensive end, Domenic Lolesio. Smith has shown the ability at Arizona to reach the level he consistently had during his San Jose State tenure.