Arizona Football

Times for Arizona football’s first three games announced by Big 12

By Javier Morales

Posted on May 30, 2024

The times of Arizona’s first three football games of its Big 12 existence — all non-conference games, including a pre-arranged game at Kansas State — were announced by the conference on Thursday.

Arizona starts the Brent Brennan era at Arizona Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 31 against New Mexico at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. Former Lobos head coach Danny Gonzales, now Arizona’s linebackers and special teams coach, will coach against his former school with a couple of players who transferred from New Mexico — offensive lineman Shancco “Ise” Matautia and running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt. New Mexico, coach by Bronco Mendenhall, has CDO Class of 2024 lineman Sa’Kylee Woodard on its roster.

In Week 2 on Saturday, Sept. 7, Arizona hosts NAU at 7 p.m. with the game on ESPN-Plus. Former Lumberjack quarterback Adam Damante of Chandler recently announced his transfer to Arizona.

The start of the Wildcats’ game in the third week (Friday, Sept. 13 at 5 p.m. on Fox) at Kansas State was announced a few weeks ago. The game was arranged before Arizona moved from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 and will remain a non-conference game. The game will feature two Heisman Trophy candidates at quarterback — Noah Fifita of Arizona and Avery Johnson of K-State.