SAN DIEGO — In five years – maybe even sooner – when the dust settles on the memories of the 2026 Trust & Will Holiday Bowl, it will be remembered as the game three key players didn’t play for their team … by choice.
But, that’s not all. It will be remembered how Arizona played uninspired for the first half and parts of the second.
How coach Brent Brennan didn’t have the offense move with any urgency – especially in the crucial second half.
The memories might not include the score – 24-19 loss to Southern Methodist University – but does that really matter when all you need to know is Arizona got beat – and it wasn’t pretty … until it was way too late?
Arizona had a chance to finish a season on a great high note, being one of only five teams in UA history to win 10 games in a season. But, Arizona fell short because it played short with Trayden Stukes, Genesis Smith and Dalton Johnson – three All-Big 12 players – decided to sit out the game and cheer from the sidelines.
Brennan said he was proud of this team being “one of eight teams in the history of the program to win nine games.”
A fantastic season to be sure – by all accounts given last year’s performance and this year’s preseason expectations – was wounded by selfish decisions.
Brennan said he respected their decisions, saying he knew their intentions three weeks ago.
“Those were family decisions and (I) respect that,” Brennan said. “We love those guys. Those guys have made an incredible impact on our program this season and all the years they’ve been here at the University of Arizona.”
For more than a half, that, however, was the story. SMU carved up UA’s defense, picking on UA’s replacements. By the time the smoke started (from the Holiday Bowl’s halftime show), SMU was up 24-0.
The complaints from the fans came down like the rain here at Snapdragon Stadium.
“We talk about some these guys that come back to Tucson and never have to pay for a drink in their life – these guys are not going to be allowed in a (expletive) bar the rest of their life in Tucson which they might not give an (expletive),” said fan Michael Armenta, who made the trip to San Diego.
Not sure he was serious about wanting a refund for his AirBnB and for his game tickets for six family members, but you get the picture.
“The team that we cheered on and rooted for all season long doesn’t even show up for the bowl game?” he said.
He wasn’t alone in fan disdain. But there were a few who understood or at least sympathized with them.
“A lot of my friends are down on these guys,” said Nick Asta, who made the game as well. “But I have zero issue with the decision they made. This team far exceeded expectations this year largely because of them. If those men want to concentrate on their futures, they more than earned the right to do so.”
Still, some vowed not to be loyal to the team next year.
Brennan remained steadfast about the trio, saying he “loved those guys … they made plays for this football team during their careers. We’re hear specifically because of the plays they made this season. They were incredible. I understand people being frustrated and I can’t expect people on the outside world to have an understanding about all these things move in the current era of college football, but these guys are incredible Wildcats.”
The game almost became secondary – until the second half when Arizona made a last-ditch effort to make a game of it. It held SMU to no first downs for most the second half and scored two touchdowns and then a third, but in that time missed on its first two-point conversion that would have closed it to 24-8, but instead made it, 24-6. The second TD made it 24-12 and then again failed on its second two-pointer.
In retrospect, had he gone for a point after on each of the attempts in would have been 24-21 and a better opportunity to win.
“Yes, I would have done the same thing,” he said about the two-point decisions. “At the time that I went for two, we were down a lot, right? I was like, ‘If we can go for two, we can reduce the possession we need to be the tie it.’ Part of that was a conversation we were having on the headset, how I felt about it at the moment, and then also some of the analytics conversation.”
Time and circumstances – it’s what killed the Cats on Friday.
Notable:
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita said he will return to the program next year, which will be his senior season.
“We’ve got unfinished business, I’m coming back,” Fifita said.
So, it didn’t all end on a bad note.
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