The Arizona Wildcats football team not only responded to its gut-wrenching 28-17 loss to BYU last week, but they also did so emphatically, routing the Northern Illinois Huskies 42-17 at Casino Del Sol Stadium on Saturday night.
Arizona’s dominant win over NIU showed the grit, determination and aggression head coach Brent Brennan has always believed his team had. In short, the Wildcats showed a large amount of “Redline.”
Saturday’s matchup between the Wildcats (2-1) and the Huskies (0-3) also showed that Arizona has what it takes to bounce back from a devastating loss and continue to prove that it can play with the best teams the Big 12 has to offer. Arizona will have more opportunities to prove that, as it has a couple more ranked teams on the schedule.
From record-breaking performances to enigmatic catches that would make even the most skilled acrobats gasp, it was a truly successful day for Arizona. Let’s take a look at what was learned about the Wildcats following Saturday’s win over NIU
Fifita officially the best quarterback in Arizona history
When Noah Fifita took the field against Stanford in 2022 in relief of an injured Jayden De Laura, no one would have guessed what would have come after the 21-20 victory. What followed was an Alamo Bowl victory over the Oklahoma Sooners and the unfolding of a generational career at the quarterback position for Arizona.
This past Saturday night, Fifita etched his name into the record books once again, this time claiming the passing yards title with 10,017, passing Nick Foles (10,011). Just last year, Fifita surpassed Foles and Willie Tuitama for the passing touchdown crown. He also owns the single-game passing yards record, which he claimed in 2023 in the Territorial Cup.
Fifita broke the record with a 7-yard pass to Isaiah Mizell. After that, Fifita ran a 30-yard rushing touchdown to end his night. A fitting way to cap his 31-for-34, 325-yard, five-total-touchdown performance.
Arizona’s receivers can thrive without Richardson
When Gio Richardson, Arizona’s top slot receiver, went down with a lower-extremity injury and Brennan announced he would remain off the roster for some time, the spotlight immediately shifted to the receiving corps and how they would perform.
Despite a slow start early in the first quarter, the Wildcats’ pass catchers showed that they can keep the offense alive with their skills, speed and aggression off the ball. They also showed that any one of them could get open, as 11 players including running backs caught at least one pass.
Tre Spivey II in particular was electric, catching six passes for 90 yards and one touchdown. His touchdown catch was one for the ages, as he leaped over a defender and snagged the ball with one hand. Senior Chris Hunter was close behind with five catches, 73 yards and one touchdown. Mizell matched Hunter with five catches, 49 yards and a touchdown.
Only time will tell how long Richardson will be sidelined, but he could rest easy knowing his teammates have it covered during his absence.
Wildcats newcomers belong
The 2026 team is loaded with plenty of talented veterans who have seen the highest of highs as well as the lowest of lows, but what about those new to the team?
Saturday’s win featured plenty of newcomers who got their chance to shine under the lights of Casino Del Sol Stadium. Freshman phenom Caleb “Jet” Smith ran back a 69 yard punt return for a touchdown, showcasing the speed that got him his nickname.
Georgetown transfer Cooper Blomstrom led the team in tackles with 10, five solo. In fact, the Wildcats’ top four leading tacklers are new to the program. Freshman Keytrin Harris also recorded a sack late in the game.
Wildcats offensive line must improve before Washington State
The Arizona offense fired on all cylinders after a lackluster first quarter, outscoring the Huskies 42-7. Despite the Wildcats practically rolling over NIU, the offensive line struggled at times, especially on the left side.
In total, Fifita was sacked four times before he was pulled out of the game. Luckily for Arizona, it will face a Washington State team that finally got its first two sacks of the season against Duquesne on Saturday. The Wildcats will take on the Cougars next Saturday in Martin Stadium at 4:30 p.m.
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