Arizona Wildcats is 0-0 on the season, 0-0 against the spread, and holds a power rating of +9.9. Arizona Wildcats enters the season with a power rating of +9.9, placing them above average relative to the FBS midpoint. The Arizona Wildcats host Northern Arizona next in Week 1. In 2025, Arizona Wildcats went 9-3 overall, 8-4 against the spread, and 4-8 on totals.
In Week 0 of 2026 the Arizona Wildcats Power Rating of +9.9 is 9.7 points above the FBS average according to Blue Chip Analytics. Arizona Wildcats have logged 0 miles of travel so far, out of a season total of 9,766 miles, ranking 35th heaviest in the FBS.
| Week | Opponent | Distance | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | — | Bye | |
| Week 1 | Northern Arizona | Home | 0 mi |
| Week 2 | BYU | 555 mi | 1,110 mi |
| Week 3 | Northern Illinois | Home | 1,110 mi |
| Week 4 | Washington State | 1,053 mi | 3,217 mi |
| Week 5 | Cincinnati | Home | 3,217 mi |
| Week 6 | West Virginia | 1,801 mi | 6,819 mi |
| Week 7 | — | Bye | |
| Week 8 | Iowa State | Home | 6,819 mi |
| Week 9 | Texas Tech | 536 mi | 7,891 mi |
| Week 10 | TCU | Home | 7,891 mi |
| Week 11 | Utah | Home | 7,891 mi |
| Week 12 | Kansas State | 938 mi | 9,766 mi |
| Week 13 | Arizona State | Home | 9,766 mi |
| Week 14 | — | Bye | |
| Week 15 | — | Bye | |
| Week 16 | — | Bye | |
Quarterback Noah Fifita returns as the reigning first-team All-Big 12 quarterback, already holding Arizona's career passing touchdowns record. He needs just 829 yards to surpass Nick Foles for most career passing yards by a Wildcat. With offensive coordinator Seth Doege back for a second straight season, the continuity should allow Fifita to elevate his off-schedule playmaking and deep-ball accuracy, making him the engine of the offense.
Defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales, a Broyles Award semifinalist, led a unit that finished seventh nationally in passing defense and forced 31 takeaways last season. The Wildcats led the Big 12 with 22 interceptions and posted a plus-18 turnover margin. However, the secondary lost three key defensive backs who combined for 6,700 career snaps. Eight transfer portal additions will need to quickly replicate the man-coverage prowess that defined the defense.
Unlike last season, Arizona does not have a singular dominant receiver like Tetairoa McMillan. Instead, the Wildcats boast a deep rotation with Tre Spivey, Chris Hunter, and Giovanni Richardson. An opposing Big 12 coach noted that different receivers step up each week, which could make the passing attack more unpredictable but also less reliant on one target.
Placekicker Michael Salgado-Medina made only 19 of 31 field goals last season, with the most misses by a Wildcat since 1999. He was 5-for-12 from 40-49 yards but showed leg strength with a 57-yarder. Australian punter Chase Ridley is expected to take over, and the entire special teams unit will feature several new faces, making consistency a key question mark.
Arizona returns all coordinators and most on-field staff, a rarity in modern college football. This stability, combined with Fifita's experience, gives the Wildcats a foundation to build on. The offense should benefit from a second year in Seth Doege's system, while the defense must integrate new secondary pieces. The season's trajectory will hinge on how quickly those transfers adapt to Gonzales' aggressive man-coverage scheme.
Arizona Wildcats is 0-0 against the spread in the 2026 season.
Arizona Wildcats holds a Blue Chip Analytics power rating of +9.9, representing their expected point margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field.
Arizona Wildcats's home field advantage rating is 2.4 points, the venue adjustment Blue Chip Analytics applies for games at their home stadium.
Arizona Wildcats travels 9,766 miles in the 2026 season, ranking 35th heaviest in the FBS.
Cumulative travel distance counts both the outbound and return journey for every away game. For example, if a team travels 374 miles to play an away game, Blue Chip Analytics counts 748 miles (374 miles there, 374 miles back) toward the cumulative total. Home games and bye weeks add zero miles. The per-week Distance column shows the one-way distance only, as the return trip happens after the game is played.
Arizona Wildcats: 0-0 overall, 0-0 ATS, power rating +9.9.
