Wildcats Return to Action Against Buffaloes in Boulder

TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona Wildcats (4-3, 1-3) begin the final stretch of their regular season slate with a road trip to face the Colorado Buffaloes (3-5, 1-4) this Saturday evening in Boulder. Kickoff is slated for 4:00 p.m. MST.

Saturday's game will be nationally televised in primetime on FS1 with Tim Brando (play-by-play), Devin Gardner (analyst), and Josh Sims (reporter) on the call. It will also be broadcast live on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM with play-by-play from Brian Jeffries.

The Wildcats are fresh off their second bye week of the season, while the Buffaloes are returning from a trip to Salt Lake City. Both programs will be looking to return to the win column when they face off for Colorado's Homecoming game this weekend.

For more news and notes on Saturday's game, continue below.

Arizona Notes & Numbers

• The Arizona Wildcats return to action following a bye week to face the Colorado Buffaloes in a road contest this Saturday in Boulder.
• Saturday’s game will be nationally televised in primetime on FS1 with Tim Brando (PxP), Devin Gardner (Analyst), and Josh Sims (Reporter) on the call.
• The game will also be broadcast live on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM featuring play-by-play from Brian Jeffries.
• Arizona and Colorado have faced off 27 times previously, with games dating back to 1931 and the Buffaloes holding a 17-10 edge in the all-time series.
• The Buffaloes won 12 consecutive meetings from 1931–1985 to open the all-time series. Since the two programs joined the same conference beginning with the 2011 season, Arizona has posted a 9-5 record against Colorado.
• Dating back to 2013, Arizona has posted a 5-1 record in their last six games in Boulder. Their lone loss in that stretch was a 34-0 shutout defeat in 2021.
• Two weeks ago, at Houston, QB Noah Fifita completed 24-of-26 passes for a 92.3% completion rate that tied the program’s single-game record and stands as the third best by a road QB since 1996 (min. 25 attempts).
• Fifita currently ranks as one of the greatest quarterbacks in program history, with his career passing yards (7,784) and career passing touchdowns (61) both registering as the third best marks at Arizona all-time.
• Arizona’s pass defense remains one of the top units nationwide, having allowed just four pass touchdowns (t-4th nationally). The Wildcats team passing efficiency defense (93.69, 2nd), passing yards allowed (153.1, 9th), and passes intercepted (9, 18th) marks are all top 20 in FBS.

SOME GAME THEMES: The Arizona Wildcats (4-3, 1-3), fresh off their second and final bye week of the season, hit the road for a Saturday evening matchup against the Colorado Buffaloes (3-5, 1-4) this weekend at Folsom Field in Boulder…Saturday’s game will be nationally televised in primetime on FS1 with Tim Brando (play-by-play), Devin Gardner (analyst), and Josh Sims (reporter) on the call…The game will also be broadcast live on Wildcats Radio 1290 AM featuring play-by-play from the Voice of the Wildcats, Brian Jeffries…Arizona and Colorado have faced off 27 times previously, with games dating back to 1931 and the Buffaloes holding a 17-10 edge in the all-time series...The Buffaloes won 12 consecutive meetings from 1931–1985 to open the all-time series...Since the two programs joined the same conference beginning with the 2011 season, Arizona has posted a 9-5 record against Colorado...Dating back to 2013, Arizona has posted a 5-1 record in their last six games in Boulder...Their lone loss in that stretch was a 34-0 shutout defeat in 2021…Arizona has posted a record of 2-1 in three games directly following a bye week under Head Coach Brent Brennan.

LAST TIME OUT: Two weeks ago, prior to their bye, the Wildcats dropped their second straight game, a 31-28 heartbreaker decided by Houston on a walk-off field goal at the end of regulation. Quarterback Noah Fifita posted one of the most efficient performances of his career in defeat, while wide receiver Tre Spivey found the end zone for the sixth time this season. Additional highlights from the Houston game includes…

Notable Postgame Notes

• QB Noah Fifita finished the game 24-for-26 through the air, giving him a completion percentage of 92.3% which is tied for the best mark in program history (also Khalil Tate at Colorado, 10/7/2017, 12-of-13) and the best mark in program history with a minimum of 20 pass attempts.
• Fifita’s performance was just the ninth in the FBS since 1996 to meet the following criteria: road game, minimum 90% completion rate, minimum 25 pass attempts.
• Fifita moved into third place on the Arizona all-time passing yards leaderboard on the Wildcats second drive of the game.
• LB Max Harris led the Arizona defense with 13 tackles, marking a career high for the senior.
• WR Tre Spivey’s 70-yard touchdown reception on Arizona’s opening drive was the longest reception of his career. He now has six touchdowns on 11 touches this season.

NO FLY ZONE: The Wildcats defensive secondary has led the charge for one of the best pass defenses in the nation through the first five weeks of the season; Arizona has only allowed four passing touchdowns all year, tied for the second fewest allowed by any FBS program. Arizona also ranks among the national leaders in fewest passing yards allowed (9th, 153.1 ypg) and team passing efficiency defense (2nd, 93.69). Three times this year the Arizona defense has held opponents to fewer than 100 passing yards: Weber State (68), Kansas State (88), and Oklahoma State (69). According to Pro Football Focus, the Wildcats defense has logged a coverage grade of 80 or better in four of five games this season, highlighted by a 90.2 mark against Oklahoma State.

NOAH'S ARC: Redshirt junior quarterback Noah Fifita, one of the most prolific passers in program history, returns behind center to lead the Wildcats offense in 2025. The California native has logged three-plus seasons and 34 games with the Wildcats since his true freshman campaign in 2022. Over that span he has etched his name into the Arizona record books and looks to cement his legacy even further this season. Fifita currently sports 7,784 career passing yards and 61 career passing touchdowns, marks that both rank third in program history. Fifita is 1,428 yards shy of moving past Willie Tuitama (2005–08) for second all-time, while also standing just six passing touchdowns shy of a tie for first. The fourth-year signal caller was selected to a trio of watch lists this preseason, earning national recognition from the Maxwell Award, the Polynesian Player of the Year Award, and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. He was also added to the Manning Award watch list last week.

ON THE MARK: In the Wildcats week eight contest at Houston, quarterback Noah Fifita completed 24-of-26 passes for a 92.3% completion rate, tying the Arizona single-game program record. Fifita’s ultra-accurate outing was the third best in the FBS this season, and also the third best by a road quarterback in the last 30 years (minimum 25 attempts). Fifita is the only quarterback in the nation this season with a 90%-plus completion percentage in a game with 25 or more attempts.

I GOT 5 ON IT: Quarterback Noah Fifita’s five passing touchdown performance at the beginning of the month against Oklahoma State was the fourth of his career and his second this season. The only other FBS players with multiple 5+ TD games this season are Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Temple’s Evan Simon (via Stats Perform). Across all of Arizona Football history there have been only 15 five-plus pass touchdown performances, four of which belong to Fifita, the most by any player (next: Khalil Tate, 3).

PICK CITY: Arizona’s nine interceptions this season are Top 20 in the nation. The Wildcats are currently on pace for 15 interceptions this season, which would be the most for the program since pulling in 19 during the 2017 season. The Wildcats defense is spearheaded by Defensive Coordinator Danny Gonzales, who has made led multiple INT-hungry defenses during his career. From 2011–16 while he served as the safeties coach at San Diego State, the Aztecs pulled in 100 interceptions, the third most in the country during that span. Across 12 games last year the Wildcats pulled in just eight interceptions. Six different players have combined to pull in Arizona’s nine picks: DBs Jay’Vion Cole (2), Treydan Stukes (2), Genesis Smith, Gavin Hunter, and Jack Luttrell, alongside LB Taye Brown.

GONE PORTALIN’: According to research done by ESPN’s Max Olson, the Wildcats are ranked fourth among Power Four programs and second in the Big 12 Conference in experience added via the transfer portal. Arizona added 27 transfers that brought with them 403 starts and 25,467 snaps of Division I experience.

FIFITA ADDED TO MANNING AWARD WATCH LIST: Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita has been added to the Manning Award Watch List, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced last week. Fifita is joined by 21 other quarterbacks who played their way onto the watch list over the first half of the season. The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates' bowl performances in its balloting. Through the first seven games of the Wildcats season, Fifita has thrown for 1,829 yards and 17 touchdowns while adding three rushing touchdowns to his tally. Twice this year he has thrown for five touchdowns in a game, and in his latest outing at Houston he completed 24-of-26 passes to tie the program's single game record for completion percentage. Fifita, in his fourth year with Arizona, has steadily climbed the program's career leaderboards and currently ranks third all-time in both passing touchdowns (61) and passing yards (7,784).

MAHDI MOTION: Arizona running back Ismail Mahdi has been a key piece of the Wildcats offense over the first three games, tallying 559 all-purpose yards and a pair of touchdowns. Prior to his time with the Wildcats, Mahdi spent two years at Texas State and one season at FCS Houston Christian. The Murphy, Texas native currently boasts one of the most productive careers in the nation: Mahdi's ranks among the top five active career leaders with 4,111 all-purpose yards (4th), 87.9 rush yards per game (5th), and 132.61 all-purpose yards per game (2nd) during his FBS career.

WILDCATS IN THE NFL: The Arizona Wildcats are once again well represented in the NFL, with 11 players currently sprinkled throughout league rosters. Highlighting the group of former Wildcats are a pair of first round picks in Tetairoa McMillan (2025) and Jordan Morgan (2024). With his selection earlier this year, McMillan became the 12th Arizona player to earn a first round NFL Draft pick. He joined a list that includes Morgan (2024; 25th, Green Bay), Antoine Cason (2008; 27th, San Diego), Trung Canidate (2000; 31st, St. Louis), Chris McAlister (1999; 10th, Baltimore), John Fina (1992; 27th, Buffalo), Chris Singleton (1990; 8th, New England), Anthony Smith (1990; 11th, Oakland), Rickey Hunley (1984; 7th, Cincinnati), Mike Dawson (1976; 22nd, Arizona), Bill Lueck (1968; 26, Green Bay), and Walt Nelson (1939; 10th, New York Giants). McMillan was the first of four Wildcats selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, marking the most Arizona picks since 2008.

Current Wildcats on NFL Rosters (as of 10/26/25)

• Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Miami Dolphins
• Nick Folk, K, New York Jets
• Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders
• Tyler Loop, K, Baltimore Ravens
• Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, LB, New York Giants
• Roy Lopez, DT, Detroit Lions
• Jordan Morgan, OT, Green Bay Packers
• Lucas Havrisik, K, Green Bay Packers
• Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers
• Jacob Cowing^, WR, San Francisco 49ers
• Gary Brightwell*, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

*Practice Squad    ^Reserve/Injured