TUCSON – A year removed from a disappointing 2024 campaign, the University of Arizona has reversed course.

Proof came in the team’s recent 24-20 victory over Kansas that clinched bowl eligibility with the Wildcat’s sixth win. The performance represents a leap of faith for a program coming off a 4-8 season.

After posting a 10-3 record in 2023, expectations were high for the Wildcats entering 2024. They opened the campaign as the 20th-ranked team in the AP poll, but things went downhill quickly as the Wildcats had just one victory in their final eight games. 

It was an adjustment period for Arizona, which lost coach Jedd Fisch to Washington along with several key players, including running back Jonah Coleman, the Big Ten’s current rushing touchdown leader. The Wildcats also lost wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who was selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. 

Arizona hired Brent Brennan from San Jose State to take over the helm and his quick turnaround after last season has boosted the program. With three regular season games remaining, including a Nov. 28 clash with cross-state rival Arizona State, the Wildcats (6-3, 3-3 Big 12) have already reached the six-win threshold needed to play in a bowl game. They face No. 22 Cincinnati (7-2, 5-1), which is coming off a bye week, Saturday at Nippert Stadium. 

In last Saturday’s win over Kansas, Brennan highlighted how the home crowd played a role in a missed 30-yard field goal attempt for the Jayhawks late in the game, a crucial moment that represents the culture he wants to continue to build in Tucson. 

“The impact the crowd had on the opponent late in the game was significant,” Brennan said in the postgame press conference. “That crowd impacted that moment. And that’s what we’re talking about, about building a real, just challenging (and) hard homefield advantage at Arizona Stadium.”

Despite clinching bowl eligibility, Brennan isn’t content and is looking forward to continuing to build a program where players are comfortable staying in Tucson to reach the peak the Wildcats climbed two seasons ago.

“Lots of people chose to be here and lots of people chose to stay,” Brennan said. “They believe in the University of Arizona and they believe what we’re doing with our football program. … Like this is a stepping stone, right? Like, yay we got six. That’s not good enough for me, that’s not good enough for these kids.”

Starting quarterback Noah Fifita is one of those players who chose to stay in Tucson, forgoing temptations to leave the program after a disappointing 2024 season. With college football dominated by NIL deals and transfers, Fifita decided to stay put and made the rare decision to commit despite speculation he would transfer. 

The decision has proved to be beneficial for the Wildcats as Fifita has thrown for 2,200 yards along with 23 touchdown passes, ranking him in the top four of the Big 12 in both categories. 

Junior linebacker Taye Brown, who is second on the team with 63 tackles, emphasized how much work the Wildcats have put into their efforts to clinch a bowl game.

“It’s been great,” Brown said in the postgame press conference. “We’ve been working so hard since January, just building the team chemistry because as we know, we’ve had a lot of new transfers coming in.”

Junior running back Quincy Craig is proud of the effort the team has put forward this season. Craig had the game-winning touchdown against Kansas, breaking free for a 24-yard scamper to complete the comeback victory.

“Yeah, it’s great. It’s definitely not over though,” Craig said after Saturday’s win. “We’re definitely going to get back to it, it’s another day, 24-hour rule. We (are) going to experience this, be great with it, and then get after it again.”

Craig stressed the need to remain focused on the final three regular season games. 

The road won’t be easy. After Saturday’s game at Cincinnati, the Wildcats host Baylor before closing out the regular season against Arizona State in Tempe.

The togetherness and chemistry have played a huge factor in the Wildcats’ turnaround. The players have bought into Brennan’s culture shift a year removed from a discouraging season, resulting in an opportunity to go bowling in the postseason.

“There’s real love on this team,” Brennan said. “They truly care about each other, they don’t care who gets the credit. They’re willing to support each other with the success. And the beauty of it is that this team now gets a little longer lifespan.”

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