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247Sports · Jason Scheer

Sep 08
Arizona turns attention to BYU after season-opening win over NAU
Summary
RB/LB: Arizona defeated NAU in the season opener and it did not take long for the Wildcats to turn their attention to Saturday's matchup at BYU.
Arizona defeated NAU in the season opener and it did not take long for the Wildcats to turn their attention to Saturday's matchup at BYU. "We're still feeling great about that win, but obviously we've turned our attention to an excellent BYU team," Arizona head coach Brent Brennan said. "It's been one of the best teams in the conference for the last few years. "They have outstanding players in lots of different positions. They're very well coached, and so this is a big-time football game. This is going to be a great football game. We get to go on the road, we get to play in front of a tough environment. It's going to be a lot of fun." Last year's loss to BYU felt like a game that got away from Arizona, but Brennan would rather focus on the upcoming game instead of looking back. "I think this is all about tomorrow's practice and what are we going to do with that," Brennan said. "Really for our team, how serious are they going to be about their recovery today? Last year's game is last year's game. "We have 50 new players and I'm sure they have a bunch of new also, so we're really not focused on that one as much as you might think. That one's in the past and I don't have a time machine." If Arizona is going to find a way to defeat BYU, it is going to have to find a way to contain the running game and specifically LJ Martin. "I mean, when you play these guys, you know it's going to be a physical game," Brennan said. "Their running back is a total stud. He's powerful, he can finish runs, he's hard to bring down. We've got to get population of the football. One guy's not going to get him down, and so you've got to get him on the ground. He's a really, really impressive player." BYU has one of the best atmospheres in the Big 12, but when reflecting on how poorly Arizona played in Provo a few years ago, Brennan doesn't necessarily believe that was a contributing reason to the Wildcats' loss. "I didn't feel like the crowd was a problem in '24, I felt like we didn't play well," he said. "We turned the ball over too many times. I think that's a very separate issue. They have a great crowd, and that part of it, I respect. "You know that going in there, and I think that's one of those things that, if you let that be an excuse, it will be. We're there to go and play good football. We're there to go and attack this opportunity that's in front of us, playing a top 15 team on the road, and we can't wait to do it."

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Teams: Arizona

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