⚡ CFB Dashboard

- Pick/market: Arizona is up 17-14 at the half….

- Arizona recorded six sacks and held Northern Arizona to minus-7 rushing yards in its opener. That is an encouraging early disruption result under Danny Gonzales, but it came against an FCS opponent and does not establish the same production against Northern Illinois. - After nine wins in 2025, Arizona retained its head coach, both coordinators and starting quarterback Noah Fifita. The preview identifies that leadership continuity as a strength entering 2026; it does not report a new play-caller, quarterback change or confirmed plan to rest starters against NIU.

- Arizona gave all running-back carries against BYU to Kedrick Reescano and Quincy Craig. Brent Brennan cited their physical running against a bigger front, but said Antwan Roberts will get opportunities and the offense will need more backs. Ismail Mahdi's lack of carries was described as a game-flow decision, not an injury or permanent removal from the rotation. - Arizona receivers Tre Spivey and Chris Hunter have started slowly, according to the report. Brennan emphasized ful

- Injury: Arizona running back Ismail Mahdi is expected to play against NIU, said OC Seth Doege.

- Injury: WR Gio Richardson has a 'lower extremity' injury, per Brent Brennan, and will be out 'for a little bit' Richardson is Arizona's leading receiver, with 14 catches for 161 yards

- (AP) — Arizona coach Brent Brennan was not going to let Noah Fifita miss a chance to break the school's all-time passing mark at home. - Fifita threw for 325 yards to become Arizona's all-time leading passer and accounted for five touchdowns, leading the Wildcats to a 42-17 win over Northern Illinois Saturday night.

- QB: Noah Fifita is close to making Arizona history and needs 320 yards to pass Nick Foles for most passing yards by a UA quarterback.

- QB: Noah Fifita is close to making Arizona football history and needs 320 yards to pass Nick Foles for most passing yards by a UA quarterback.

- Coaching: A rattled Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita came into the press conference after crying.

- Arizona gave all running-back carries against BYU to Kedrick Reescano and Quincy Craig. Brent Brennan cited their physical running against a bigger front, but said Antwan Roberts will get opportunities and the offense will need more backs. Ismail Mahdi's lack of carries was described as a game-flow decision, not an injury or permanent removal from the rotation. - Arizona receivers Tre Spivey and Chris Hunter have started slowly, according to the report. Brennan emphasized full-speed routes and executing each concept even when a receiver is not targeted; poor route execution compresses coverage and costs the passing game opportunities. He did not announce a receiver depth-chart change. - Arizona does not plan to force throws to get Noah Fifita the 320 yards needed for the school's career passing record. Brennan said game flow will determine in-game decisions, with keeping Fifita available throughout the season taking priority over chasing the milestone.

- RB: Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, which has a location owned by Arizona running back Ismail Mahdi, is at Casino Del Sol Stadium for the UA-NIU game!

- DL/LB: "We used that rotation how we’re going to kind of use it," Gonzalez said.

- Defense: Arizona defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales said "94% of Big 12 football games are won and lost in the last eight minutes." Arizona-BYU "was lost in the last eight minutes," Gonzales said.

- Intel: All the info you need to watch, listen to or follow online as Arizona football hosts Northern Illinois

- Intel: First major college football game in London shaping up well.

- Intel: Arizona has one of the lowest annual budgets in the Big 12 and in college football, according to The Athletic.

- Intel: Arizona is a five-touchdown favorite against Northern Illinois, but the Wildcats aren't taking NIU lightly.

- Intel: Brent Brennan says the Protect College Sports Act “is a step in the right direction” and “having structure that makes it competitive across the board and levels the playing the field, I think is...

- Intel: If it weren't for Matthew Lado's holding penalty and Noah Fifita's interception, Arizona played a nearly perfect first quarter.