Cats look to continue success as they start first Big 12 season
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Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and quarterback Noah Fifita. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
The Arizona Wildcats have higher-than-normal expectations as they start their first season in the Big 12 after ending their Pac-12 tenure on a high note last year.
The big picture: The Cats are ranked No. 21 in both the preseason Associated Press and coaches polls and were picked to finish fifth in the conference in the 2024 Big 12 Football Media Preseason Poll.
- Utah, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Kansas are the other ranked Big 12 teams.
Catch up quick: Last year, the Cats went 10-3 — only the fourth time in program history they've won 10 games (1993, 1998 and 2014).
- Arizona ended the season ranked No. 11 nationally after beating Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl.
Zoom in: The Cats' offense drove its success last season, and it's expected to shine again with quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
- Fifita took over the starting QB spot from Jayden de Laura five games into the 2023 season and became a difference-maker.
- This year, Fifita is on everyone's top 10 quarterbacks list for 2024.
- McMillan had 1,402 receiving yards last season, the fifth most in college football, and he's widely viewed as one of the top receivers in the country this year.
Yes, but: Success sometimes comes at a cost, and for UofA that was the loss of third-year head coach Jedd Fisch, who was recruited to replace Kalen DeBoer at Washington.
1 new face: UofA brings a new head coach to the conference, hiring Brent Brennan from San Jose State.
What we're watching: Arizona's defense performed better than expected last year, but three defensive linemen followed Fisch to Washington.
- Junior linebacker Jacob Manu, one of the Pac-12's leading tacklers last year, is among the team's returning defensive starters, and lineman Tre Smith followed Brennen to Tucson from San Jose State.
- The secondary looks pretty solid, with cornerback Tacario Davis getting some preseason attention.
What's next: Arizona opens its season Saturday at home against New Mexico.