Arizona's stingy pass defense plots to slow No. 18 BYU

No. 18 BYU has never produced back-to-back 6-0 starts in its storied history.

The Cougars have an eye on that milestone and also crave to remain unblemished in Big 12 play when they battle Arizona on Saturday night at Tucson, Ariz.

BYU (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) is looking to open a season with six straight wins for just the seventh time in program history. One of those campaigns was turned in by the 1984 national championship squad.

The Cougars have twice previously started 6-0 under coach Kalani Sitake, winning their first nine on both occasions. In addition to last season's team, the 2020 squad led by Zach Wilson also turned in such a start.

BYU, which recorded a 38-24 home win over West Virginia on Oct. 3, is entering a tricky stretch.

After facing the Wildcats (4-1, 1-1), fierce rival Utah and ranked teams Iowa State and Texas Tech follow on the slate.

"That is what we are going to talk about -- being more grateful and stepping it up in the joy we have playing the game," Cougars receiver Chase Roberts said. "We learned a lot (against West Virginia). It was a great game for us heading into these tougher games coming up."

Roberts (161 yards on four catches) and Parker Kingston (111 yards and a touchdown on fourth receptions) both had career-best yardage games against the Mountaineers. So did freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who threw for 351 yards and a TD with one interception.

Bachmeier and Roberts also teamed up on an 85-yard pass play, the school's longest since now-Texas coach Steve Sarkisian connected with Dustin Johnson for 87 in a 1996 game against Rice.

The Cougars average 38.4 points per game but could be challenged by a sturdy Arizona pass defense.

The Wildcats are the only team in the nation to not allow a passing touchdown and they have limited three of their five opponents to fewer than 100 passing yards. They held visiting Oklahoma State to 69 through the air and 158 total last weekend in a 41-13 trouncing.

The Wildcats are eager for a better showing against BYU, which coasted to a 41-19 victory in Provo, Utah, in 2024.

"Last year is last year," Arizona linebacker Max Harris said. "Heading towards BYU, it is a faceless opponent. The next opponent on the schedule is whoever it is. We're just going to play and give it 100 percent every time."

Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita was intercepted three times in last year's matchup while completing 26 of 52 passes for 275 yards and one touchdown.

Fifita tied his career high of five touchdown passes -- the fourth time he has thrown that many -- in the win over Oklahoma State.

Overall, Fifita has passed for 1,341 yards and 13 touchdowns against three picks this season.

"It's trying to find a way to disrupt (Fifita), but even when you do that and bring more pressure, he knows where to go with the ball," Sitake said. "He's a great player and I know he's a great young man. That's the kind of guy that everyone should cheer for. ... We know this is going to be a tough task."

Fifita is tied for third in Arizona history with 57 passing touchdowns and is fourth with 7,296 passing yards.

"Being a Division I quarterback on this level is hard. You get way too much credit and too much blame," Wildcats coach Brent Brennan said. "Noah Fifita handles it with incredible class and dignity. He's a great leader and a great teammate."

Arizona has lost the past four meetings with the Cougars.

--Field Level Media