Noah Fifita, Arizona keeping guard up vs. Northern Arizona

Field Level Media|published: Thu 3rd September, 17:52 2026

Jul 8, 2026; Frisco, TX, USA; Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita speaks with reporters during Big 12 Conference Football Media Days at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

An in-state rivalry will be renewed when Arizona hosts Northern Arizona in a nonconference game on Saturday night in Tucson, Ariz.

The Wildcats are coming off a 9-4 season, just the eighth time in program history they have won at least nine games.

The Lumberjacks are seeking their third consecutive winning record and already are 1-0 this fall after rallying to beat Big Sky Conference foe Eastern Washington.

Third-year coach Brent Brennan returns 12 players who started at least four games in 2025, most notably quarterback Noah Fifita. The fifth-year senior is the school career leader in touchdown passes with 73 and needs 829 passing yards to pass Nick Foles for most in program history.

"Noah leads the way in terms of like that high-profile player that's chosen to stay," Brennan said. "We have a player who's a Heisman Trophy candidate."

Arizona finished seventh in the nation against the pass (165.3 yards per game) and tied for second in interceptions (22). All five starters in the secondary were either drafted or have made NFL rosters, but the Wildcats reloaded through the portal, including former Nebraska defensive back Malcolm Hartzog Jr.

Northern Arizona trailed 24-3 in the first half before outscoring Eastern Washington 31-3 last weekend. Quarterback Ty Pennington, a fifth-year senior who has started 25 straight games for the Lumberjacks, threw for 164 yards and two TDs and ran for 61 yards in the victory.

"A win rings in my ears pretty good, regardless of the circumstance," Northern Arizona coach Brian Wright said. "There was no panic really anywhere that I could find."

Northern Arizona is seeking its first win over an FBS school since shocking Arizona in 2021, just its second win in the series and first since 1932.

The Wildcats hold a 17-2 series lead and have won the last two meetings, including 22-10 in 2024. They are seeking a fifth consecutive season-opening victory for the first time since winning eight straight from 2008-15.

--Field Level Media