The Arizona Wildcats traveled to Boulder and pulled off a decisive victory over the Colorado Buffaloes. Noah Fifita continued to be the spearhead of the Arizona offense, throwing for 213 yards and four touchdowns. Fifita, despite his 57.9% completion percentage, was incredibly accurate. This game was crucial for the Wildcats head coach Brent Brennan who sported a 1-6 record on the road since taking over the Wildcats program. Brennan was impressive in victory, showing fire towards referees that fans clamored for, securing his second road win in his tenure in Tucson.
Arizona Dominates Turnover & QB Battle
The Arizona Wildcats won the turnover battle in this matchup, forcing five turnovers from Deion Sanders’ group, while only conceding one themselves. Buffs backup quarterback Ryan Staub entered the game after starter Kaidon Salter got benched for putting up just 49 yards passing with one touchdown, one interception and one fumble lost.
Staub did not fair much better as he was eventually sat down for freshman stand-out JuJu Lewis. Lewis was potentially the one positive indicator for Colorado. The former USC commit passed for 121 yards and one touchdown after entering in the third quarter of the game. Most importantly for the Buffaloes, Lewis did not turn the ball over.
Arizona’s Chase Kennedy stripped Salter in the first quarter with a strip sack that sent every ounce of momentum in the Wildcats’ direction – momentum that already belonged to Arizona as they led 17-0 early in this matchup.
Meanwhile, Arizona veteran starter Noah Fifita did not turn the ball over once in what was one of the better performances of his season. Fifita had to show why he was one of the more underrated QBs in the conference on Saturday night and he did just that. Fifita was able to accomplish for Arizona what three quarterbacks failed to accomplish for Colorado: a consistently threatening downfield attack.
Tre Spivey Breaks Out
Arizona’s Tre Spivey had not been heard from very much this season, getting less than 20 targets so far on the year. When Spivey’s number is called though, everyone sees it. Spivey took his first of two targets to the house on a jaw-dropping 57-yard touchdown during which he made nearly every member of the Buffaloes secondary miss tackles on the way to the end zone.
Spivey has shown that he is clearly one of, if not the premier playmaker in the Wildcats’ wide receiver room. When he scored his touchdown in this game, it was his seventh of the season on what was just his 12th target. This is elite efficiency from a crucial position.
Many fans want more Spivey and it seems like while he may continue to be used in short bursts, more Spivey is exactly what fans are going to get in the final four games of Big 12 play.
Arizona controls its destiny
This game was a tipping point for both programs. Colorado stands three wins from bowl eligibility now with only three games remaining. There is no more room for error in Boulder. Deion Sanders’ group has their backs against the wall going forward as they face West Virginia, Arizona State and Kansas State to end their season.
It is not trending towards the Buffs going bowling in 2025-26, but this is the Big 12 conference where anything is possible.
Arizona on the other hand has regained control of its bowl hopes. Now with a record of 5-3 the Wildcats are just one win away from making a bowl game for the first time under Brent Brennan. Arizona has four games remaining on its schedule. Kansas, Cincinnatti, Baylor and Arizona State (in the 99th Territorial Cup game) are the final opportunities Arizona has to make a bowl game.
After tonight’s win, Brennan should be feeling very confident that his side can meet the bar to go to a bowl game. Arizona could be sitting at 7-1 with wins over BYU and Houston if things broke their way. This is a team that is highly competitve in the Big 12 this season. Fans seem to have received a massive boost in confidence after this blowout victory.
What’s next?
Arizona faces Kansas next week at Arizona Stadium back in Tucson. Kansas has been up and down this season, sitting at 5-4 (3-3 Big 12). Jalon Daniels has looked strong this year at times for Kansas but the Jayhawks as a team have been unable to find consistency this season under head coach Lance Leipold. The Wildcats’ second to last home game kicks off at 1:30 MST on ESPN2.
It is also homecoming for Arizona and their 8th nationally televised game of the season, boosting the environment for Brennan’s group to play in.
For more on this game and the Arizona football program, make sure to check out the AZ Wildcats Podcast with Damon Fairall & Kevin Thomas.
