BYU hosts Arizona in opening Big 12 matchup on Saturday
BYU and Arizona, both 1-0 in conference play, meet at LaVell Edwards Stadium with kickoff at 1:30 p.m. MDT, televised on Fox.
The Cougars welcome the Wildcats to LaVell Edwards Stadium for the Big 12’s first games of the season. Both teams enter the contest with a 1-0 record overall and in conference play. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. MDT and the game will be broadcast on Fox, with a livestream available on the network’s website and radio coverage on KSL and BYU Radio.
BYU, coming off a 63-7 win over Utah Tech, has won each of its last five meetings with Arizona and has not lost a conference opener since 2023. Arizona, after a 35-7 victory over Northern Arizona, looks to improve on a season that began with a loss to BYU in Tucson last year.
Key storylines include BYU’s full-strength lineup after limited snaps for starters in the previous game, and the absence of backup running back Sione Moa, who suffered a season-ending knee injury. The Cougars will rely on running backs Preston Rex, Journee Tonga and Devaughn Eka for ground yards. Safety Raider Damuni is also sidelined, with Tommy Prassas expected to step in, while linebacker Isaiah Glasker makes his season debut.
Arizona’s senior quarterback Noah Fifita, who has struggled against BYU in prior meetings, will aim to reverse that trend. He threw four turnovers in two earlier games versus the Cougars but finished last season with 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors.
“Our mindset going into this season has been that we want to be ready for 12 opportunities on the schedule, and trying to create more. So that’s what we’re focused on, we want to take care of what we can control, which is making sure that we’re ready and prepared.” — BYU coach Kalani Sitake
“(BYU) has been one of the best teams in the conference for the last few years. They have outstanding players in lots of different positions. They’re very well coached, and so this is a big-time football game. This is going to be a great football game. We get to go on the road, we get to play in front of a tough environment. It’s going to be a lot of fun.” — Arizona coach Brent Brennan
The matchup will test Arizona’s ability to pressure BYU’s sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier and BYU’s defense against Fifita’s passing attack. BYU’s next game is at Colorado State, while Arizona faces Northern Illinois the following week.