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No. 21 Arizona Hosts New Mexico in Brent Brennan’s Coaching Debut
No. 21 Arizona is all set to kick off the Brent Brennan era on Saturday night with a nonconference showdown against New Mexico in Tucson, Arizona. With a preseason AP ranking, the Wildcats are eager to build on last year’s success under their new head coach.
Arizona’s New Leadership and Returning Talent
Brent Brennan, coming off a successful run at San Jose State, takes the helm at Arizona and has managed to keep the core of last season’s 10-3 team intact. Key players like star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and quarterback Noah Fifita chose to stay with the Wildcats despite tempting NIL offers from other programs. Their commitment has been crucial in setting high expectations for this season.
“They made an incredibly unselfish choice,” Brennan said about McMillan and Fifita. “They made the rare choice.”
Fifita, who threw for 2,869 yards, 25 touchdowns, and just six interceptions last season, returns to lead an offense that averaged 34.6 points per game. McMillan, a preseason first-team All-American, is back after an impressive season with 90 catches for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Arizona’s offense looks poised to take advantage of New Mexico’s struggling defense, especially on the ground. The Wildcats have a revamped running back group led by Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who rushed for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns last season while at New Mexico. He’ll be joined by San Jose State transfer Quali Conley, who added 842 rushing yards last year, making Arizona’s backfield one to watch.
New Mexico’s Challenges Under New Leadership
New Mexico enters this game coming off a tough start under new head coach Bronco Mendenhall. The Lobos suffered a 35-31 loss to FCS opponent Montana State, despite holding a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter. Defensive struggles were evident, with the Lobos allowing 567 yards, including 362 on the ground.
“Pretty consistently a gap off here, a gap off there, a missed tackle here, missed tackle there,” Mendenhall said about his team’s run defense. “But enough to where it was really inconsistent.”
On the offensive side, the Lobos are led by athletic quarterback Devon Dampier, who had a solid game against Montana State, completing 18 of 26 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown. Dampier also showcased his mobility with a 34-yard touchdown run. Key contributors include receiver Luke Wysong and running back Eli Sanders, with Wysong catching six passes for 95 yards and Sanders rushing 17 times for 87 yards.
Arizona’s defense, now under longtime U of A assistant Duane Akina and boosted by former Syracuse head coach Dino Babers as offensive coordinator, will be focused on containing Dampier and the Lobos’ offense.
Historical Rivalry and Game Outlook
Arizona and New Mexico share a long history, with their series dating back to 1908. Although the teams haven’t met since 2015, Arizona holds a 44-20-3 advantage in the series. With Brennan leading a talented roster, the Wildcats are favored to extend their dominance in this rivalry.
As the Brennan era begins, Arizona will look to exploit New Mexico’s defensive weaknesses. For the Lobos, rebounding from their Week 0 collapse and facing a ranked Arizona team will be a challenging but essential test early in Mendenhall’s tenure. Saturday’s game is set to reveal how both teams adapt to their new leadership and what lies ahead for their seasons.
