The blue-and-red Wildcats have high hopes for a turnaround season after going 4-8 overall last year and 2-7 in the Big 12.

So far, so good, in a small sample. Second-year head coach Brent Brennan turned over both coordinator spots this offseason and, in a home win over Hawaii, things are looking up. Though the Wildcats are an FBS power-conference member and Hawaii is not, the Rainbow Warriors did defeat Stanford two weeks ago.

Arizona averaged only 21.8 points per game last season but scored 40 against Hawaii; U of A allowed 31.8 points per game last year but gave up just six to last week’s visitors.

MEET THE OTHER WILDCATS

All eyes are on junior quarterback Noah Fifita (No. 1) to see if the offense takes off under new coordinator Seth Doege. Fifita’s breakout freshman year was tempered by 2024’s mediocre metrics.

Rick Scuteri, Associated Press

Fifita fared well in this year’s opener, throwing 13 of 23 for 161 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. He led a balanced offense that also saw junior running back Quincy Craig rush for 125 yards on only seven carries in his FBS debut. If Craig (No. 24) is a familiar name, you’re on target: he’s a Portland State transfer. Craig rushed 14 times for 71 yards one year ago in a PSU loss in Ogden.

Fifita gained 17 yards on five carries but lost 31 yards on three sacks, netting him negative-14 yards against Hawaii.

Redshirt freshman Brandon Phelps (No. 18) made his debut with a 42-yard reception. Senior Javin Whatley (No. 6) was the only Arizona receiver with more than two catches, pulling in three balls for 38 yards. Senior safety Dalton Johnson (No. 43) led the defense with 10 tackles. Linebacker Taye Brown (No. 6) and defensive backs Gavin Hunter (No. 23) and Jack Luttrell (No. 13) each had one interception.

TEAM VS. TEAM METRICS

With just one game in the books, Weber State has 10 offensive points on 148 yards (84 passing, 64 rushing), tracking at 2.6 yards per play. The outmatched Wildcats hope to improve against a similarly strengthed defense in Arizona as it faced in James Madison.

Defensively, WSU allowed 45 points on 458 yards and an average of 6.5 yards per play.

Rick Scuteri, Associated Press

Arizona scored 40 points on 344 yards and 6.1 yards per play. Those Wildcats allowed six points on 290 yards and 3.8 yards per play.

Interestingly, Arizona only outgained Hawaii by 54 yards. Turnovers tell the story of Arizona so far; the Wildcats picked off Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado once and Luke Weaver twice, and also forced and recovered two fumbles. Arizona did not give the ball away, so the team is already plus-five in the turnover margin this season.

Arizona also totaled five sacks against Hawaii.

Weber State did not allow a sack at James Madison but did give the ball away three times, all interceptions from Jackson Gilkey. WSU’s turnover margin is only negative-one, however. The purple Wildcats forced (Aizik Mahuka) and recovered (Ishaan Daniels) a JMU fumble, and took away one interception (Angel King).

WSU gave up 313 rushing yards last week but hopes better effort and a potential debut of linebacker Sione Hala can help improve matters.

ODDS & PREDICTIONS

Jeff Sagarin ranks Weber State at No. 149 in all of Division I (FBS and FCS, 265 total teams). Arizona is No. 72 (almost the same as JMU entering last week). Including home-field advantage, his formula favors Arizona by 18.5 points.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranks Weber State at No. 56 in FCS (129 teams) and Arizona at No. 45 in FBS (136 teams). (For comparison, JMU is now No. 44 in Connelly’s list.) His formula predicts an Arizona victory of 45-11 at 99% probability.

D Ratings predicts an Arizona victory of 41-17 at 95% probability.

WEATHER

Previously forecasted monsoon rain is now expected to miss Arizona and stay farther south. That means warmer temperatures, too, with a high of 94 degrees Saturday in Tucson, Arizona. The sun sets at 6:41 p.m., just before the 7 p.m. local (8 p.m. MDT) kickoff.

It won’t cool off too much, though, with temperatures expected to be 89 degrees at kickoff and 84 degrees by game’s end.

TV & RADIO

The game broadcast streams on the ESPN+ subscription service, available on the ESPN app or WatchESPN.com. Longtime ESPN Radio voice Ted Emrich is on the call with Jeff Woody as color commentator. Weber State’s radio call, with Carl Arky and Jerry Graybeal, airs in Utah on 103.1 FM and online at 1031thewave.com.

ALL-TIME SERIES

This is the first time Arizona and Weber State will play a football game against each other. Arizona is paying WSU $625,000 for the meeting.

MORE NOTES

This is the first time since 2012 that Weber State has begun a season with two games against FBS opponents. It’s the second leg of a four-game road schedule that makes Weber State the only team in Division I football to play its first four road games in each of the four geographical time zones of the continental United States (going to Virginia, Arizona, Louisiana and California).

In uniform watch, Weber State will wear purple helmets, white jerseys and purple pants. Arizona is the opposite: white helmets, red jerseys and white pants.