Tucson is weird right now. One day you’re celebrating a 23-7 beatdown of the Sun Devils in Tempe to end the regular season, and the next you’re staring at a 19-24 final on the scoreboard at Snapdragon Stadium. If you were looking for the latest u of az football score, that’s the one that’s going to sting for a while. The Wildcats dropped the Holiday Bowl to SMU on January 2, 2026, ending an otherwise stellar 9-4 campaign.
It’s honestly a bit of a head-scratcher. Arizona went into San Diego ranked #17 in the CFP, feeling like they had all the momentum in the world. Noah Fifita was coming off a regular season where he threw for over 3,200 yards. The defense was flying. But bowl games are unpredictable, and the Mustangs just had a little more gas in the tank when it mattered.
Breaking down the Holiday Bowl heartbreak
If you didn't catch the game live, the box score doesn't quite tell the whole story of how frustrating this one was. Arizona actually outgained SMU in total yardage for most of the first half. The problem? Red zone efficiency. Or lack thereof.
Brent Brennan’s squad has been fun to watch all year, but they struggled to finish drives in San Diego. They settled for field goals when they needed six. In a five-point game, those missed opportunities are the difference between a trophy and a long flight back to Tucson.
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The defense did their part, mostly. Keeping a high-powered SMU offense to 24 points is usually a recipe for a win. But the Wildcats' offense, which averaged over 31 points per game this season, just couldn't find that explosive gear we saw during their four-game winning streak in November.
2025 Season: A quick look back at the wins
Despite the bowl loss, this was a massive year for the program. Check out how the scores shook out during the back half of the season:
- Arizona 23, ASU 7: A defensive masterclass in the Territorial Cup.
- Arizona 41, Baylor 17: Probably the most complete game they played all year.
- Arizona 30, Cincinnati 24: A gritty road win that proved they belonged in the upper echelon of the Big 12.
- Arizona 52, Colorado 17: Total offensive fireworks.
The Big 12 reality check
Transitioning into the Big 12 wasn't supposed to be this "easy," but Arizona made it look that way for stretches. They finished 6-3 in conference play. That’s good for a tie for fourth place in a league that is basically a weekly car crash of parity.
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They beat Kansas State early (23-17). They crushed Oklahoma State (41-13). But then they had that heartbreaking double-overtime loss to BYU (27-33) in October. That BYU game is the one fans will point to alongside the SMU loss. If a couple of plays go differently in those two games, we’re talking about an 11-win season and maybe a playoff berth.
Nuance matters here. A lot of people expected a drop-off after the coaching transition, but Brent Brennan has kept the culture intact. Retaining Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan was the biggest "win" of the off-season, and it paid off on the field.
What’s next for Arizona football?
The transfer portal opened the same day as the Holiday Bowl, and the news has been a mix of "okay, that hurts" and "hey, that’s a win."
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Losing backup QB Braedyn Locke to the portal isn't a shock, but it leaves the depth chart a bit thin behind Fifita. On the flip side, Brennan just landed Jake Griffin, a massive offensive lineman from BYU. Griffin is a Mesa native coming home, and at 6-foot-5, he’s exactly the kind of "beef" the Wildcats need to protect Fifita in 2026.
The 2026 recruiting class is also currently ranked 34th nationally, which is the highest it's been in a minute. They've got eight four-star recruits signed, including Oscar Rios, a quarterback who supposedly has "the juice," according to the coaching staff.
Actionable steps for the Off-season
If you’re a fan trying to keep up with the moving pieces, here’s what you should actually be watching over the next few weeks:
- Watch the January 16 Portal Deadline: This is the last day for players to enter the portal. Expect a few more depth chart shuffles before the window slams shut.
- Keep an eye on the "Casino Del Sol" Stadium transition: The school just signed a 20-year naming rights deal. It’s no longer just "Arizona Stadium" in the record books.
- Check the Spring Game schedule: Usually, these dates get announced in late February. It’ll be the first look at Rios and the new transfers in a Wildcats uniform.
- Follow the NFL Draft declarations: We're waiting on final word for a couple of juniors who might test the pro waters. Their decisions will fundamentally change the 2026 projections.
The u of az football score might have ended on a low note in the Holiday Bowl, but the trajectory of the program is clearly pointing up. 9-4 is nothing to sneeze at, especially in a "new" conference where everyone is trying to find their footing.