When the lightning started flashing over Tucson last September, most people figured the night was a wash. Rain in the desert hits differently. It’s loud, it’s sudden, and it usually ruins a good tailgate. But for the fans hanging around Arizona Stadium, that two-hour delay was just a tension-builder for what turned into a clinical display of power. Weber State football vs Arizona Wildcats football is the kind of matchup that casual fans glance at and dismiss as an "FBS vs. FCS" blowout.
On paper, the 48-3 final score from September 6, 2025, looks like a routine beatdown. Honestly, though? If you actually watched the tape or sat through the humid restart, you saw something more interesting than a simple mismatch. It was a game defined by Noah Fifita’s surgical precision and a Weber State team that, despite being overmatched physically, showed why they are perennial Big Sky contenders.
The Night the Lightning Couldn't Stop Noah Fifita
Waiting out a weather delay is a nightmare for a quarterback’s rhythm. You’ve warmed up, you’re "in the zone," and then you’re told to go sit in a locker room for 120 minutes. Most guys come out flat. Not Noah Fifita.
Fifita didn't just play well; he was basically perfect. He completed his first 14 passes. Just think about that for a second. In a game where the ball is wet and the timing is off, he didn't miss a target until the second quarter was well underway. By the time he sat down in the third quarter, he’d racked up 373 yards and five touchdowns.
The connection with Javin "Nunu" Whatley was particularly nasty. On the very first drive, Fifita found Whatley for a 31-yard score. Then, on the next snap from scrimmage, they did it again—this time an 85-yard bomb that left the Weber State secondary looking like they were running in sand.
Why Arizona's Offense Looked Different
Under offensive coordinator Seth Doege, the Wildcats have been trying to find a balance between explosive vertical shots and the "death by a thousand cuts" short game. Against Weber State, they found it. They dispersed the ball to 12 different receivers. That's not just a stat; it’s a nightmare for defensive coordinators. If you double-team Tetairoa McMillan, Fifita just dumps it to Ismail Mahdi or finds Tre Spivey in the corner of the end zone.
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Weber State’s Struggle and the Gap in "The Trenches"
It’s easy to dunk on an FCS team when they only put up three points. But Weber State didn't exactly roll over. They came in after a tough loss to James Madison, looking to prove their defensive front could hang with the Big 12. For a few series, they actually did.
Keahnist Thompson and Matt Herron are legitimate players. They were getting push early on, but the sheer size of Arizona’s offensive line—guys like Jonah Savaiinaea—eventually just wore them down. It’s a depth issue more than a talent issue. When you’re playing 60 snaps against 320-pounders who are future NFL draft picks, your legs go.
The Quarterback Conundrum in Ogden
Weber State has been searching for "the guy" at quarterback. Jackson Gilkey, the transfer from UTSA, had a rough night in Tucson. He threw for under 100 yards and was harassed by Jay'Vion Cole and the rest of the Arizona secondary all night.
- Total Yards: Arizona 556, Weber State 184
- First Downs: Arizona 31, Weber State 11
- Turnovers: Weber State gave it up twice, including a pick-six.
That interception by Jay’Vion Cole was the dagger. It was a 27-yard return that made it 48-0. At that point, the energy in the stadium shifted from "let's see a game" to "let's get some Dutch Bros and go home."
What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
There’s this weird narrative that games like Weber State football vs Arizona Wildcats football are "waste of time" games. Coaches like Brent Brennan would tell you the opposite. For a team like Arizona, which was heading into a brutal Big 12 slate against teams like Kansas State and BYU, this was a "sharpen the blade" game.
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If Arizona hadn't cleaned up their red zone efficiency—something they struggled with in their Week 1 win over Hawaii—they might have stumbled later in the season. They went into the Weber State game with a specific checklist:
- Improve the deep ball timing.
- Get the run game going with Ismail Mahdi without overworking him.
- Test the depth of the linebacker corps.
They checked every box.
The "Wildcat" Identity Crisis
One of the funniest subplots of this game was the fact that it was literally Wildcat vs. Wildcat. In fact, Arizona's schedule that month was a bit of a meme in the college football world. They played the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, then the Weber State Wildcats, then the Kansas State Wildcats.
It’s rare to see a team play back-to-back opponents with the exact same mascot. For Weber State, being the "other" Wildcats in a stadium of 50,000 people wearing the same logo must have been a trip.
Actionable Takeaways for Following These Teams
If you’re looking to bet on or simply follow these programs in the coming seasons, there are a few things you should keep an eye on.
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First, watch the "Air Raid" evolution at Arizona. Fifita is the real deal, and his ability to process defenses post-snap is among the best in the country. If he stays healthy, Arizona is a dark horse for the College Football Playoff every single year.
Second, don't sleep on Weber State in the Big Sky. Even after a blowout loss like this, their structure is sound. Coach Eric Kjar (who took over late in 2025) inherited a team with a strong defensive identity. They traditionally bounce back well from these "money games" and terrorize their own conference.
If you’re a fan of the Big Sky, watch how Weber State uses their tight ends. Against Arizona, they tried to use guys like Noah Bennee to create mismatches in the middle of the field. It didn't work against Arizona’s speed, but it’ll work against Montana or Idaho State.
Lastly, pay attention to the transfer portal's impact on these mid-tier matchups. Arizona’s roster is littered with transfers who were stars at smaller schools (like Whatley from Chattanooga). The gap between the top of the FBS and the top of the FCS is widening because the "big fish" can now just go buy the "small fish's" best players. It sucks for the spirit of the game, but it's the reality of 2026.
To get the most out of following these teams, keep a close eye on the weekly injury reports and the mid-week press conferences. Arizona’s success is heavily tied to Fifita’s chemistry with his young receivers, while Weber State’s path back to the playoffs depends entirely on stabilizing the quarterback position. Watching how these two teams adjusted after their September clash provides a perfect blueprint for their respective seasons.