NCAAF: What Went Wrong This Season For Arizona?

Shoulders were slumped, emotions were low, and the stands were nearly empty. Arizona had just lost their fourth consecutive game, this time, against a West Virginia team without their starting QB. West Virginia outplayed Arizona for much of the game, leading 31-13 in the second half. The Wildcats made a charge, but ultimately Arizona fell 31-26, unable to get a stop in the games final possession. New coach Brent Brennan is now 1-4 in conference play and 3-5 on the season. It has certainly been a rough stretch for the new regime. In fact the Wildcats have just one win since Kamala Harris and Donald Trump debated on September 10th, the night Trump claimed pets were being eaten in Springfield, Ohio. 

Arizona's defense, ravaged by injuries, struggled to slow down West Virginia's backup QB Nicco Marchiol. Marchiol threw two touchdowns and only four incompletions. Additionally, the Mountaineers dominated the ground game, outrushing Arizona 207-78.

Arizona has now dropped multiple home games where they were the consensus favorite. Arizona does not resemble the team that won their final eight games last year, including an Alamo Bowl victory over Oklahoma. The question is why? What has gone wrong?

Among the most disappointing factors during the team’s slump, the most obvious has to be the regression of Sophomore QB Noah Fifita. Fifita was the team’s savior last year. Following an injury to then starter Jayden De Laura, Fifita came in and played so well that De Laura never started another game as a Wildcat. Of course many things have changed since that September night in Northern California, when Fifita stepped in against the Stanford Cardinals and led the team to victory. Arizona’s former head coach Jedd Fisch departed to the University of Washington following the successful season. Fisch definitely had an excellent working relationship with Fifita--one that has not been replaced under the Brennan regime. Statistically, Fifita is nowhere near the player he was last year. Washington's offense hasn't been perfect either, making it hard to argue who has missed the other more, Fifita or Fisch. Both have not been as effective without the other.

On top of that, Arizona left the Pac-12 in favor of the BIG 12, they now face a plethora of new opponents. Arizona is not the only team to struggle in a foreign conference. Utah has also fallen flat in the BIG 12, in addition to Arizona. USC & UCLA have not done well in the BIG 10, a conference historically reserved for midwest schools.

Fifita calls signals out during Arizona's 31-26 loss against West Virginia: Oliver Soderberg KAMP SPORTS

Certainly these changes have done Arizona no favors, but neither has their play. Week in week out, the Wildcats play is sickening– plagued by the same miscues. Arizona Stadium on Saturday night was a microcosm of the team, empty and lacking energy. 

You can hear more of David on his radio show: The Rundown airs Mondays at Noon and Fridays from 10:30-11:45 am. Can’t listen live? His show is also recorded and consumable as a podcast.