The Arizona Wildcats are officially BACK in a bowl game for the second time in three years, gearing up to take on the SMU Mustangs in the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA on Jan 2.
The Wildcats are coming off their best season since 2023, when they beat the Oklahoma Sooners in the Alamo Bowl, going 9-3, ending with a top-20 defense, three players on the All-Big 12 first team, and reigniting belief in the hearts of Arizona fans everywhere.
Meanwhile, SMU ended its season with an 8-4 record, one of the top offenses in the ACC, and a year removed from reaching the College Football Playoffs and losing to Penn State in the first round. Fireworks are expected when these two teams meet on the field, so let’s take a look at what they bring to the table in what may be an electrifying game in California.
On offense
The Arizona offense, led by first-year coordinator Seth Doege and veteran first-team All-Big 12 quarterback Noah Fifita, is coming off a season in which it ranked sixth in the Big 12, according to the official website.
Fifita himself made incredible improvements from last year, when he threw for 2,958 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. In 2025, the junior standout threw for 2,963 yards, 26 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Wide receiver Kris Hutson became his most trusted target late in the season, catching 57 balls for 740 yards and four touchdowns.
The rushing attack is led by Ismail Mahdi, who ended his season with 791 yards on the ground with four touchdowns. Kedrick Reescano ended his junior year with 394 yards and nine touchdowns, which led all running backs and receivers.
SMU is coming off a season in which it led the ACC as a passing offense. Quarterback Kevin Jennings was statistically the second-best quarterback in the conference, throwing for 3,363 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions…