{"id":310637,"date":"2025-10-17T11:52:29","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T11:52:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/310637\/"},"modified":"2025-10-17T11:52:29","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T11:52:29","slug":"2025-week-8-preview-arizona-wildcats-houston-cougars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/310637\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Week 8 Preview: Arizona Wildcats @ Houston Cougars"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\"><strong>Time and date: <\/strong>Saturday, October 18 at 12:00 p.m. ET<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\"><strong>Network:<\/strong> FS1<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\"><strong>Location:<\/strong> TDECU Stadium \u2014 Houston, TX<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\"><strong>Spread:<\/strong> Arizona (-1.5)<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\"><strong>Over\/under:<\/strong> 48.5<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\"><strong>All-time series:<\/strong> Houston leads, 3-2<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\"><strong>Last meeting:<\/strong> Arizona 27, Houston 3 \u2014 November 15, 2024<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\"><strong>Current streak:<\/strong> Arizona, 1 (2024)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">One year ago, Houston and Arizona met on a November Friday night in Tucson as their disappointing seasons neared a conclusion. The Cougars and Wildcats, both in their first two years of Big 12 membership, struggled to acclimate to the league and posted identical 4-8 records.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">But 2025 is a different story as each school is righting the ship under a second-year head coach. With Willie Fritz leading the turnaround, Houston (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) is on the brink of bowl eligibility. Meanwhile, Brent Brennan only needed five games to match his 2024 win total with Arizona (4-2, 1-2 Big 12).<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Either the Cougars or Wildcats continue the brighter trajectory Saturday, while the other faces a setback in an early kickoff in Houston, TX.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"_1eezmj01\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.underdogdynasty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/172\/2025\/10\/gettyimages-2185618143.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" data-pswp-height=\"2596\" data-pswp-width=\"3894\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img alt=\"Arizona QB Noah Fifita threw for 224 yards and 2 TD in a 27-3 win over Houston last November.\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"w91vxg0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'\/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'\/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'\/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'\/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3C\/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;)\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/gettyimages-2185618143.jpg\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Arizona QB Noah Fifita threw for 224 yards and 2 TD in a 27-3 win over Houston last November. Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Arizona is fresh off an emotional heartbreaking loss. After several lightning delays in Tucson, the Wildcats were poised to knock off undefeated BYU, clinging to a 24-14 advantage with under five minutes remaining. However, BYU managed a field goal, forced a three-and-out, and knotted the game at 24-24 on a touchdown with 19 seconds remaining before emerging victorious in double overtime.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The result stings, but Arizona showed plenty of promise on the defensive side until the final five minutes of that ballgame. Defense is the impetus driving the Wildcats\u2019 2025 improvement, and the mastermind behind it all is former New Mexico head coach Danny Gonzalez, who tinkered the scheme from a 4-3 to a 3-3-5 when taking the coordinator reins. The switch paid off as the Wildcats limited four of six opponents to 17 points or fewer. There isn\u2019t a glaring area of weakness on the unit, and it ranks highly in a vast array of statistics \u2014 27th in scoring defense, 10th in passing defense, 43rd in run defense, and 15th in total defense. In addition to recording stops, the Wildcats also create momentum-shifting plays, checking in at fifth in the FBS with 13 takeaways.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The stars of this defense reside at the safety position. The combination of Dalton Johnson and Genesis Smith is lethal at stopping the run and pass alike. They rank first and second on the team in tackles and both are frequent contributors to the turnover battle. Smith is tied for the team lead in pass breakups at five, and flying around to the ball is what the Wildcats do best. Arizona is the only FBS team that forces opponents to a sub-50 percent completion rate, and it allows the fewest passing touchdowns in the entire country.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Arizona\u2019s front will operate with defensive end Tre Smith, but the Wildcats are no stranger to \u201cnext man up\u201d this year, regularly thriving despite injuries to starters. Outside linebacker Riley Wilson will spearhead the pass rush and look to force Houston into third-and-long situations. Arizona is at its best on third downs, holding teams to a conversion rate of 30.2 percent \u2014 good for 17th in the FBS.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The offense features a third-year starting quarterback in Noah Fifita who guided Arizona\u2019s 27-3 win over Houston last November. Although Fifita saw a notable dip in production last year, the quarterback is rebounding tremendously this year \u2014 even without first-round NFL Draft wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Fifita has 15 touchdown passes compared to four interceptions, and Arizona is comfortable letting him sling it. He averages 34.8 attempts per game and topped 370 yards on two occasions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The Wildcats replaced McMillan with an entire committee of receivers, as Javin Whatley, Kris Hutson, Chris Hunter, and Luke Wysong all total between 229 and 328 receiving yards at the moment. There is no overwhelming target Houston must key on, but the passing game is primarily wide receiver-led as no tight ends nor running backs rank top-seven on the roster in yards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Running backs Ismail Mahdi and Quincy Craig do play a role in guiding an effective run game, averaging 5.7 and 7.4 yards per carry, respectively. However, establishing the run hasn\u2019t been a determinant to Arizona\u2019s success as a team. It tallied 164 in last week\u2019s double-overtime loss to BYU, yet just 45 in a 41-13 domination of Oklahoma State two weeks ago.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"_1eezmj01\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.underdogdynasty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/172\/2025\/10\/imagn-27299775.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" data-pswp-height=\"2876\" data-pswp-width=\"4314\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img alt=\"Houston DT Carlos Allen leads all FBS defensive tackles with 43 tackles on the year.\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"w91vxg0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'\/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'\/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'\/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'\/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3C\/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;)\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/imagn-27299775.jpg\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Houston DT Carlos Allen leads all FBS defensive tackles with 43 tackles on the year. BRYAN TERRY\/THE OKLAHOMAN \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Houston was 17 fans away from setting a new program record last outing at TDECU Stadium. Although the environment delivered, the Cougars couldn\u2019t shake a Texas Tech team that\u2019s done nothing but obliterate its competition this year. But what the Cougars did manage successfully was their response. They stormed into Stillwater and flew past Oklahoma State in 39-17 fashion \u2014 marking Houston\u2019s largest margin of victory in a conference game since joining the Big 12.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">With 39 points in Week 7, Houston set a new record for points in the Willie Fritz era. The Cougars were second-to-last in points per game a year ago, but the offense has traveled a long way under first-year coordinator Slade Nagle and quarterback Conner Weigman. Weigman returned after missing the second half of the Texas Tech game with a concussion and delivered his best showing since arriving last December. He set season-highs in passing yards (306) and efficiency (70.0 completion rate), and he\u2019s led the Cougars to 36+ points in two of three Big 12 games this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Weigman may be without one of his top receivers Saturday as Stephon Johnson Jr. is listed as \u201cdoubtful\u201d on the Big 12 availability report. The pairing connected on several deep shots down the sideline this year, and Johnson averaged 21.2 yards per catch as a result. Receivers that must step up include yards leader Amare Thomas who collected 157 yards in the Oklahoma State game \u2014 the most for a Houston receiver this season. Harvey Broussard is another player that saw a season-best performance in Stillwater, and his on-field reps will likely skyrocket this week. Other pieces holding the receiving game together are lead tailback Dean Connors (who snagged a highlight one-handed touchdown last week) and tight end Tanner Koziol. The 6\u20197\u201d, 250 pound Koziol is a short-yardage savant, snagging a team-high 30 receptions for 310 yards after transferring in from Ball State.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Houston turned its last-ranked red zone offense from 2024 into a strength in 2025, coming away with points on 91.7 percent of trips inside the 20-yard line. However, the Cougars have 11 red zone touchdowns compared seven red zone field goals this year. Kicker Ethan Sanchez is extremely reliable at 14-of-16 (and 8-of-10 beyond 40 yards), but finishing possessions is an emphasis moving forward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The offense is the most improved unit for Houston, but the defense remains the signature of this team. The Cougars rank 23rd nationally in scoring defense and 25th in total defense, thriving particularly in protecting the air. Houston features tremendous depth in a transfer-led secondary consisting of playmakers with great closing speed like Will James, Zelmar Vedder, and Marc Stampley II. Returning standouts Latrell McCutchin and Kentrell Webb round out a defensive backfield limiting opponents to 181 yards per game on a 59.8 completion percentage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Something that really jumps off the page is Houston\u2019s leading tackler. Standing atop the list is 6\u20191\u201d, 295 pound defensive tackle Carlos Allen, who has 43 tackles \u2014 the most of any FBS defensive tackle. Allen enjoyed an excellent showing at Arizona last year with 1.5 sacks, and he remains a force on Houston\u2019s d-line, securing numerous stops at the first-level on a weekly basis. Still, the Cougars look to develop a stronger pass rush as nobody on the roster currently claims more than 2.5 sacks. They\u2019ll turn to Eddie Walls III and Corey Platt Jr. to pierce through a Wildcat offensive line allowing an average of 2.3 sacks through six games.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">You probably couldn\u2019t select two Big 12 teams more identical at the moment than Arizona and Houston. Both teams rank very similar in offensive and defensive metrics alike and are far more advanced on-field products than the ones we saw in last year\u2019s Friday night showdown in Tucson.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The trajectories of the Cougars and Wildcats suggest this will be a lower-scoring game where the passing defenses produce a slew of third down stops. Both teams will need to ignite their run games \u2014 which haven\u2019t been the primary strength of the offense \u2014 in order to create more offensive success Saturday. This should be a back-and-forth contest down to the wire, and Arizona escapes thanks to its ability to manufacture takeaways on a whim.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\"><strong>Prediction: Arizona 24, Houston 20<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Time and date: Saturday, October 18 at 12:00 p.m. ET Network: FS1 Location: TDECU Stadium \u2014 Houston, TX&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":310638,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5130],"tags":[4345,110646,358,3187],"class_list":{"0":"post-310637","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-houston","8":"tag-houston","9":"tag-legacy-aac","10":"tag-texas","11":"tag-tx"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115389370233771507","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=310637"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310637\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/310638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=310637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=310637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=310637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}