Wildcats face Wildcats: Arizona Road to Success against Weber State in Week 2

As the Arizona Wildcats are going to face the Weber State Wildcats on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Arizona Stadium, the stage is all set for an intriguing battle of feline mascots. Having just blown Hawaii 40-6 in their season-opener, Arizona will build some momentum against an FCS opponent Weber State, who underperformed in their opener and lost 45-10 to James Madison. The Wildcats are the prohibitive favorite but must be careful not to get complacent and take their opponents lightly like they did last season when they beat Northern Arizona in a closer-than-it-ought-to-have-been affair. Here is a game plan of what Arizona needs to do in order to win convincingly, and some projection on how the game will turn out.

Arizona’s Keys to Victory

1. Polish the Passing Game
   Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita tasted brilliance in Week 1 but was unsteady, getting just 13 of 23 passes for 161 yards and one score against Hawaii. With Weber State’s defense allowing six touchdowns to James Madison, this game is a chance of gold for Fifita to find his rhythm. Arizona’s offense coordinator Seth Doege no-huddle, high-tempo attack should exploit Weber State’s secondary exposed last week. Arizona needs to get receivers such as Tre Spivey, Isaiah Mizell, Chris Hunter, and Kris Hutson involved early to open up the field and create the passing lanes. Express releases will be the priority because Fifita’s average time-to-throw last season was a concerning 3.14 seconds compared to 2.55 seconds in 2023. An effective, crisp passing attack will set the tone for Arizona offensively before more daunting Big 12 games ahead.
2. Take Over the Ground Game
   Arizona’s running attack was a strong point against Hawaii, rushing for 185 yards and four touchdowns, as Kedrick Reescano, Quincy Craig, and Ismail Mahdi scored. Weber State’s defense was penetration of 313 rushing yards by James Madison, which is a major weakness. Arizona will need to use its three backs, particularly Mahdi, a dynamic transfer from Texas State, to control the tempo of the game and fatigue Weber State’s front seven. Establishing the run early, as it did against Hawaii with three consecutive runs to begin the game, will set up play-action opportunities and keep Weber State’s defense second-guessing.
3. Create Turnovers and Limit Big Plays
   Defensively, Arizona was impressive by holding Hawaii to just six points in Week 1. Weber State quarterback Jackson Gilkey was picked three times in his first game against James Madison, giving the Arizona secondary, led by safety Genesis Smith, a chance to capitalize. Wildcats’ interception leader last season, Smith should be a key player in disrupting Weber State’s passing game. Also, the Arizona defense, with the increased depth brought by transfer Tiaoalii Savea, needs to harass Gilkey and halt running back Davion Godley, the possible dual-threat in the backfield. By stopping Weber State’s run game and causing turnovers, Arizona can contain visitors’ offense and prevent the defensive breakdowns that plagued them against New Mexico last year.
4. Clean Up Special Teams
   Arizona’s special teams struggled with some inconsistency against Hawaii, including punter Michael Salgado-Medina having trouble with poor snaps. Since Weber State’s offense won’t be able to string together long drives, Arizona’s special teams will need to pin the guests deep with strong punts and continue their top kickoff touchback rate (0.95 in 2024, best in NCAA Division I). A clean game here will limit Weber State’s field position advantage and offer Arizona’s offense shorter fields to work on.
5. Stay Disciplined and Avoid Complacency
   The 12-point win a year ago against Northern Arizona, even as a 37.5-point favorite, is a harsh reminder to Arizona not to underestimate any opponent. Head coach Brent Brennan has pointed to that game as a lesson. Arizona must remain concentrated, execute a vanilla but effective game plan, and avoid taking penalties or mental blunders that would present Weber State a chance to keep up. The next game against rugged Kansas State on September 12 is Arizona’s last chance to shape up before the Big 12 grind begins.

Game Predictions

Offensive Standouts

• Noah Fifita: Expect Fifita to atone for his forgettable Week 1 performance by throwing 250+ yards and two or more touchdowns as he targets Weber State’s defense. His chemistry with Tre Spivey and Kris Hutson will be a thing of beauty, each with a touchdown reception.
• Ismail Mahdi: Mahdi’s speed and elusiveness make him a perfect fit to capitalize on Weber State’s run defense woes. Look for him to rush for 100+ yards and a touchdown, potentially adding a receiving score.
• Jayleen Record (Weber State): ADDTEXT

Defensive Impact

• Arizona’s defense, under first-year coordinator Danny Gonzales, will feast on Weber State’s inexperience in offense. Genesis Smith is overdue for an interception, and Taye Brown and Tre Smith may accumulate multiple tackles for loss between them. Weber State’s run game, led by Davion Godley, will struggle to get going against Arizona’s improved front seven.

Special Teams Edge

• Arizona’s kickoff unit will once more dominate, pinning Weber State deep to start drives. However, the Wildcats must shore up their punt game so that they do not provide Weber State with easy fields.

Score Prediction

Arizona’s depth deserves to overwhelm Weber State, particularly after the FCS team’s troubles defending against James Madison. The Wildcats’ offense gets going, with Fifita distributing the ball and the running game carrying the load. Arizona’s defense keeps interceptive Weber State to only a handful of points, riding turnovers. Look for Weber State to get a late score against Arizona’s bench.

Final Score: Arizona 48, Weber State 10

Why Arizona Will Win

Arizona’s superior talent, home-field advantage, and motivation to build on their Week 1 win are the reasons they are the pick to beat. Weber State’s loss to James Madison exposed weaknesses in both their run defense and passing game, two domains where Arizona is set to capitalize. By focusing on a balanced offensive attack, forcing turnovers, and playing sound football, Arizona should cruise to a victory that gives them confidence going into a Week 3 game against Kansas State that is important. This game is less about whether Arizona is going to win and more about how they can use it to refine their execution for what’s to come.