SMU nearly chokes, but holds on to upset No. 17 Arizona in Holiday Bowl

Friday's Holiday Bowl between SMU and No. 17 Arizona wasn't nearly as close as the final score indicated, but it wasn't a stress-free victory for the Mustangs.

SMU (9-4) took home a 24-19 victory over No. 17 Arizona (9-4) on Friday evening after taking a 24-0 lead into the locker room and giving up 19 unanswered points in the second half. 

SMU recovered an onside kick to hold on to a win in a game that it nearly let slip away. 

Arizona QB Noah Fifita set a school record with 29 touchdown passes on the season, the last of which cut the deficit to 24-19. Fifita threw for 265 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in the loss. 

Meanwhile, SMU QB Kevin Jennings threw three costly interceptions in the win. Running back T.J. Harden accounted for two of SMU's touchdowns, with Stone Eby getting into the end zone for another. 

SMU started 2025 2-2 before going 7-2 over the final nine games. SMU has seven consecutive winning seasons, though Friday's win is its first victory in a bowl game since the 2012 Hawaii Bowl. 

Arizona won its last five regular-season games before losing Friday's contest. In his second season at the helm in Tucson, Brent Brennan helped create a remarkable turnaround and give the Wildcats some real momentum going into 2026.