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Bout with Utah the biggest game for Arizona during Brent Brennan's tenure
Arizona Wildcats head coach Brent Brennan. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Bout with Utah the biggest game for Arizona during Brent Brennan's tenure

The Arizona Wildcats host the second-ranked Utah Utes on Saturday in the biggest game during Brent Brennan's Wildcat tenure. 

Utah is the highest-ranked team Arizona has played under Brennan in his third season. Arizona is hosting the second-ranked team for the first time since a 34-24 win over the Oregon Ducks on Nov. 15, 2007.

Arizona last played the second-ranked team in 2014 when it won 31-21 at the Oregon Ducks. Oregon avenged the loss to Arizona with a 51-13 win in the 2014 Pac-12 Championship Game. Arizona finished the 2014 season 10-4 after losing 38-30 to the Boise State Broncos in the Fiesta Bowl.

Utah is ranked second in the Associated Press Top 25 and the Coaches Poll this week. That ties the highest ranking in Utah history. Utah was previously ranked second in the final 2008 poll after finishing the season 13-0. The 13 wins set a Utah program record.

The UCLA Bruins and Utah are the only undefeated teams remaining after the Miami Hurricanes lost 31-24 at the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday. Miami's loss at Notre Dame allowed Utah to move up from third to second in the national rankings.

Where Arizona is in the national rankings

Arizona is 22nd in the AP Top 25 and 21st in the Coaches Poll. The Wildcats have been ranked for four consecutive weeks in 2026 after being in the final two polls of the 2025 regular season. Arizona is 7-2, with its 2026 losses at the AP No. 10 Texas Tech Red Raiders and 12th-ranked BYU Cougars.

Utah leads the all-time series against Arizona 26-21. Arizona has an 11-12-2 record against Utah in Tucson. Arizona has won the last two games against Utah. The Wildcats won 23-10 in Salt Lake City in 2024 and beat the Utes 42-18 in the last season both schools were in the Pac-12.

Arizona still has an outside chance at earning a Big 12 Championship Game berth and potentially a spot in the College Football Playoff. Utah leads the Big 12 at 6-0, and Texas Tech is 5-1, followed by five teams, including Arizona at 5-2. 

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