The University of Arizona football team, with a record of 4-1 and 1-1 in the Big 12, is set to face West Virginia University (3-2, 0-2) on Saturday, October 10. The game will kick off at 9 a.m. and will be available on TNT.
Notably, West Virginia’s head coach, Rich Rodriguez, previously coached Arizona from 2012 to 2017. This matchup is significant as it marks the first time since 1992 that the Wildcats will compete against a former head coach.
The Mountaineers, looking to break a two-game home losing streak, will rely on quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., who has been impressive with 18 total touchdowns this season and accumulated 376 total yards in a recent narrow loss to Iowa State.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita will be making his 40th career start while facing a West Virginia defense that struggles statistically. The Wildcats excel on third downs, converting 57.8%, which will test the Mountaineers’ defense, who needs to exert pressure on Arizona’s offensive line.
The game may pivot on ball security, as Arizona has a minus-4 turnover margin, ranking 114th nationally, potentially giving Hawkins Jr. more opportunities to score. The Wildcats will be without several key receivers, including Tre Spivey III, while West Virginia’s Rodney Gallagher III, a former Arizona player, has had limited impact thus far.
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