Arizona football

The Arizona Wildcats football team represents the University of Arizona in the sport of American college football. The Wildcats compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Pac-12 Conference. The team has won six conference championships, tied for the third-most in the Pac-12 Conference. Arizona has also played in 11 bowl games, including the 1993 Fiesta Bowl, which the Wildcats won. The Wildcats have produced 43 first-team All-Americans and 14 players in the College Football Hall of Fame. The team's home games are played at Arizona Stadium in Tucson.

History

The first Arizona football game was played on October 25, 1899, against the University of New Mexico. The Wildcats won the game, 12-0. The team's head coach was Frank A. "Pop" McKale, who also served as the university's athletic director. McKale coached the Wildcats for 34 seasons and won 207 games, which is the most in Arizona football history.
In recent years, the Wildcats have struggled to win consistently. The team has had just one winning season since 2011. However, the Wildcats have shown signs of improvement in recent years. The team finished the 2022 season with a record of 5-7 and was ranked 95th in the FBS.

Rivalries

Arizona's biggest rival is the University of Arizona. The two teams have met 116 times, with Arizona State leading the series 54-53-9. The Wildcats also have rivalries with the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Southern California, and the University of Utah.

Notable players

Some of the most notable players in Arizona football history include:

- Rob Gronkowski, tight end

- Nick Foles, quarterback

- Tedy Bruschi, linebacker

- Chuck Cecil, defensive back

- Terrell Suggs, defensive end

Arizona football today

The Wildcats are currently coached by Jonathan Smith. Smith is in his third season as the head coach of the Wildcats. Smith has a record of 11-15 at Arizona. The Wildcats are expected to improve in 2023. The team has a talented roster and is led by quarterback Jayden de Laura. The Wildcats are also expected to be competitive in the Pac-12 South division.