Arizona Football rose in the Big XII Power Rankings in the spring

Arizona is ranked fourth in 247Sports’ Big 12 Football Preseason Power Rankings: The three-way battle at the top of the revamped league will continue in the 2024 season.” Arizona is just behind the three top contenders Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Utah, according to 247Sports’ forecast.

Big XII Media picked Utah as the conference winner with 20 first-place votes and 906 points. Kansas State was second with 19 first-place votes and 889 points, followed by Oklahoma State with 14 first-place votes and 829 points, Kansas with five first-place votes and 772 points and Arizona with three first-place votes and 762 points.

The clear separation between Utah, Kansas State and Oklahoma in votes and points, with Kansas well behind, shows clear expectations between the top three spots and the subsequent drop. Arizona was tipped to be the eighth seed in the Pac-12 in 2023. The Wildcats finished the season 10-3 and finished third in the Pac-12.

The departure of head coach Jedd Fisch to Washington during the offseason left many wondering if Arizona could match its 2023 performance. Head coach Brent Brennan was able to retain a majority of the 2023 players. Cody Nagel of 247Sports summarized Arizona’s outlook heading into the 2024 season.

“4. ARIZONA WILDCATS
Power ranking after spring: No. 5
If new head coach Brent Brennan can keep things going in Arizona with a handful of key players, the Wildcats should be in the running for the Big 12 title in November. Quarterback Noah Fifita, Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year, and top receiving target Tetairoa McMillan, a Second Team All-Pac-12 candidate, have both announced their return to Arizona…Brennan spent the last seven seasons at San Jose State and there is optimism he can limit a potential drop in performance during the transition to the Big 12.”

– Cody Nagel, 247Sports

The return of Fifita, McMillan and cornerback Tacario Davis was crucial for Arizona. Davis entered the transfer portal and decided to return to Arizona. Offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea and linebacker Jacob Manu, as well as Davis and McMillan, were selected to the All-Big XII first team in the preseason.

Brennan revived the moribund San Jose State program. The Spartans went 34-48 in seven seasons under Brennan. San Jose State went 31-26 in its final five seasons under Brennan after starting 2-23. Brennan is a protégé of former Arizona assistant Rich Ellerson and was an assistant in Tucson in 2000.

Arizona will play its first game as a member of the Big XII on September 13 against another Big XII team in Kansas State. This is technically an out-of-conference game. Arizona and Kansas State had already scheduled the game before Arizona joined the Big XII. This game will be a big decision for Arizona as a member of the Big XII.

After an off week, Arizona will play at Utah on Sept. 28. Arizona will not play Kansas or Oklahoma State during the 2024 regular season. The schedule is favorable for Arizona to earn a spot in the Big XII Championship Game. That Kansas State does not count as a conference road game is significant.

Arizona enters its first season in the Big XII with a good foundation to continue the progress it made last season. Arizona should have one of the most explosive offenses in the Big XII in 2024. Brennan takes over a program that is ready to continue to move up in its first season in the Big XII.