From a preseason top 25 ranking to preseason All-Americans, Arizona has the foundation and expectations to be an elite team this season. If everything goes according to plan, there’s no reason they can’t accomplish that.
Their schedule in the Big 12 isn’t easy, but one could argue they have an easier schedule than they did a year ago when they were ranked among the top 15 teams in the country in most polls.
A lot has changed for Arizona over the last nine months, but one thing has remained the same, and that might be all they need to continue to be as great as they were last season.
This is the return of quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, perhaps the best wide receiver-quarterback duo in the country.
Both have high expectations, especially McMillan, who is considered a potential top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Fifita, who is likely to get many draft appearances in his time, also has to prove to evaluators that he is as good as he was last year.
Many assume that this will be the case, including The athlete.
The athlete conducted a mock draft for the Heisman election and selected 34 players. Fifita was one of them and was selected No. 26.
When it comes to why he could win the Heisman Trophy, Fifita’s decision to stay in Arizona and not enter the transfer portal is seen as a “strong opportunity to secure a spot in the race for the Heisman Trophy in 2024.”
“Fifita’s QB rating in 2023 (165.92) is the seventh-best among returning FBS quarterbacks. Last season, he was tied with Beck for the fourth-best completion percentage in college football (72.4). One of the best receivers in the country returns in Tetairoa McMillan.
“Yes, the Wildcats are in a new league and have a new coach. But if Arizona has another outstanding season, Fifita and McMillan will get most of the credit and a lot of praise for not leaving the program through the transfer portal. That’s a good way to secure a spot in the Heisman Trophy race.”
If Arizona makes the College Football Playoffs, he will certainly be considered. He will have to play impressively to win the Heisman Trophy, but he has the talent to be a dark horse.
If he ends up being in the running for the Heisman, that would be a good sign for Arizona. Most Heisman winners play on high-level teams, so Arizona would probably have to be on one for him to be considered.
