Breaking Down What We Learned About Arizona Ahead of Kansas

Welcome! To another edition of the Arizona Wildcats Insiders Podcast featuring your host Troy Hutchison, who will be delivering a daily podcast discussing everything happening surrounding Arizona athletics, giving you an inside look at all the programs on campus.

Hutchison has been covering Arizona for the last seven years, with his coverage spanning all across UA’s campus from football and men’s basketball to Title IX sports. Plus, with so many former Wildcats playing at the next level in their respective sports, there will be moments where he will take a deep dive into the Cats excelling outside of Tucson.

Arizona (5-3, 2-3 Big 12) went up against Colorado following the bye week and started off hot, hitting receiver Tre Spivey for a 57-yard touchdown, setting the tone early in the game. From that point on, it was all Wildcats as they went on to hammer the Buffaloes 52-17, sealing the fifth win of the year.

Nov 1, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita (1) prepares to pass the ball in second quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Although the WIldcats lost to Houston, quarterback Noah Fifita had his best passing game of the season going 24 of 26 for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Fifita was able to build on that solid performance against Colorado.

Against Colorado, Fifita had another high-level passing game and was able to surgically pick apart the defense, going an impressive 11-for-19 totaling 213 yards while racking up four touchdowns on the night.

Not only was Arizona able to get an elite passing performance by Fifita but the offense was able to score fast when it had the ball with five scoring drives under four minutes.

As an offensive unit, Arizona racked up 390 total yards, 213 passing yards and rushed the ball for 177 yards while finding the end zone three times on the ground.

On the defensive side of the ball, Arizona has struggled the last two games, giving up 490 yards on the ground. Both BYU and Houston were able to run right through the defense, having the most success on the ground against the Wildcats than any other opponent this season.

Against Colorado, Arizona was able to hold the Buffaloes to 128 yards rushing and forced them into passing situations all game long.

In all, the defense gave up 261 yards in total offense and 133 yards passing. However, the defense was that Danny Gonzales’ unit was able to create five turnovers, helping flip the field for the Wildcats’ explosive offense.

Arizona has gotten back in the win column and we at Arizona Wildcats On SI have put together our three observations from the game.

Three Observations

Tre Spivey

Arizona and Fifita have done a great job of spreading the football around this season with several different receivers and tight ends hauling in passes and making an impact on the offense. However, one receiver has been finding the end zone at a rapid rate in Spivey.

So far this season, Spivery has recorded 11 catches and has one rushing attempt, where he has racked up 283 yards. But the impressive thing is that he has scored SEVEN touchdowns on the year.

Clearly, this is a weapon Arizona and Doege need to start getting the ball to more, and he has proven to be one of the top receivers on the roster.

Starting Strong

Nov 1, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Arizona Wildcats running back Kedrick Reescano (3) scores a touchdown past Colorado Buffaloes linebacker Jeremiah Brown (42) in the second half at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

One of the quickest ways to take an opposing crowd out of the game on the road is scoring quickly and getting off to an early lead.

Arizona has been able to do that in back-to-back games on the road and both thanks to long touchdowns by wide receiver Tre Spivey on quick passes by Noah Fifita against Houston two weeks ago and Colorado on Saturday.

Iowa State Cyclones' wide receiver Chase Sowell (0) catches a around Arizona Wildcats defensive back Ayden Garnes (9) during the first quarter in the Big-12 conference showdown on Sept. 27, 2025, at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa. | Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Earlier this season, in Arizona's first road game against Iowa State, the Wildcats fell behind 8-0 early and 22-0 by the end of the first half.

Fast starts will be critical for Arizona in its final two road games of the season against Cincinnati and Arizona State.

Creating Turnovers

A good night in Boulder. pic.twitter.com/1t7gPqaTv1
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) November 2, 2025

The Arizona defense was suffocating all night, only yielding 17 points from the Buffaloes, and one of those being a field goal in the final minutes of the game.

The Wildcats forced five turnovers, three of those being interceptions and two from fumbles. Those five turnovers resulted in 21 points being scored, showing that the Wildcats can be advantageous when given the opportunities

Nov 1, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Arizona Wildcats defensive back Genesis Smith (12) returns an interception in the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Arizona’s aggressive defense that swarms to the quarterback and gives constant pressure is the reason why it is second in the Big 12, now with 12 interceptions on the season.

A heavy amount of turnovers has got to add some confidence to a defense that failed to record any in the last game against Houston.

Please be sure to share your thoughts on our three observations from the Wildcats’ win over Colorado. To do so, follow us on our X account by clicking on the link.