Predicting Arizona's Bowl Placing Ahead of Cincinnati Game

Arizona was able to capture its sixth win of the season clinching a bowl berth with an impressive 24-20 win over Kansas.

Oct 4, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tre Spivey (12) celebrates after a play during the third quarter of the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images | Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

Arizona faced off against Kansas (5-5, 3-4 Big 12) with both teams being one win away from clinching a bowl berth. 

After falling behind 17-7, the Wildcats (6-3, 3-3) managed to outscore KU 17-3 the rest of the way to clinch a bowl berth for the first time under head coach Brent Brennan and winning 24-20 over the Jayhawks.

Now that Arizona has clinched a trip to a bowl game, this marks the 23rd time in program history that the Wildcats will be playing postseason football. It is the first bowl game since the 2023 season when Jedd Fisch led UA to the Alamo Bowl and finished 10-3 on the season.

Nov 8, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita (1) against the Kansas Jayhawks in the first half at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Quarterback Noah Fifita had an up and down game going 16 of 31 on his passing attempts while collecting 158 yards and two touchdowns. Plus, Fifita was able to put together 25 yards on the ground despite being sacked five times in the game.

Although it wasn’t his best game, Fifita’s two touchdown passes puts him in a three-way tie for the most touchdown passes in a career in program history with 67 placing him alongside Willie Tuitama and Nick Foles.

Nov 5, 2005; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats starting quarterback Willie Tuitama warms up before his game against the UCLA Bruins at Arizona Stadium, Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images Copyright Rick Scuteri | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

One player that helped the Wildcats secure the comeback win was running back Quincy Craig, who had three rushes for 47 yards and a touchdown. Plus, Craig scored an 8-yard touchdown reception totaling two scores for Arizona.

Not only was Craig the best player on the field for Arizona on Saturday, he received the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week award for his performance. His two biggest runs came on the final drive with an 18-yard run on 3rd and three and then a 24-yard rushing touchdown the next play to seal the win.

Nov 8, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats running back Quincy Craig (24) dives and reaches for the pylon to score a touchdown against the Kansas Jayhawks in the first half at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

With Craig winning the award, he becomes the third WIldcats to do so and it marks the fourth time this season an Arizona player has won the award. Both Ismail Mahdi and Fifita have won the award this season.

So, we at Arizona Wildcats On SI took a look around the national landscape to see where outlets have the Wildcats going when looking at the bowl predictions.

• CBS Sports: Sun Bowl | Arizona vs. SMU (Dec. 31)

• College Football News: LA Bowl | Arizona vs. San Diego State (Dec. 13)

• ESPN No. 1: LA Bowl | Arizona vs. San Diego State (Dec. 13)

• ESPN No. 2: Armed Forces Bowl | Arizona vs. Army (Jan. 2)

•  Sports Illustrated: Sun Bowl | Arizona vs. SMU (Dec. 31)

As of right now, USA Today has not updated their bowl projections from the previous week. However, last week, they had the Wildcats making a bowl game in the last update.

Throughout the Brennan era, Arizona has struggled on the road going 2-5 with four blowout losses where the Wildcats fell behind by double-digits early in the game. However, Arizona won its last road test against Colorado 52-17.

HOMECOMING W. pic.twitter.com/rSMaUQCXmh

— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) November 9, 2025

Clearly with their sixth win of the season, the Wildcats will be going bowling this season. So, we at Arizona Wildcats On SI have put together our bowl prediction for Arizona following the 24-20 win over Kansas.

Bowl Prediction

• Arizona Wildcats On SI: Sun Bowl | Arizona vs. Wake Forest (Dec. 31)

Reason

Nov 8, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats running back Quincy Craig (24) runs for a touchdown against the Kansas Jayhawks in the second half at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

• When you look at the Wildcats as a whole, Arizona has improved drastically from the first year under Brennan but still has room to grow on both sides of the ball. Now, getting out to the fast 3-0 start will go a long way for UA as it tries to get to that magic number of six to become bowl eligible.

• At the beginning of the season, we predicted Arizona winning seven games going 7-5 during the regular season. That is still where we stand today and have the Wildcats getting to that 7-win mark.

Nov 1, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) looks to pass against Utah Utes defensive end John Henry Daley (90) during the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Arizona will now face off against No. 25 Cincinnati (7-2, 5-1), which has been one of the better teams in the Big 12 but is coming off a 45-14 loss to Utah.

Please be sure to share your thoughts with us on our bowl prediction and where we have the Wildcats going. To do so, follow us on our X account by clicking on the link.