Arizona Wildcats Gear Up for Big 12 Opener Against No. 14 Iowa State

AMES, Iowa — The Arizona Wildcats are set to face the No. 14 Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Jack Trice Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the game for free through select streaming services or with a subscription to mainstream networks.

The Wildcats, led by head coach Brent Brennan, have had a strong start to the season, boasting a record of 3-0 after impressive wins against Hawaii and Weber State. This marks Arizona’s best start since 2015, fueling optimism among players and fans.

“I feel like there’s definitely been a lot of growth this year,” Arizona defensive back Genesis Smith stated. “As far as responding, it’s showing out there.”

Brendan, now in his third year with the team, struggled initially with a 4-8 record in his first season. In an effort to improve the team, he brought in former Mike Leach assistant Seth Doege as offensive coordinator and promoted Danny Gonzales to defensive coordinator.

The Wildcats’ quarterback, Noah Fifita, returns this season, and the team has bolstered its skill positions with fast players. Additionally, Brennan has invested in strengthening the defense to address the shortcomings of the previous season.

Recently, Brennan experienced a unique opportunity as he took a lap at Phoenix Raceway. Dressed in a full race suit, he got a taste of NASCAR when officials helped him into the cockpit. “That was awesome,” Brennan said after the ride. “It was neat to be able to sit in one of these cars and feel what it’s like.”

With the team pushing its limits under the “redline” mentality, Brennan aims to foster an environment of maximum effort and accountability. “It’s our standard, everyone knows what it means,” he explained. “They need to give effort, they need to execute, they need to be accountable.”

The Wildcats look to maintain their momentum as they enter the Big 12 Conference with this pivotal matchup against Iowa State.