Shorthanded Arizona Wildcats football falls to SMU in Holiday Bowl

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SAN DIEGO — The Arizona Wildcats had hopes to become the fifth team in program history to win 10 games in a season. 

Even though they clawed their way to the end, those hopes turned sour for the UA, with the shorthanded 17th-ranked Wildcats falling to SMU, 24-19, in the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl Friday night at Snapdragon Stadium. 

Arizona fought back in the second half and outscored the Mustangs 19-0 in the second half, but a 24-0 deficit was too much to overcome.

It's the largest margin of defeat for Arizona (9-4) in a bowl game since the Wildcats' loss to Oklahoma State in the 2010 Alamo Bowl. Arizona snapped its five-game winning streak and lost for the first time since its walk-loss to Houston in October.  

The Wildcats were without arguably their three best defensive players and the heart and soul of one of the top passing defenses in college football. 

Arizona senior defensive backs and first-team All-Big 12 selections Treydan Stukes and Dalton Johnson and junior safety Genesis Smith opted out of the Holiday Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft — similar to former left tackle Jordan Morgan, who opted out of Arizona's win over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl two years ago.

Stukes, Johnson and Smith — who combined to play 6,700 defensive snaps at Arizona — will likely be Day 3 NFL Draft picks (rounds 4-7). In place of Arizona's trio was Gavin Hunter, who started the first two games of the season in place of Stukes, along with freshmen Dajon Hinton and Coleman Patmon, who both made their first starts at the UA. 

Hunter and Patmon were the safety tandem, with Hinton — who starred at Chandler Hamilton — at slot cornerback.

SMU (9-4) also had multiple opt-outs, including second-leading receiver Romello Brinson, tight end RJ Maryland and defensive tackle Jeffrey M'ba.

However, the opt-outs and absences impacted the Wildcats more. Including defensive end Tre Smith, who's out for the season with a shoulder injury, the Wildcats were without arguably their four best defensive players on Friday.

SMU had 394 yards of total offense to Arizona's 441 — 321 of those UA yards were in the second half. It's the most yards the Wildcats have surrendered since the double-overtime loss to No. 18 BYU. The Wildcats didn't allow 300-plus yards in six games this season. The Mustangs ran 79 plays to Arizona's 63.

Arizona allowed 278 passing yards, after not allowing 200 yards in eight straight games, which was the longest streak by a Big 12 team since Missouri in 2004. 

Arizona's offense struggled to find a rhythm and didn't score until quarterback Noah Fifita threw a 28-yard touchdown over the middle to wide receiver Javin Whatley to cut into the deficit, 24-6. Fifita completed 28 of 43 passes for 265 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. 

Arizona had a chance to pull within two possessions following an interception by UA linebacker Riley Wilson near the end of the third quarter. Arizona linebacker Chase Kennedy flushed SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings out of the pocket to the right and his pass attempt was tipped by Jay'Vion Cole and the ball landed in the hands of a stumbling Wilson, who had another interception with just over five minutes left in the game.  

Arizona reached the SMU 10-yard line, but Fifita threw an incomplete pass to wide receiver Kris Hutson in the left corner of the end zone. The Wildcats were 2-for-5 on fourth-down conversions Friday night. Arizona was 1-for-2 in the red zone against an SMU defense that ranks first in the ACC in red-zone defense.

Turning point

SMU's first touchdown of the night was set up by a trick play. On SMU's second play from scrimmage on its opening drive, Jennings handed the ball to running back T.J. Harden and then gave it to slot receiver Yamir Knight on a cutback to the backfield. Knight pitched it back to Jennings, who connected with tight end Matthew Hibner for an 80-yard gain down to the UA 1-yard line; Harden scored the following play. Hibner's reception is the longest pass in Holiday Bowl history.

SMU scored three touchdowns on its first four possessions and jumped out to a 24-0 lead at halftime. It was the first time Arizona was shut out in a half since the Territorial Cup to end the 2024 season. The last time Arizona trailed by two touchdowns was the loss to Houston in October. 

Offensive MVP

Jennings, who's set to return to SMU next season, completed 21 of 32 passes for 278 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. 

Jennings had seven passes of 15-plus yards and had completions of 80, 31, 22, 21 (twice), 20 and 18 yards.

Defensive MVP

In his final game at SMU, safety Ahmaad Moses led the Mustangs in tackles (11). 

Unsung hero

Fifita led the Wildcats in rushing yards (73) and threw three touchdowns in the second half. 

Injury report

Arizona left tackle Ty Buchanan exited the game in the first half and was replaced by Rhino Tapa'atoutai. With Buchanan out, the Wildcats were down two starting tackles. Redshirt freshman Matthew Lado started the last three games of the season with senior Tristan Bounds out with a leg injury. 

Hinton, who overcame a left leg injury this season, left the game in the first half with a right leg injury. Patmon also left the game with an undisclosed injury, leaving Arizona to shuffle its defensive secondary. Senior cornerback Ayden Garnes, who had nine tackles and a stop for loss, moved to nickel back and Cole shifted to safety. 

What's next

The Wildcats end their second season under head coach Brent Brennan with a 9-4 record. 

Arizona opens the 2026 season against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks on Sept. 5 at Casino Del Sol Stadium. The Wildcats have nonconference games against NAU, Northern Illinois and former Pac-12 foe Washington State in Pullman. 

The transfer portal period, which started on Friday, is open until Jan. 16. The Wildcats currently have eight players entering the transfer portal.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Shorthanded Arizona Wildcats football falls to SMU in Holiday Bowl

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