Can No. 18 BYU handle the elements, improved Arizona Wildcats?

TUCSON, Arizona — BYU defensive tackle Justin Kirkland says if he makes a play in Saturday night’s game against the much-improved Arizona Wildcats here at rain-soaked Arizona Stadium, he will do a “penguin slide,” whatever that is.

BYU special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga said the No. 18 Cougars (5-0, 2-0) are “ready for the monsoon” as Hurricane Priscilla bears down on southern Arizona and is expected to bring multiple inches of rain and high winds to the Big 12 game that kicks off at 5 p.m. local time, 6 p.m. MDT in Utah.

“We know there is going to be heavy, heavy rain,” Poppinga said Wednesday. “I think our team is up for that. They are excited. They are going to be prepared for that. … We love the elements. We are ready for it.”

But the Wildcats (4-1, 1-1) insist they will be ready, too, and the homestanding team coming off a confidence-building plastering of Oklahoma State just happens to have a starting quarterback with the first name of Noah. So there’s that.

“Arizona is a good football team. They are playing good ball. We know they have a great quarterback (Noah Fifita) and a very good defense, and we are playing on the road. It is going to be a huge challenge.”

— BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick

“I hope it rains,” Kirkland said. “It will be a fun one.”

Fun for the winning team, obviously.

Which team will that be?

It’s not an overstatement to say it is huge for both squads. Local media here in Tucson is calling it the most important game of coach Brent Brennan’s short tenure, while BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said Monday it begins the most difficult six-game stretch in BYU football history.

“Arizona is a good football team,” Roderick said. “They are playing good ball. We know they have a great quarterback (Noah Fifita) and a very good defense, and we are playing on the road. It is going to be a huge challenge.”

Calling it a trap game, because up next for BYU is the rivalry showdown with Utah, is a disservice to the Wildcats, who are only slight underdogs and a popular pick among several national prognosticators to pull off the “upset.”

The Utes take on Arizona State in Salt Lake City, where heavy rains are also expected, a couple of hours after the Cougars and Wildcats stage their rematch of BYU’s 41-19 win last year in Provo.

Roderick reminded reporters to bring their rain jackets as he exited the BYU practice field Tuesday, as word of the impending tropical storm in southern Arizona was trickling out.

“These guys have our full attention, for sure. All you gotta do is turn on the tape. They haven’t given up a passing touchdown this year. Nobody has been able to run the ball on them. They fly around and hit people,” Roderick said. “Their only loss (39-14) was at No. 22 Iowa State. That is not an easy place to play. So yeah, we respect this team a lot.”

BYU’s ESPN FPI ranking is 20, while Arizona’s is 47; the Cougars are being given a 69.5% chance to win by that analytic service, which seems far too high. Clearly, this is a pivotal game in the Cougars’ season, and wildly important to BYU’s quest to become a Big 12 championship game contender in its third season in the league.

It is a must-win, really, and will go a long way in showing whether the Cougars are contenders or pretenders in 2025, along with next week’s home game against the Utes. BYU is trying to get to 6-0, and become bowl eligible, for the second-straight season.

“We know this is going to be a tough task. They have a really good thing going right now in their program and that’s what happens when you get a culture-builder like Brent Brennan and give them time to do that,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “His defense, offense and special teams are playing at a high level right now, and we need to be at our ‘A’ game in Tucson this weekend.”

Arizona has by far the more experienced quarterback, although Fifita struggled last year in Provo, throwing three interceptions and completing only 26 of 52 passes, and will be the best all-around team BYU has faced this season to date.

BYU freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier played well and mistake-free in the Cougars’ last two road games, wins at East Carolina and Colorado, but will face a better defense that has not allowed a passing touchdown this season.

“You look at them statistically, and you watch film, and they just pop out (with a great defense),” Bachmeier said. “You look at their last games, and they have got a great scheme. We gotta bring our ‘A’ game.”

BYU will almost certainly be shorthanded, with reserve cornerback and special teams ace Marcus McKenzie ruled out and star linebacker Jack Kelly and reserve defensive tackle Anisi Purcell listed as doubtful. Backup running back Enoch Nawahine and starting nickel Tommy Prassas are questionable.

The Cougars’ list of probables is growing, too, with nickel Jonathan Kabeya close to returning. Linebackers Isaiah Glasker, Miles Hall, Naki Tuakoi and Siale Esera are all listed as probable as well.

That depth that Sitake has been building for years will be tested, indeed.

Come rain, shine, a monsoon, or a penguin slide.

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