Arizona announced the themes for its home games this football season.
The Wildcats’ homecoming game will be against the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday, Nov. 8.
The Wildcats kick off the second season under head coach Brent Brennan against Hawaii at home on Aug. 30 with a celebration of Polynesian Heritage. It’ll be the seventh all-time matchup between Arizona and Hawaii. The Wildcats’ only loss in the series is a 45-38 defeat in 2019 in Honolulu. Arizona last played Hawaii in Tucson in 2016 before the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor; the Wildcats wore USS Arizona-themed uniforms for the game.
Arizona will wrap up nonconference play in Tucson against other teams with Wildcats as their mascot, Weber State on Sept. 6 and Kansas State on Friday, Sept. 12, for “Retro Night.” The Weber State game theme is Native American Land Acknowledgement and honoring the UA Sports Hall of Fame class.
Even though Kansas State is a Big 12 team, the matchup with Arizona is the final part of the previously scheduled home-and-home nonconference series. UA lost to Kansas State 31-7 in Manhattan last season.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita tries to run for yardage in the third quarter of Saturday’s 28-22 home loss to Texas Tech.
The Wildcats’ Big 12 home opener is against Oklahoma State on Oct. 4, which will also honor Hispanic Heritage. Oklahoma State, led by longtime head coach Mike Gundy, went winless in conference play last season. Arizona is 4-5 all-time against Oklahoma State. The Wildcats won the last game against OSU, 59-38, in Tucson during former head coach Rich Rodriguez’s inaugural season in 2012.
For Family Weekend, Arizona will square off with BYU in back-to-back seasons on Oct. 11. Arizona lost to BYU 41-19 in Provo last season. Arizona has lost four straight games to BYU since 2016.
In addition to homecoming, the Arizona-Kansas game is also “Military Appreciation.” The Wildcats host the Kansas Jayhawks on Nov. 8. Arizona is 2-3-1 against Kansas. Arizona last played KU in 1966. Former Arizona tight end Keyan Burnett transferred to Kansas in December.
Arizona concludes its home schedule with Senior Day on Nov. 22 against the Baylor Bears. The Wildcats’ only game against Baylor was a 20-15 loss at the John Hancock Bowl in 1992.
Contact Justin Spears, the Star’s Arizona football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
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