No. 15 BYU vs. Arizona: Game day preview plus score prediction
Sep 12, 2026, 12:56 AM | Updated: 12:58 am
PROVO – BYU vs Arizona is one of the top matchups in college football on the Week 2 slate. Both teams have been looking forward to it for months.
BYU and Arizona enter this game with 1-0 records after crushing FCS opponents a week ago. The Cougars, who dropped one spot in the AP Top 25 rankings this week, defeated Utah Tech 63-7.
First Down Provo was a great time.
Cougar Nation. CougarTails. Fire dancers. BYU football. Awesome vibes to gear up for a big game. pic.twitter.com/c3OSeFs31M
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 12, 2026
Meanwhile, Arizona crushed Northern Arizona 35-7.
Now, it’s time for the season to really start for both teams. It’s BYU’s earliest conference opener in 16 years, dating back to 2010, when they traveled on the road to face Air Force as members of the Mountain West Conference.
BYU has won the last five meetings against Arizona, with Kalani Sitake coaching in all five of those games.
Since Arizona joined the Big 12 in 2024, BYU is 2-0 over the Wildcats, including last year’s double-overtime win in Tucson, when the Cougars escaped with a 33-27 victory.
No. 15 BYU vs. Arizona
Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. (MDT)
TV: FOX
Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM) — Coverage begins with Extended Pregame at 10 a.m.
Three gameday thoughts
1. Legend Glasker follow-up
BYU’s true freshman wide receiver was a star in his debut, scoring three touchdowns last week. What’s the follow-up act?
BYU's Legend Glasker earned Big 12 Freshman of the Week for his week one performance against Utah Tech. pic.twitter.com/qzun3Z8sxy
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 7, 2026
Glasker is an electric talent for BYU both in the passing attack and as an option on the ground with jet sweeps. After one game, he instantly created a feeling among Cougar fans that anytime he touches it, it’s going to the house. What does he do against an Arizona defense that has a new-look secondary after losing five guys to the NFL a year ago?
2. Let’s see LJ Martin cook
The reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin had a light outing in the opener against overmatched Utah Tech last week, toting the rock seven times.
Now, with backup running back Sione Moa out with an MCL/PCL injury, does that increase the workload for Martin, who, as offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick noted this week, has gotten better everywhere in his game?
Arizona was elite at stopping the run last week, allowing an eye-popping (-7) rushing yards against the Lumberjacks. The fewest rushing yards allowed in a game by Arizona in 20 years.
If LJ Martin can establish success on the ground early in this one, it could be a long day for the Wildcats.
3. No dropoff should be expected at safety with Tommy Prassas
An unfortunate injury in last week’s win over Utah Tech was Raider Damuni. The good news is that Damuni’s left leg injury isn’t season-ending. The downside is that there’s no clear timeline for his return.
So that leads BYU to go, “next man up.”
The next in line is redshirt sophomore Tommy Prassas, an Arizona native, going up against the Wildcats. He will get his first start since the Colorado game last September, when he started at NICKEL.
Prassas is a good athlete and should thrive in pass protection, giving BYU another ball-hawking athlete in a secondary that prides itself on generating HAVOC.
Two BYU vs Arizona questions
1. What impact will the TRO players have for Arizona?
Arizona added three players to its roster in advance of today’s game against BYU. The key additions are leading rusher from last season, Ismail Mahdi, and third-leading tackler Max Harris.
Mahdi, Harris, and punter Sullivan Moore received Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) from a Pima County Judge against the NCAA, allowing them to play their fifth season with the Wildcats.
The return of Mahdi gives Arizona its top three rushers from last season. Harris joins a linebacker unit that already includes Taye Brown, who led the Wildcats in tackles last week.
2. Will BYU avoid the slow start?
One of the tendencies from BYU football last year that they are looking to erase in 2026. Point to slow starts against Colorado, Iowa State, Texas Tech in Lubbock, and UCF. BYU still managed to win three of those four games, but jumping out to a quick start will be important here.
Arizona QB Noah Fifita said over the summer that he had circled the BYU game.
Huge Big 12 matchup on Saturday between BYU and Arizona. pic.twitter.com/AoBcaxCdiC
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 9, 2026
Arizona comes into today’s game with this matchup circled. They have been counting down to this one for eight months. Arizona QB Noah Fifita wasn’t shy at Big 12 Media Days about saying that the BYU matchup was one he had circled.
Now, quick starts don’t always prevent adversity.
Last year, BYU jumped out to a 14-0 start against Arizona before a weather delay changed the game’s complexion. Then in the second half, BYU found themselves down by 10.
But if BYU gets up 14 early in this one with a home crowd behind them, that could bode well for the Cougars.
One score prediction for BYU vs Arizona
This will be a close game. Arizona is a good team. They were 9-4 last season and are looking for more this year. Arizona is looking for back-to-back 9+ win seasons for the first time since they were members of the WAC in 1974 and 1975.
It’s a huge opportunity for the Wildcats.
But it’s also a big opportunity for BYU to make an early-season statement.
I’ll call for Arizona to get an early lead, but BYU takes control after that and leans on star running back LJ Martin to carry them to a victory.
Score Prediction: BYU 28, Arizona 23
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSL and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
