Arizona Wildcats

The Arizona Wildcats bring desert-tough football to Tucson, playing under the lights at Arizona Stadium in front of a passionate fan base. The program has carved out its identity through periodic surges of national relevance, mixed with the grit of a proud but often overlooked West Coast program. Arizona has long been known for producing tenacious defenses and occasional signature upsets over ranked rivals. Now competing in the Big 12, the Wildcats look to build sustained success in a new conference home.

Arizona football began in 1899 under first head coach Stuart Forbes. The Wildcats joined the Western Athletic Conference in 1962 before becoming a founding member of the Pac-10 in 1978. Arizona has won six conference championships, three outright (1935, 1936, 1941) and three shared (1964, 1973, 1993), along with a Pac-12 South division title in 2014. After more than four decades in the Pac-12, Arizona joined the Big 12 Conference in 2024, opening a new chapter for the program.