Arizona Wildcats face Northern Arizona in season opener

The Arizona Wildcats are set to open their 2026 season at Casino Del Sol Stadium against the Northern Arizona University (NAU) Lumberjacks. Arizona enters the matchup as a 33.5-point favorite according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

NAU enters the game following a 34-27 victory over Eastern Washington. The Lumberjacks are currently ranked 20th in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. Key players for NAU include All-Big Sky preseason selections Jeter Purdy and Shoes Brinkley, both of whom showed strong performance in their previous outing.

For Arizona, analysts are focusing on defensive matchups, specifically the ability of defensive back Quinn Olson to contain Purdy. Predictions for the game suggest a decisive victory for the Wildcats, with projected scores ranging from 40-13 to 42-10.