Arizona Wildcats Set to Compete in Holiday Bowl
The Arizona Wildcats, currently ranked No. 18, are set to compete in the upcoming Trust & Will Holiday Bowl. This highly anticipated matchup will take place at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego on January 2, 2024. The Wildcats will face a yet-to-be-named opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Arizona Wildcats’ 2023 Season Highlights
Arizona secured its bowl invitation with an impressive 9-3 record. This marked a significant turnaround under head coach Brent Brennan, who is in his second year. The Wildcats concluded their season with a five-game winning streak, highlighted by a victory in the Territorial Cup against ASU.
- Record: 9-3
- Last five games: Won all
- Territorial Cup victory over ASU in Tempe
Player Achievements
Quarterback Noah Fifita was instrumental in the Wildcats’ success. With a program-record 70 career touchdown passes, he earned First Team All-Big 12 honors. His season statistics include:
- Passing yards: 2,963
- Completion percentage: 64.2%
- Touchdowns: 26
- Interceptions: 5
Other standout players included defensive backs Treydan Stukes and Dalton Johnson, both receiving first-team accolades. Notably, wide receiver Kris Hutson, linebacker Taye Brown, and defensive backs Jay’Vion Cole and Genesis Smith earned spots on the third team.
Historical Context of the Holiday Bowl
This will be Arizona’s third appearance in the Holiday Bowl and their first since 2009, when they fell to Nebraska. The Wildcats previously won the Holiday Bowl in 1989 against the same team, with a close score of 23-20.
Previous Bowl Appearances
- 2023 Alamo Bowl: Defeated Oklahoma 38-24
- 2017 Foster Farms Bowl: Lost to Purdue 38-35
Game Details
The Holiday Bowl will kick off at 6 p.m. MST on January 2. This year marks the first time the game is scheduled for January rather than December. Fans can watch the event live on FOX, with commentary from announcers Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt.
The Arizona Wildcats are looking to build on their recent successes and make a strong statement in this prestigious bowl game.
