The Arizona Wildcats dropped a heartbreaker at home, falling 40-39 to the No. 2 Utah Utes in a closely contested matchup.
This result marks the first time in over a year that Arizona has lost a game on its home field, “according to Yahoo Sports.”
Following the game, Pro Football Focus provided a detailed breakdown of the team’s performance metrics.
The Wildcats, who currently hold a 7-3 overall record and a 4-3 mark in Big 12 play, received an overall grade of 74.1 from the analytics firm.
The offense fared better than the defense, earning a 76.1 mark compared to the 64.2 grade assigned to the defensive unit.
According to the data, the brightest spot for the Wildcats was the passing game, which achieved an impressive 84.6 grade.
Conversely, the team struggled significantly with fundamentals, as the lowest grade of the game was a 49.8 assigned to tackling.
Quarterback Noah Fifita led the offensive effort with 78 snaps and a strong individual grade of 88.0.
Other notable offensive contributors included Chris Hunter III and Isaiah Mizell, who recorded grades of 73.7 and 70.9 respectively.
On the defensive side, Jay’Vion Cole stood out with an 83.5 grade across 36 snaps, while Mays Pese earned a 72.2 mark.
The coaching staff and players will look to address these statistical gaps as they move forward in their conference schedule.
Specific unit performance varied throughout the afternoon, with pass blocking and run defense providing some of the team’s most effective moments.
Rhino Tapa’atoutai was recognized for top-tier pass blocking, while Taye Brown anchored the run defense with a notable 76.6 grade.
Despite these individual successes, the collective effort fell just short of securing a victory against a highly ranked opponent.
The team remains focused on refining its execution in high-leverage situations as the season continues.
The full breakdown of snap counts and grades provides a comprehensive look at the depth utilized during the loss.