Arizona falls in a shootout with Utah 40-39 in a Top 25 Big 12 football battle
The Wildcats traded haymakers all night and into the morning with the Utes, but came up one point short in the end, losing 40-39, November 15, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Utah linebacker Elijah Elliss (83) slings Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita (1) to the turf for a sack during the fourth quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona defensive lineman Mays Pese (99) hurls himself between Utah offensive lineman Alex Harrison (79), left, and running back Daniel Bray (5) to recover a fumbled pitch in the third quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Utah wide receiver Braden Pegan (7) gets a step on Arizona cornerback Tyrese Boss (9) and reels in a bomb to get the Utes to the ten yard line to end the third quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Utah running back Daniel Bray (5) bolts between Arizona defensive lineman Leroy Palu (95), left, and defensive lineman Mays Pese (99 ) picking up yardage in the third quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita (1) fends off Utah safety Rabbit Evans (1) to get the ball inside the five in the third quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona wide receiver Chris Hunter (11) protects the ball from Utah cornerback Elijah Davis (9) after getting wide open deep for catch in the third quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona cornerback Tyrese Boss (9) gets enough of the ball to prevent Utah wide receiver Braden Pegan (7) from making a catch in the end zone in the fourth quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona cornerback Dwight Bootle II (12) steamrolls Utah punt returner Mana Carvalho (8) and force a turnover in the fourth quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona wide receiver Isaiah Mizell (17) gets a few more yards on Utah safety Rabbit Evans (1) after getting open deep along the sideline in the fourth quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona safety Lee Molette III (17) is a second late to keep Utah running back Daniel Bray (5) from making the catch out wide in the fourth quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 15, 2026.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita (1) slings a pass around the pressure from Utah linebacker Trey Reynolds (10) in the fourth quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 15, 2026.
Arizona running back Kedrick Reescano (3) jumps with joy after battering his way to a touchdown in the second quarter against Utah in their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona cornerback Tyrese Boss (9), bottom, and defensive lineman Leroy Palu (95) go high-low on Utah running back Daniel Bray (5) in the second quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona running back Quincy Craig (24) lunges full out for the first down marker as Utah safety Rabbit Evans (1) takes him down in the first quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026. Craig came up short of the mark.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita (1) gets off the pass over Utah safety Jackson Bennee (23) put has to dump it out of play in the second quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona safety Quinn Olson (35), left, and linebacker Chase Kennedy (7) put the vise on Utah quarterback Devon Dampier (4) on his run in the second quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona wide receiver Isaiah Mizell (17) skips into the end zone ahead of Utah safety Jackson Bennee (23) for a score in the fourth quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona linebacker Everett Roussaw Jr. (16) exults after sacking Utah quarterback Devon Dampier (4) late in the fourth quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona linebacker Cooper Blomstrom (48) comes in to sack Utah quarterback Devon Dampier (4) and stop the two point conversion in the fourth quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona running back Quincy Craig (24) lays out Utah safety Tommy Nelson (38) and springs wide receiver Caleb Smith (20) for a sizable gain on a kick off return in the fourth quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan has a hat-pat for offensive lineman Matthew Lado (73) after a Wildcat touchdown against Utah in the third quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona safety Quinn Olson (35) picks up a pass interference flag in keeping Utah wide receiver Braden Pegan (7) from making the catch in the third quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona wide receiver Isaiah Mizell (17), left, and running back Kedrick Reescano (3) celebrate Mizell’s touchdown in the third quarter against Utah, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona cornerback Tyrese Boss (9) drags down Utah quarterback Devon Dampier (4) but not before he scores in the second quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona wide receiver Giovanni Richardson (5) can’t keep his grip on the pass as he goes down in front of Utah safety Jackson Bennee (23) in the second quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona linebacker Chase Kennedy (7) gets a lot of face mask in helping stack up Utah running back Daniel Bray (5) at the line in the second quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona wide receiver Chris Hunter (11) gets thrown by Utah cornerback Elijah Reed (11) after making a catch on a short throw in the second quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Utah running back Daniel Bray (5) turns the corner and slips away from Arizona linebacker Myron Robinson (10) in the second quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Former Arizona tight end Rob Gronkowki flexes for the crowd as he’s introduced as the night’s honorary captian in the first quarter of the Wildcats’s Big 12 game with Utah, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona running back Quincy Craig (24) celebrates on the turf after plunging into the end zone in the first quarter of the game against Utah, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona wide receiver Giovanni Richardson (5) has a moment to enjoy his touchdown catch against Utah in the third quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Arizona wide receiver Chris Hunter (11) snags the throw in front of Utah cornerback Elijah Davis (9) for a Wildcat first down in the first quarter of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
The Pride of Arizona performs just before kick off of the game with Utah, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Former Arizona tight end Rob Gronkowski gives out the high fives as he leads the Wildcat Walk before the game against Utah, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
The Pride of Arizona twirlers perform under the last of the daylight at the Wildcat Walk prior to Arizona’s Big 12 game against Utah, Tucson, Ariz., November 14, 2026.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
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