For the first time since joining the Big 12, Arizona was named the Big 12 Defensive Line of the Week.
The Wildcats received the Big 12 weekly honor for their performance in their 34-7 win over the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Big 12 home opener at Casino Del Sol Stadium.
Arizona held the second-best rushing team in the Big 12 to 74 rushing yards, the fewest rushing yards by Cincinnati since the 2022 Wasabi Fenway Bowl. The Wildcats also had three sacks and seven tackles for loss against Cincinnati.
It’s the fewest rushing yards Arizona has allowed since giving up 35 yards to Washington State in 2023. Cincinnati entered Saturday averaging just over 270 rushing yards per game, which ranked second in the Big 12. The Bearcats had less than that in total offense (227 yards) on Saturday.
Cincinnati leading rusher Gi’Bran Payne had three 100-yard rushing performances this season after transferring from Notre Dame; he had 11 carries for 24 yards against Arizona.
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Arizona’s defense played “lights out considering what Cincinnati had been able to do prior to coming in here tonight,” Arizona head coach Brent Brennan said on Saturday.
“We knew they wanted to run the ball,” Brennan said. “And we said,’ no, we’re not going to do that tonight. We’re not going to let you do that tonight.’ That’s just a commitment and a mentality from the defensive staff and the defensive players.”
Arizona played 11 defensive linemen against Cincinnati: Mays Pese (32 defensive snaps), Tre Smith (30), Leroy Palu (24), Dominic Lolesio (17), Zac Siulepa (15), Prince Williams (13), Keytrin Harris (12), Kevin Moorer Jr. (10), Julian Savaiinaea (9), Kaisi Lafitaga (7) and Victory Johnson (2).
The Arizona Wildcats hold up their turnover sword during the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Casino Del Sol Stadium on Oct. 3, 2026.
Iowa State running back Aiden Flora and Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway were the Big 12 Offensive Players of the Week. Texas Tech cornerback Brice Pollock and BYU defensive back Faletau Satuala were named Big 12 Defensive Players of the Week, while Houston kicker Jonathan Dimas and Texas Tech punter Will Karroll were Big 12 Special Teams Players of the Week. Baylor running back Ryelan Morris was the Big 12 Freshman of the Week. Iowa State received Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week honors.
Arizona (4-1) faces the West Virginia Mountaineers (3-2) in Morgantown Saturday morning at 9 on TNT.
Contact Justin Spears, the Star's Arizona football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
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