Big 12 · #32 of 138

Arizona

Implied Strength+9.5vs. FBS average · ±3.8
Record1–1through completed games
Bowl Eligibility82%reach six wins
Strength of Schedule49thof 138 FBS teams

Schedule lens

What matters next

The headline numbers are above. Here is where the season starts to take shape.

Team identity

Where the strength lives

Defense projects as the stronger unit by 1.6 rating points.

Offense#41
+3.9vs. FBS average
+3.9
2025 PPA/play0.17 #69 FBSSuccess rate42.6% #66 FBS
Defense#29
+5.5vs. FBS average
+5.5
2025 PPA/play allowed0.07 #26 FBSSuccess rate allowed37.9% #27 FBS

2025 PPA (predicted points added per play) and success rate. How this split works →

Season outlook · 50,000 simulations

How Arizona's 2026 could unfold

The current projection is 7–5 (7.0 expected wins), with a 3% chance to reach the playoff. The distribution below shows how often each regular-season win total appeared across the schedule-aware simulations.

Range of outcomes

Projected win distribution

50,000 simulated seasons
Most common and median 7 winsCentral 80% 5–9 winsBowl eligible 82.3%
1%5%11%20%24%21%12%5%Market 7.3<4456789>9
Simulated (schedule-aware)Central 80% rangeMarket win total

Postseason path

2026 playoff outlook

50,000 simulations
2.8%Make the 12-team field

Still outside the median outcome across the schedule-aware simulations.

How the field is reached2.8% total
Auto-bid0.8%
At-large2.0%
Outside field97.2%
Conference title0.8%

What could move the outlook

Biggest questions

Unresolved does not mean negative. A point estimate appears only when the historical evidence supports one.

No major preseason uncertainty signals currently clear the display threshold for Arizona. We will update this view as matchup and in-season evidence develops.
Projection contextRoster, continuity, and market inputsView details

The market win total, returning production, coaching continuity, transfer talent, and recent NFL production help explain the evidence surrounding this projection.

Returning Production64.9%share of prior-year PPA returning for 2026
2026 Transfer Class45thof 138 FBS teams by combined portal talent
Recent NFL Draft Production28thof 138 FBS teams by NFL talent produced
Market win total7.3Consensus preseason line
Final · Sep 5Suggested side did not cover
Northern ArizonaFCS
OV Win1%7
Spread:ARIZ -35vs.ARIZ -33
1 Factor
Northern Arizona at Arizona · Tucson, AZ · Arizona Stadium
Final · Sep 12
OV Win73%28
Spread:BYU -8vs.BYU -7.5
Arizona at BYU · Provo, UT · LaVell Edwards Stadium
7:30 PM · Sep 19
Spread:ARIZ -30vs.ARIZ -34.5
Northern Illinois at Arizona · Tucson, AZ · Arizona Stadium
4:30 PM · Sep 26
Spread:ARIZ -8vs.
Arizona at Washington State · Pullman, WA · Gesa Field
9:00 PM · Oct 2
Spread:ARIZ -10vs.
Cincinnati at Arizona · Tucson, AZ · Arizona Stadium
12:00 AM · Oct 10
Spread:ARIZ -3vs.
Arizona at West Virginia · Morgantown, WV · Milan Puskar Stadium
9:00 PM · Oct 23
Spread:ARIZ -10vs.
Iowa State at Arizona · Tucson, AZ · Arizona Stadium
11:00 PM · Oct 30
Spread:TTU -16vs.
Arizona at Texas Tech · Lubbock, TX · Jones AT&T Stadium
8:15 PM · Nov 6
OV Win37%
Spread:ARIZ -4.5vs.
TCU at Arizona · Tucson, AZ · Arizona Stadium
10:00 PM · Nov 13
Spread:UTAH -2vs.
Utah at Arizona · Tucson, AZ · Arizona Stadium
11:00 PM · Nov 20
Spread:KSU -6vs.
Arizona at Kansas State · Manhattan, KS · Bill Snyder Family Stadium
10:00 PM · Nov 27
Spread:ARIZ -5vs.ARIZ -4.5
Arizona State at Arizona · Tucson, AZ · Arizona Stadium

Pregame evidence · 2022–25

Arizona through the lens

The OV Line is the aggregate-rating baseline. The market gap shows where the game-level consensus differed, while identified Factors show how much of that difference our research may explain. ATS records are descriptive context—not a claim that OV should outperform the market.

Market ATS53%24–21 against consensus
Average line gap3.3 pts58% inside 3 points · 26 of 45
Factor coverage22%10 of 45 games
Factor signals78% aligned7 of 9 individual observations · 1 neutral
Historical sample45 gamesmarket-covered games from 2022–25

Explanatory history

Factors present in Arizona games

FactorGamesAverage estimateAligned with marketResearch status
Lopsided Game-Flow Uncertainty50.6 pts toward Arizona75%3 of 4 directional casesSupported · wider uncertainty
Rest Differential50.1 pts toward Arizona80%4 of 5 directional casesSupported
Underlying recordInspect all 45 historical gamesView games
SeasonGameOV baselineMarketMarket gapIdentified adjustmentRemaining gapResultMarket ATSFactors
2025 · W14at Arizona StateAwayArizona +3Arizona -25.1 pts toward ArizonaNone identified5.1 pts toward ArizonaW 23–7WNone identified
2025 · W13vs. BaylorHomeArizona -6Arizona -6.50.7 pts toward ArizonaNone identified0.7 pts toward ArizonaW 41–17WNone identified
2025 · W12at CincinnatiAwayArizona +5Arizona +61.2 pts toward opponents1.0 pts toward opponents0.2 pts toward opponentsW 30–24WRest Differential
2025 · W11vs. KansasHomeArizona -4.5Arizona -5.51.2 pts toward ArizonaNone identified1.2 pts toward ArizonaW 24–20LNone identified
2025 · W10at ColoradoAwayArizona -1.5Arizona -3.52.0 pts toward Arizona1.8 pts toward Arizona0.2 pts toward ArizonaW 52–17WRest Differential
2025 · W8at HoustonAwayArizona +2Arizona -24.0 pts toward ArizonaNone identified4.0 pts toward ArizonaL 28–31LNone identified
2025 · W7vs. BYUHomeArizona +3Arizona +2.50.7 pts toward ArizonaNone identified0.7 pts toward ArizonaL 27–33LNone identified
2025 · W6vs. Oklahoma StateHomeArizona -21.5Arizona -21.5No net direction2.7 pts toward opponents2.7 pts toward ArizonaW 41–13WLopsided Game-Flow Uncertainty
2025 · W5at Iowa StateAwayArizona +5Arizona +40.9 pts toward ArizonaNone identified0.9 pts toward ArizonaL 14–39LNone identified
2025 · W3vs. Kansas StateHomeArizona -8.5Arizona +1.510.0 pts toward opponentsNone identified10.0 pts toward opponentsW 23–17WNone identified
2025 · W2vs. Weber StateHomeArizona -38.5Arizona -31.56.8 pts toward opponents0.7 pts toward Arizona7.5 pts toward opponentsW 48–3WLopsided Game-Flow Uncertainty
2025 · W1vs. Hawai'iHomeArizona -13.5Arizona -15.52.1 pts toward ArizonaNone identified2.1 pts toward ArizonaW 40–6WNone identified
2024 · W14vs. Arizona StateHomeArizona +4.5Arizona +7.53.0 pts toward opponentsNone identified3.0 pts toward opponentsL 7–49LNone identified
2024 · W13at TCUAwayArizona +9Arizona +10.51.4 pts toward opponents1.0 pts toward opponents0.5 pts toward opponentsL 28–49LRest Differential
2024 · W12vs. HoustonHomeArizona -6.5Arizona -15.4 pts toward opponentsNone identified5.4 pts toward opponentsW 27–3WNone identified
2024 · W10at UCFAwayArizona +6Arizona +6.50.7 pts toward opponentsNone identified0.7 pts toward opponentsL 12–56LNone identified
2024 · W9vs. West VirginiaHomeArizona +1Arizona -5.56.3 pts toward ArizonaNone identified6.3 pts toward ArizonaL 26–31LNone identified
2024 · W8vs. ColoradoHomeArizona -3.5Arizona -2.51.2 pts toward opponentsNone identified1.2 pts toward opponentsL 7–34LNone identified
2024 · W7at BYUAwayArizona +4.5Arizona +2.51.8 pts toward Arizona1.1 pts toward opponents2.9 pts toward ArizonaL 19–41LRest Differential
2024 · W6vs. Texas TechHomeArizona -5.5Arizona -60.6 pts toward ArizonaNone identified0.6 pts toward ArizonaL 22–28LNone identified
2024 · W5at UtahAwayArizona +17Arizona +7.59.3 pts toward Arizona1.7 pts toward Arizona7.6 pts toward ArizonaW 23–10WRest Differential
2024 · W3at Kansas StateAwayArizona +14Arizona +76.8 pts toward ArizonaNone identified6.8 pts toward ArizonaL 7–31LNone identified
2024 · W2vs. Northern ArizonaHomeArizona -35Arizona -404.7 pts toward Arizona0.4 pts toward Arizona4.3 pts toward ArizonaW 22–10LLopsided Game-Flow Uncertainty
2023 · W13at Arizona StateAwayArizona -11Arizona -12.51.5 pts toward ArizonaNone identified1.5 pts toward ArizonaW 59–23WNone identified
2023 · W12vs. UtahHomeArizona +4Arizona -2.56.3 pts toward ArizonaNone identified6.3 pts toward ArizonaW 42–18WNone identified
2023 · W11at ColoradoAwayArizona -6Arizona -81.9 pts toward ArizonaNone identified1.9 pts toward ArizonaW 34–31LNone identified
2023 · W10vs. UCLAHomeArizona +3Arizona +2.50.7 pts toward ArizonaNone identified0.7 pts toward ArizonaW 27–10WNone identified
2023 · W9vs. Oregon StateHomeArizona +9Arizona +36.0 pts toward ArizonaNone identified6.0 pts toward ArizonaW 27–24WNone identified
2023 · W7at Washington StateAwayArizona +10Arizona +7.52.7 pts toward ArizonaNone identified2.7 pts toward ArizonaW 44–6WNone identified
2023 · W6at USCAwayArizona +23.5Arizona +212.6 pts toward Arizona2.4 pts toward Arizona0.2 pts toward ArizonaL 41–43WLopsided Game-Flow Uncertainty
2023 · W5vs. WashingtonHomeArizona +19.5Arizona +200.7 pts toward opponentsNone identified0.7 pts toward opponentsL 24–31WNone identified
2023 · W4at StanfordAwayArizona -9.5Arizona -133.3 pts toward ArizonaNone identified3.3 pts toward ArizonaW 21–20LNone identified
2023 · W2at Mississippi StateAwayArizona +14Arizona +95.2 pts toward ArizonaNone identified5.2 pts toward ArizonaL 24–31WNone identified
2023 · W1vs. Northern ArizonaHomeArizona -27.5Arizona -28.51.0 pts toward Arizona2.5 pts toward Arizona1.5 pts toward opponentsW 38–3WLopsided Game-Flow Uncertainty
2022 · W13vs. Arizona StateHomeArizona -3Arizona -41.2 pts toward ArizonaNone identified1.2 pts toward ArizonaW 38–35LNone identified
2022 · W12vs. Washington StateHomeArizona +6.5Arizona +42.5 pts toward ArizonaNone identified2.5 pts toward ArizonaL 20–31LNone identified
2022 · W11at UCLAAwayArizona +15.5Arizona +204.7 pts toward opponentsNone identified4.7 pts toward opponentsW 34–28WNone identified
2022 · W10at UtahAwayArizona +20.5Arizona +182.9 pts toward ArizonaNone identified2.9 pts toward ArizonaL 20–45LNone identified
2022 · W9vs. USCHomeArizona +17.5Arizona +143.6 pts toward ArizonaNone identified3.6 pts toward ArizonaL 37–45WNone identified
2022 · W7at WashingtonAwayArizona +15.5Arizona +14.50.8 pts toward ArizonaNone identified0.8 pts toward ArizonaL 39–49WNone identified
2022 · W6vs. OregonHomeArizona +12.5Arizona +13.50.8 pts toward opponentsNone identified0.8 pts toward opponentsL 22–49LNone identified
2022 · W5vs. ColoradoHomeArizona -11Arizona -186.8 pts toward ArizonaNone identified6.8 pts toward ArizonaW 43–20WNone identified
2022 · W4at CaliforniaAwayArizona +4Arizona +3.50.4 pts toward ArizonaNone identified0.4 pts toward ArizonaL 31–49LNone identified
2022 · W3vs. North Dakota StateHomeArizona -3.5Arizona +36.7 pts toward opponentsNone identified6.7 pts toward opponentsW 31–28WNone identified
2022 · W2vs. Mississippi StateHomeArizona +4Arizona +12.58.3 pts toward opponentsNone identified8.3 pts toward opponentsL 17–39LNone identified

Sample: 45 market-covered games from 2022–25. Identified adjustments are rough sums of the Factors shown and are not a replacement betting line. Remaining gap is market consensus minus the OV baseline and identified adjustments. A push means the team’s scoring margin exactly matched the market line.