The Arizona Wildcats celebrated their first conference win of the 2026 season on Saturday, defeating the Cincinnati Bearcats 34‑7 in a commanding performance at Arizona Stadium. The victory improves the Wildcats’ record to 4‑1 overall and 1‑1 in the Big 12, marking a crucial step forward for head coach Brent Brennan’s program.
Pro Football Focus grades underline strong play
Pro Football Focus (PFF) awarded Arizona an overall grade of 75.8. The offense earned a respectable 79.2 while the defense was graded at 63.3. The most notable metric was the Wildcats’ run‑blocking grade of 86.2, a dramatic rebound after three consecutive weeks at the bottom of the league.
Conversely, the lowest grade for Arizona came in tackling, where the unit posted a modest 56.1. The contrast between run‑blocking excellence and tackling challenges provides a clear focus for the coaching staff as the season progresses.
Top individual performances
Among players who logged at least 20 snaps, several stood out:
- TE Tyler Powell – overall grade 89.7
- WR Matthew Lado – overall grade 84.5
- C Zach Henning – overall grade 79.0
- WR Brandon Phelps – overall grade 77.1
- CB Jay’Vion Cole – overall grade 76.5
- S Cam Chapa – overall grade 73.8
In the passing game, left tackle Matthew Lado earned the highest pass‑blocking grade at 86.5, followed closely by center Zach Henning at 85.1 and halfback Kedrick Reescano at 81.6. For run blocking, Lado again led the way with a 79.6 grade, while Powell and senior tight end Shane King posted 78.1 and 77.5 respectively.
Defensive highlights
On defense, the top pass‑rushers were CB Tyrese Boss (grade 69.9), LB Taye Brown (grade 66.1) and DT Leroy Palu (grade 62.8). The run‑defense unit shone through with Palu leading at 75.0, followed by defensive end Tre Smith at 71.4 and Cole again at 69.9.
Tackling was led by Cole (81.5), safety Cam Chapa (80.8) and safety Lee Molette III (80.1). In coverage, linebacker Cooper Blomstrom posted the highest grade at 78.7, with Cole (75.5) and Chapa (74.2) rounding out the top three.
What the win means for Arizona
Securing a conference victory early in the season bolsters the Wildcats’ confidence heading into the next stretch of Big 12 matchups. The dramatic improvement in run‑blocking suggests that the offensive line’s adjustments are paying off, a development that should help sustain the ground game against tougher opponents.
Defensively, the Wildcats must address the tackling shortfall highlighted by the PFF grade. Improving fundamentals in that area will be essential to limiting opponents’ rushing attacks and maintaining the momentum generated by the recent win.
Overall, the performance against Cincinnati showcases a balanced offense capable of moving the ball through both the air and ground, while also revealing clear areas for growth on defense. Fans can look forward to a competitive remainder of the season as the Wildcats aim to climb the Big 12 standings.
Original reporting: Arizona Desert Swarm (Tucson Sports) — read the source article.
