The Arizona Wildcats football team returned to the win column on Saturday, routing Northern Illinois University 42-17 in the first ever meeting between the two programs. The victory improves Arizona’s record to 2-1 overall and 0-1 in Big 12 play.
Pro Football Focus grades
Pro Football Focus (PFF) awarded the Wildcats an overall grade of 82.9. The offense received an 80.6 rating, while the defense was graded at 74.8. The most impressive metric was the passing grade, which climbed to 87.8, reflecting the unit’s efficiency through the air.
Conversely, the run‑blocking grade fell to 58.0, marking the second straight week the line posted the lowest score in that category. The disparity underscores a clear area for improvement as Arizona looks ahead to its remaining conference schedule.
Top individual performances
Among players who logged at least 20 snaps, quarterback Noah Fifita led the way with a stellar 90.8 overall grade. Wide receiver Tre Spivey followed with a 78.1 rating, while defensive standout Kevin Moorer Jr. posted a 75.3 grade on the line.
Key contributors on the defensive side included linebacker Taye Brown (73.7) and cornerback Jay’Vion Cole (73.6). Tight end Cole Rusk earned a respectable 70.6 overall grade.
Unit breakdowns
Pass blocking: Right tackle Tristan Bounds excelled with an 87.3 grade, center Zach Henning posted 85.5, and left guard Rhino Tapa’atoutai earned 83.9.
Run blocking: Right guard Alexander Doost led the group at 64.1, followed closely by center Henning at 63.9 and wide receiver Spivey at 61.6 when he was used in a blocking role.
Pass rush: Defensive lineman Moorer Jr. topped the chart with an 80.4 grade, linebacker Brown contributed 75.9, and fellow linebacker Myron Robinson added 63.6.
Run defense: Linebacker Robinson posted a solid 76.8, cornerback Tyrese Boss recorded 70.9, and safety Cam Chapa earned 70.1.
Tackling: Linebacker Cooper Blomstrom led with an 81.6 grade, followed by cornerback Boss at 80.6 and safety Quinn Olson at 78.2.
Coverage: Cornerback Cole posted a 73.5 grade, linebacker Brown added 71.5, and safety Malcolm Hartzog Jr. recorded 70.2.
Looking ahead
The Wildcats will aim to translate their strong aerial performance into a more balanced attack, addressing the run‑blocking concerns highlighted by PFF. With the next Big 12 matchup on the horizon, Arizona hopes to build on this momentum and improve its conference standing.
Original reporting: Arizona Desert Swarm (Tucson Sports) — read the source article.
