3 things to watch

1

Shut the door on the screens: The Wildcats spread the field, spread the defense then try to get an overload on one side, often with a screen pass. The flanker screen is the staple of the offense, with Willie Tuitama taking the snap and quickly hitting a receiver stepping back from the line of scrimmage. The Cougars have to keep Arizona’s receivers from operating in space on the short patterns.

2

Control the rush: When Alex Brink has time and a place to step forward, there is no more accurate passer in college football. If the Cougars can give him time, he’ll find the seams in the Arizona defense. They’ve been simple to exploit for most of Arizona’s opponents this season, as the Wildcats have yielded almost 260 yards a game through the air.

3

Defensive pressure: Expect the Cougars to try to pressure Tuitama with different looks, dropping more defenders into coverage. If they can disrupt the timing of the Wildcats’ passing game, the Cougars might force some turnovers, something they haven’t done a lot of other than against Idaho.