What can we expect from the Arizona Football team for 2019?

We’re 68 days from the start of the 2019 Arizona Football season and now seems like a great time to talk about reasonable expectations for the upcoming season.

To say the 2018 Arizona Football season was an underwhelming one, would be quite the understatement. With all the hype in preseason Arizona had last year, the Wildcats stumbled out of the gates, en route to a 5-7 season, narrowly missing a bowl game.

Even worse was how the season ended. The Wildcats were leading against rival ASU 40-21 entering in the fourth quarter, and instead of becoming bowl eligible, they blew the 19-point lead, losing to the Sun Devils 41-40 in embarrassing fashion.

Arizona Wildcats

Now heading in to 2019, expectations to win are still there, and perhaps even more so now, compared to last year!

For one, Khalil Tate returns for his senior season! Despite the decreased attention last year, Tate still finished the season with 2,530 yards passing (eighth most in school history in a single year), with 26 touchdowns to just eight interceptions. His running however was down, finishing with just 224 yards on 74 carries and two touchdowns.

On the opposite side of the ball, the Wildcats return a large core of their talent, most notably Colin Schooler and Tony Fields II.

As much of a Jekyll and Hyde team the Wildcats were last year, the good thing is that it’s a new season, so those things can be put in the past.

So what can we expect for 2019? Well, for one we already know what the schedule looks like and what most of the depth chart will undoubtedly be to start the year.

Let’s take a look at who the Wildcats will play for 2019:

• August 24 – @Hawaii
• September 7 – Northern Arizona
• September 14 – Texas Tech
• September 28 – UCLA
• October 5 – @Colorado
• October 12 – Washington
• October 19 – @USC
• October 26 – @Stanford 
• November 2 – Oregon State
• November 16 –  @Oregon
• November 23 – Utah
• November 30 – @ASU

Honestly, I believe all these games are winnable, but undoubtedly, Stanford, Washington and Oregon will be the toughest in my opinion.

Arizona will have a big test to begin the year on August 24, when they travel to Hawaii to take on a squad that finished 8-6 last year, and had the 48th overall offense. However, they should have more talent that Hawaii and should come out victorious.

Then in comes Northern Arizona which should be a guaranteed win.

Week three will feature Big 12 foe, Texas Tech, which to me is a tough read. However, I think with the Red Raiders having a brand new coach in Matt Wells, and having them travel here should bode well for Arizona.

Oregon State to me should be a win, and I think Utah will be beatable at home, plus the rivalry game, which we owe ASU a beating after blowing it last season.

I think if Arizona stays healthy and gets improved defensive play, this is a group that I feel could/ should finish with seven wins.

At Zona Zealots, we’re excited for the soon return of football and can’t wait to see the Wildcats compete this year! As always, Bear Down, Arizona!