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Arizona Football is beefing up their schedule in a major way

By Eric Townsend

PALO ALTO, CA - OCTOBER 03: A detailed view of an Arizona Wildcats players helmet sitting on the field during pregame warm ups prior to playing the Stanford Cardinal in a NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on October 3, 2015 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - OCTOBER 03: A detailed view of an Arizona Wildcats players helmet sitting on the field during pregame warm ups prior to playing the Stanford Cardinal in a NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on October 3, 2015 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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With scheduling done far in advance, it looks like the Arizona Football program is beefing up their non-conference schedule for the coming years.

It seems like one of the most common complaints among fans over the years for Arizona Football has been the lack of marquee non-conference opponents.

Too many times I’ve personally seen fans discuss Arizona’s poor attendance numbers, and attribute it to the lack of “better opponents”. Personally, I think it has more to do with results and the product on the field, but that’s just me.

Arizona Wildcats
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Arizona Wildcats

Since 2011, here is who the Cats have played.

  • Northern Arizona (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019) *Mandated to play NAU by ABOR
  • UTSA (2013, 2014 and 2015)
  • BYU (2016 and 2018)
  • Oklahoma State (2011 and 2012)
  • Hawaii (2016 and 2019)
  • Houston (2017 and 2018)
  • UNLV (2013 and 2014)
  • Grambling State (2016)
  • Louisiana-Lafayette (2011)
  • Nevada (2015)
  • South Carolina State (2012)
  • Southern Utah (2018)
  • Texas Tech (2019)
  • Toledo (2012)
  • UTEP (2017)

So in the last eight seasons played, only three opponents have come from power five conferences, and two of those three games were against the same team.

Well, for those looking for more marquee games, are going to get all they’ve been asking for and then some.

We already talked about the Wildcats scheduling Alabama for a home-and-home series for 2032-33, however, tougher opponents are coming as well.

In 2020, the Wildcats will once again play Texas Tech, but this time in Lubbock. They will have a home-and-home against San Diego State in 2021 and 2022, they will play BYU in 2021, and will also play FCS Power North Dakota State in 2022.

If that isn’t enough, Arizona will have a home-and-home against Mississippi State for 2022-23 and another home-and-home against Kansas State for 2024-25, followed by Nebraska in 2028, Virginia Tech in 2029-30.

That’s certainly going to be a daunting road ahead, but nonetheless fans are getting their wish.

Personally, I feel it doesn’t add much to your program unless Arizona were to somehow find success in the coming years, and thusly have a bigger stage to showcase their program. However, if they were to lose, it hurts as that puts them in a tougher position to make bowls, especially playing a tough conference schedule year-in and year-out.

More. On Arizona Football. light

We will see if it works out for Arizona in the long run, but either way, bigger games are coming. As always, Bear Down, Arizona!

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