Undefeated so far, Kalani Sitake’s BYU Cougars head to Tucson this weekend to face Arizona. BYU enters as a slim 1.5-point favorite, hoping to replicate last season’s 41–19 success against Noah Fifita’s offense. But Greg McElroy’s alarming verdict might dampen that spirit.

“I’ve taken Arizona,” Greg McElroy gives his pick over BYU on ESPN College Football. “They force a couple mistakes, I think, they get the job done.” He cites the Wildcats’ “explosive, quick strike offense,” and an “aggressive, takeaway-oriented defense,” as the recipe of Brent Brennan, going 4-1 into the season. But that doesn’t mean the Cougars should be taken lightly. McElroy describes this matchup as “heavily skewed by a bit of uncertainty right now.”

He describes Kalani’s offense as “forged identity of physical dominance, method for clock control, powerful rushing attack.” Clearly not an exaggeration when the Cougars’ QB Bear Bachmeier has registered 351 passing yards against the Mountaineers. The second most by a freshman in BYU history, that too, with a 78.3% accuracy rate. But replicating that performance against Arizona won’t be easy. The Wildcats boast an intimidating defense, allowing barely 100 total yards per game, limiting both the pass and run, and holding opponents to just three yards per carry.

Not to forget that the Cougars had just one touchdown over their first four games, but registered three turnovers against West Virginia. So, Arizona’s defense might be looking to exploit these weaknesses. Presently, BYU is No. 19th in FBS in red zone defense, which translates to the fact that opponents can score 75% of red zone trips.

While BYU enters as the favorite, Arizona isn’t far off. Sitake himself has recognized Noah Fifita as a serious threat to his defense.

Kalani Sitake on Noah Fifita’s aggressiveness

In his last season, Noah Fifita threw a total of 12 interceptions, with 18 touchdowns. However, a great 2025 start has bolstered his resume. His interception -touchdown ratio has significantly improved, with 13 touchdowns and just three picks over five games for 1,341 yards.

Presently, the Cougars’ defense stands at 239.6 yards per game, which is No. 8 in FBS. However, Noah’s aggressiveness on the turf cannot be overlooked, and the Cougars’ defense is on high alert. “His ability to throw the ball and have the vision, with given time, the guy can do a lot of damage,” Sitake said to the press. “It’s trying to find a way to disrupt [Fifita], but even when you do that and bring more pressure, he knows where to go with the ball.” As of now, defensive end Logan Lutui tops BYU with 22 total tackles.

Another glaring issue is the mounting penalties plaguing the roster. Over five games, the roster accumulated 35 penalties for 292 yards, along with a turnover ratio of five. Can the Cougars’ defense block Fafita’s offense for another victory? Who are you backing this week? Drop your prediction in the comments.