None
EN
Under-the-Radar College Football Teams That Can Alter 2026 Championship Races
['David Kenyon', 'Bleacher Report']
Bleacher Report - Front Page
Arizona Wildcats1 of 5Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Noah FifitaTexas Tech stands as the preseason Big 12 front-runner, and rivals BYU and Utah are otherwise mentioned near the top of the conversation.
Last season, the Wildcats went 9-4 while its Noah Fifita-led offense averaged more than 31 points per game.
The main challenges will be breaking in a new wave of skill-position leaders on offense, plus a retooled back seven on the defensive side.
Those are the main reasons you don't see Arizona as a high-end contender.
Still, the best-case scenario is appealing—and the Cats, who travel to BYU (Sep. 12) early on, might be the most impactful Big 12 squad down the stretch.