Arizona had the opportunity to relax and watch college football during “Week 0”, witnessing upsets and surprising performances. While Florida State suffered a loss, ACC newcomer SMU and Hawaii managed to secure wins despite struggling. The Wildcats also got a glimpse of their Week 1 opponent, New Mexico, who nearly upset Montana State in their first game under new coach Bronco Mendenhall.
Arizona’s defensive coordinator Duane Akina will face the challenge of stopping New Mexico’s running back Eli Sanders, who had a strong performance in the opener. The Wildcats have historically been strong against the run, but there are concerns about their defensive line and linebacking corps heading into the matchup against Sanders.
Sanders, a three-star prospect from Arizona, will be looking to lead New Mexico to an upset against his home state team. If Arizona can’t contain him, they could find themselves in a closer game than expected.
Despite their strong run-stopping history, the Wildcats will need to address defensive weaknesses in order to secure a victory in their first game of the season. Fans can learn more about the upcoming matchup by checking out the full preview.
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