Evaluating Brent Brennan’s Coaching Performance Against Cincinnati
Arizona entered the weekend seeking its seventh win of the season—and got it, pulling off a 30–24 upset over No. 25 Cincinnati.
Welcome to another edition of the Arizona Wildcats Insiders Podcast, hosted by Troy Hutchison, who provides daily coverage and behind-the-scenes insight on all things Arizona athletics. Hutchison has spent the last seven years reporting on everything from football and men’s basketball to Olympic sports, with occasional deep dives on former Wildcats thriving professionally.
Arizona (7–3, 4–3 Big 12) opened strong thanks to a tipped-ball interception by cornerback Jay’Vion Cole, which quickly set up a touchdown to make it 7–0. Though the defense struggled early, Brent Brennan and his staff adjusted effectively, allowing the Wildcats to settle in and piece together drives that ultimately secured the upset win.
Earlier in the year, Arizona had dropped five straight road games—four of them blowouts—dating back to 2024. Now, with consecutive road victories, Brennan has lifted the Wildcats above .500 in Big 12 play for the first time this season.
Turnovers played a key role in the win, as Cole and safety Dalton Johnson each intercepted Cincinnati quarterback Tayven Sorsby, giving the offense chances to regain momentum.
Offensively, the Wildcats stumbled in the red zone in the first half, missing two field goals—one wide from 40 yards and another that was blocked. But kicker Michael Salgado-Medina redeemed himself late, drilling a crucial 51-yard field goal to extend the lead to 30–24 with 1:34 remaining.
Arizona’s defense then delivered a final stop, sealing the upset and securing the team’s seventh victory with two regular-season games left.
With Baylor up next, Arizona Wildcats on SI graded Brennan’s coaching performance against Cincinnati.
Coaching Grade: A-
Why:
When Brennan replaced Jedd Fisch, many Arizona fans doubted the direction of the program, especially after a 4–8 debut season. But during the offseason, he revamped the coaching staff, strengthened the roster through the transfer portal, and led the Wildcats to a 3–0 start before conference play.
Arizona has steadily improved throughout the year, even weathering close losses to BYU and Houston. Since then, the Wildcats have won three straight and remain a long-shot contender for the Big 12 title game.
Against Cincinnati, Brennan earned arguably the biggest win of his tenure so far. Arizona overcame a sluggish first quarter, improved on both sides of the ball as the game wore on, and controlled the line of scrimmage en route to the 30–24 victory.
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