Arizona, coming off a big win at No. 10 Utah, will try to slow down old regional rival Texas Tech when the Wildcats host their first Big 12 home game on Saturday night in Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona (3-1, 1-0 Big 12) played its best game of the season in stopping the Utes 23-10. The defense figures to be stressed more by the Red Raiders, who are 16th nationally in scoring (41.6 points per game) and 15th in total offense (486.4 yards per game).
Texas Tech (4-1, 2-0) is fueled by running back Tahj Brooks, who is averaging 137.8 rushing yards per game and has topped 100 yards in each of his four games played this season. He ran for 172 yards and two touchdowns in a 44-41 home win over Cincinnati on Saturday.
While the Red Raiders are 14-3 at home under coach Joey McGuire, they are 3-9 on the road.
“The guys are in good state of mind,” he said Monday. “We have a lot of confidence right now.”
The Red Raiders will be trying to reach 3-0 in Big 12 play for the first time since 2013, while Arizona is still kicking the tires in its new conference. These programs were rivals in the old Border Conference — Texas Tech leads the series 26-5-2 — but have met just once since 1989.
Arizona coach Brent Brennan revealed Monday that he made a change in offensive play-callers during the previous bye week. Passing game coordinator/tight ends coach Matt Adkins took over those duties for offensive coordinator Dino Babers.
“We felt like going into bye week was the right time for Coach Adkins, with the help of Dino, to kind of step into that role,” Brennan said. “Coach Babers has been on board with this. He has been great about it.”
An immediate beneficiary was tight end Keyan Burnett, who caught five passes for 76 yards and a touchdown. He could be a needed complement to star wideout Tetairoa McMillan. Both were high school teammates of Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita.
