CU Buffs opponent preview: Led by QB Noah Fifita, Arizona presents most unexpected test of season

Even Deion Sanders' biggest doubters had the Arizona game circled as a win for the CU Buffs. 

Not anymore.

The Buffaloes (4-5, 1-5 Pac-12) are on a three-game losing streak and have come crashing down to earth after taking the college football world by storm in the first month of the season.

Arizona (6-3, 4-2 Pac-12) has surprised a lot of people in coach Jedd Fisch’s third season. The Wildcats have cracked the AP top 25 at No. 23 in the midst of their three-game winning streak. They also have yet to lose a game by more than a touchdown this season.

Here’s what to expect from the seventh ranked opponent on Coach Prime's first Buffs schedule:

Offense

The biggest reason for Arizona's surge is quarterback Noah Fifita.

The redshirt freshman replaced starter Jayden de Laura in the Wildcats’ Week 4 win over Stanford, and he hasn’t looked back.

Fifita has continued to provide the same explosiveness in the passing game that de Laura did — but without the turnovers. He’s thrown 14 touchdowns and four interceptions in five starts.

The Wildcats have a pair of talented wide receivers. Sophomore Tetairoa McMillan leads the team with 753 receiving yards, and UTEP transfer Jacob Cowing has a team-high nine receiving touchdowns.

The Wildcats also have former Buff Montana Lemonious-Craig, who has 20 catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns.

Arizona has scored at least 27 points in each of its last four games, while the Buffs have allowed fewer than 27 points just twice all season.

Defense

While Fifita and the offense have stolen the headlines, the Wildcats have also quietly built a defense that is capable of winning games. That was on display last week as the Arizona defense held a solid UCLA offense to 10 points.

There will be a little bit of a ‘What if?’ for the Buffs as Arizona outside linebacker Taylor Upshaw, who transferred to CU in the offseason and spent the spring with the team before reentering the portal and landing in Tucson. Upshaw, the former Michigan standout, has had an excellent season with the Wildcats, leading the team with 7.5 sacks — two more than any player on the Buffs and good for third in the conference.

Linebacker Jacob Manu is the player to watch in the middle of the defense as he leads Arizona in tackles with 79, which is second in the Pac-12, which includes 4.5 for loss.

The Arizona file

Record: 6-3 (4-2 Pac-12)

Head coach: Jedd Fisch (3rd season)

Offensive coordinator: Brennan Carroll (3rd season)

Defensive coordinator: Johnny Nansen (2nd season)

Kick off: 12 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

Betting line: Colorado +10.5 (SuperBook Colorado)