The Holiday Bowl is being played in January this year. This is the first time the Holiday Bowl has played in January in its existence. It is also the 46th Holiday Bowl and will feature the Arizona Wildcats and SMU Mustangs. Arizona comes into this bowl game ranked 17th in the country and one win away from a 10-win season. The Wildcats have had an up-and-down program since 2015, only having four winning seasons in that span. In 2023, Arizona went 10-3, beating Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl to reach that 10th win.
This year, the Wildcats will have to overcome SMU to also hit 10-3. After going 4-8 a season ago, this is a big turnaround for Brent Brennan’s squad. SMU is feeling a little bit different this year. After the Mustangs finished the last two seasons with an 11-3 record and a College Football Playoff berth in 2024, Rhett Lashlee’s group is sitting at 8-4. This is SMU’s 23rd bowl appearance as the Mustangs go for that ninth win in the Holiday Bowl.
Who Will Win the Holiday Bowl: Arizona or SMU?
Arizona Head Coach Brennan has announced that any opt-outs will not be highlighted before the Holiday Bowl. This puts SMU in an interesting spot as the Mustangs prepare for the San Diego showdown. This means that we have to assume Arizona will be at full strength heading into the Holiday Bowl on January 2nd. The staff is also firmly intact, making it through the carousel of coaching changes this last month. Both offensive and defensive coordinators, Seth Doege and Danny Gonzalez, are expected to stay for 2026.
SMU’s offensive coordinator was nabbed for the Missouri State Head Coach position in mid-December. However, Casey Woods is still expected to coach the Mustangs in the Holiday Bowl. There are mixed reports, but only time will tell if Woods helps SMU to a nine-win season before heading off to lead his own program in 2026.
Arizona is Seemingly at Full Strength
The biggest piece of news for the Wildcats is that starting quarterback Noah Fifita is expected to play in the Holiday Bowl and return to Arizona for the 2026 season. Fifita is from Huntington Beach, CA, which is an hour and a half from San Diego. This is a homecoming game for Fifita, who has passed for 2,963 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only five interceptions this season. That interception total is down from 12 in 2024.
It is unknown if Fifita will have his three favorite targets, but we have to assume that he will. Senior Kris Hutson is in his third school with Arizona, but has had a phenomenal year with Fifita. Hutson is Fifita’s favorite target, leading the team with 57 receptions for 740 receiving yards. He also has four touchdown receptions this season. Javin Whatley is another top target who is expected to play. Whatley has four receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown this season. Finally, the touchdown reception leader, Tre Spivey, should also be available. The sophomore transfer from Kansas State leads the team with six touchdown receptions this season and is a big endzone target for Fifita.
The Arizona offense is efficient and has seemingly worked out a few early-season hiccups. If the Wildcats are indeed at full strength, SMU’s defense will need to be on at all times.
SMU Also at Full Strength?
Both programs are pretty tight-lipped on who will and who will not play in the Holiday Bowl. Both programs could also just have the bulk of the roster wanting to play with their teammates, which is great. One thing is clear: starting quarterback Kevin Jennings is playing in the Holiday Bowl. The junior signal caller enters this game totaling 3,363 passing yards this season. He has 26 touchdowns through the air, but also has 10 interceptions. This is down from 11 interceptions a season ago, but that total was also through 14 games.
SMU is also expected to be full strength or near full strength on the defensive side of the ball. The Mustangs have a good pass rush and rush defense. Fifita has been better this season at protecting the football. He would rather take a sack than turn the ball over. This will work well for SMU. Both equal getting the ball back to Jennings and the fast-moving Mustang offense. Senior transfer running back TJ Harden should play, which is very good for SMU. Harden has seven rushing touchdowns this season and has totaled 747 yards on the ground. He also has 19 receptions for 99 yards and one touchdown. Even though this offense relies on getting the ball downfield quickly through the air, Harden balances that passing attack with hard-fought short-yardage runs.
How to Watch
Arizona and SMU will face off in the Holiday Bowl at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium on January 2, 2026. The game will air on FOX at 8:00 PM ET.
Main Image: The Holiday Bowl
