Arizona vs. BYU will feel like one of a gajillion key moments in the Big 12 season. With so many teams either very good already or improved from last year, every week will seem like a make-or-break moment for almost every team.
But a few of the showdowns will weed out the – all apologies, with the dial set to full cliché here – contenders from the pretenders. (Seriously, sorry, that’s awful – but it actually fits.)
No, this isn’t a Big 12 elimination game in Week 2, but… yeah, it kind of is.
Arizona vs. BYU: Quick Hits
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Last year’s 33-27 road win by BYU was a big moment in its run to the Big 12 Championship, and it effectively knocked out Arizona.
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BYU has won the last five games in the series. Arizona’s last win was in the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl.
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So why is this such a big deal in the Big 12 race for both teams? BYU still has to go to Utah and TCU, and host Arizona State – that’s not bad.
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Arizona is one of the biggest tests. Arizona still has to go to Texas Tech, Kansas Stateand West Virginiaand host Utah, TCU, and Arizona State.
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How To Watch Arizona vs. BYU
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: FOX
Rental: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT
– Week 2 Schedule, Picks
– CFN Expert Picks: Week 2
Why Arizona Will Win
The Arizona defense has to pick up where it left off against Northern Arizona.
The Wildcats got their mail delivered to the Lumberjack backfield with five sacks, 11 tackles for losses, and a swarming, dominant performance against the run that was meant to set the tone for the season.
The defense has to hold up, and quarterback Noah Fifita has to be the best player on the field. The veteran had an off day in last year’s loss to the Cougars – hitting 56% of his throws for 218 yards, almost all short-range – and the Wildcats still almost won.
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Why BYU Will Win
Talk about setting a tone, BYU scored 63 on Utah Tech because it didn’t feel like scoring 90. This is the team head coach Kalani Sitake has been building up for a while. If it plays like it did last week, forget it.
It was supposed to be a blowout, but that was about as dominant as a team can be right out of the gate. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier was accurate, sharp, and played like a quarterback ready to have a gigantic second season.
Arizona vs BYU Prediction, Betting Lines
Arizona is good, but BYU has the feel of something special this season – the Wildcats having to go to Provo doesn’t help.
It will hardly be a wipeout, but BYU will look the part of a Big 12 Championship contender, doing what it’s supposed to at home.
BYU 30, Arizona 20
Latest Consensus Line: BYU -7.5, o/u: 47.5
ATS Confidence (out of 5): 3
Must See Rating (out of 5): 4
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Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
