Northern Illinois Huskies at Arizona Wildcats

Injuries noted

Arizona Wildcats: Giovanni Richardson (out) — Head coach Brent Brennan said the leading receiver suffered a lower-extremity injury and would be out for a while.; Scotty Brennan (questionable) — Listed questionable for Northern Illinois with an undisclosed condition; no official nonconference availability report was issued.; Cornelius Warren III (questionable) — Listed questionable for Northern Illinois with an undisclosed condition; no official nonconference availability report was issued.

QUARTERBACK

• Taron Dickens is NIU's confirmed starter

  7.05 Y/A

  Taron Dickens is NIU's confirmed starting quarterback. Interim head coach Rob Harley announced that Dickens would start against Arizona and said he would be the first quarterback sent onto the field. 2026 line: 289 passing yards, 75.6% completions, 7.05 yards per attempt, 1-2 TD-INT over 2 games.

• Noah Fifita is ARIZ's confirmed starter

  8.20 Y/A

  Noah Fifita is ARIZ's confirmed starting quarterback. Arizona's current weekly game notes identify Fifita as the returning starting quarterback and say he remains under center for 2026. 2026 line: 492 passing yards, 75.0% completions, 8.20 yards per attempt, 3-1 TD-INT over 2 games.

TRENCHES

• ARIZ is +92 rush yards per game

  92 YPG

  NIU is at 59.5 rushing yards per game over 2 games; ARIZ is at 151.5 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.

• ARIZ's front holds runners to 124.5 fewer yards per game

  124.5 YPG

  NIU is at 195 rushing yards allowed per game over 2 games; ARIZ is at 70.5 over 2 games. Those come from the opposing team boxes in the games each side has already played this 2026 season, through 2026-09-18.

PACE & SCRIPT

• ARIZ's defense gives up 16.5 fewer points per game

  16.5 PPG

  NIU is at 34 points allowed per game over 2 games; ARIZ is at 17.5 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.

• ARIZ is scoring +14 points per game

  14 PPG

  NIU is at 12 points per game over 2 games; ARIZ is at 26 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.

• NIU @ ARIZ carries a 49.5 market total

  49.5

  The current fanduel total is 49.5, 6 points below the 55.5 median across 45 games with posted totals on this slate.

TURNOVERS

• NIU's defense takes the ball away 1 more time per game

  1 TO

  NIU is at 1.5 takeaways per game over 2 games; ARIZ is at 0.5 over 2 games. Those come from the opposing team boxes in the games each side has already played this 2026 season, through 2026-09-18.

MISMATCH

• ARIZ's passing attack against NIU's — 272 pass yards a game to 154.5

  272 VS 154.5

  ARIZ has thrown for 272 yards a game over two games, NIU for 154.5 over two. Pass ypg is the widest gap on the matchup tape; both are offensive production figures, with no pass-defense number attached.

COVERAGE

• ARIZ allows a third-down conversion rate 13.6 percentage points lower

  13.6 PP

  NIU is at 53.6% third downs allowed over 2 games; ARIZ is at 40% over 2 games. Those come from the opposing team boxes in the games each side has already played this 2026 season, through 2026-09-18.

REPLACEMENT

• Giovanni Richardson (WR) is out for ARIZ

  OUT

  Head coach Brent Brennan said the leading receiver suffered a lower-extremity injury and would be out for a while. Arizona football Notebook: Brent Brennan shifts focus from BYU to Northern Illinois (2026-09-14)

SITUATIONAL

• ARIZ moves the chains 10 more times per game

  10 FD

  NIU is at 13.5 first downs per game over 2 games; ARIZ is at 23.5 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.

• ARIZ's third-down conversion rate is 19 percentage points higher

  19 PP

  NIU is at 31% third-down conversion rate over 2 games; ARIZ is at 50% over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.