Arizona’s Brent Brennan and SMU’s Rhett Lashlee, opposing coaches in Friday night’s Trust Will Holiday Bowl, were talking on the eve of the 46th annual bowl game about how meaningful this contest is for both teams. “It’s one last opportunity to be together … one last opportunity for our seniors to play college football for this team, which, in about 36 hours, will never be the same again, ever,” Lashlee said. “The 2025 Mustangs get one more opportunity to try to end the season the right way and with a good feeling.” Arizona has an opportunity to reach double-digits with a victory, a year after a 4-8 finish. “It’s obviously been a really special year for us,” said Brennan. “We have a great group of young men, a team that was really committed to staying together and coming back with so many of our players.” Lashlee guided the Mustangs to the CFP last season. He views this game as another step toward building the program’s profile. “We haven’t won a bowl game since 2012,” he said. “We haven’t won a bowl game of the caliber of the Trust Will Holiday Bowl, which is, to me, an elite, prestigious bowl. “We’re still in the stage of trying to build our program back on the Power Four stage, on the national stage, where year in and year out, we’re in the Top 25, competing for the ACC, and competing for the playoffs. Part of that is beating really good football teams in bowl games, and we just haven’t done that in a long time.” Here is the chance. For both teams. The 21st-ranked Wildcats (9-3) are 1 1/2-point favorites over SMU (8-4) in the game at Snapdragon Stadium. Kickoff is 5 p.m. Here are five things to watch: Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita (center) looks at sea lions with his brother Dash (left) and teammate Ise Matautia on Wednesday during a visit to SeaWorld San Diego ahead of the Trust Will Holiday Bowl. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 1. The quarterbacks The game features a pair of redshirt junior quarterbacks who are experienced leaders guiding offenses averaging 33 points a game. Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita (247-for-385, 64.2%), 2,963 yards, 26 TD/5 INT passing / 101 carries, 143 yards, 3 TD rushing) earned first-team all-Big 12 honors at QB this season. “He’s obviously a great football player,” Brennan said. “We’re incredibly proud of him. He’s the first, first-team all-conference quarterback we’ve had at Arizona in 50 years, and his play speaks for itself.” SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings (279-for-422, 66.1%), 3,363 yards, 26 TD/10 INT passing / 69 carries, 50 yards, 4 TD rushing) is a dual-threat QB who has earned all-ACC honors two straight years. “There’s no one else we’d rather have leading us,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said, “and not just being a leader of our team, but being the face of our program.” 2. Playmakers Arizona wide receiver Kris Hutson (57 receptions, 740 yards, 4 TD) is Fifita’s favorite target, although Javin Whatley (38-443, 4 TD) and Tre Spivey (21-359, 6 TD) are also scoring threats. Whatley and Spivey also have the Wildcats’ longest plays from scrimmage, with 85- and 70-yard receptions, respectively. While running back Ismail Mahdi (123 carries, 791 yards, 4 TD) is Arizona’s leading rusher, running back Kedrick Reescano has a nose for the end zone with nine of the team’s 20 rushing touchdowns. Defensive backs Treydan Stukes, Dalton Johnson and Jay’Vion Cole share the lead in interceptions with four apiece. The Wildcats could be shorthanded in the secondary, though:  Stukes, Johnson and Genesis Smith’s participation are in question. SMU’s top two receivers are Jordan Hudson (56 catches, 749 yards, 6 TDs) and Yamir Knight (47 catches, 533 yards, 6 TDs) while running backs TJ Harden (161 carries, 747 yards, 7 TDs) and Chris Johnson Jr. (62 catches, 463 yards, 4 TDs) share most of the rushing load. The Mustangs’ defense is led by defensive end Isaiah Smith (8 1/2 sacks) and safety Ahmaad Moses (5 INTs). 3. Find a rhythm This is the first game for either team since the regular season ended five weeks ago. The team that shakes off the rust most quickly, or maybe just avoids mistakes, will be best positioned for success. “Bowl games have a life of their own,” Lashlee said. “A lot of times, they’re disconnected from the season because it’s been a month since we last played. Obviously, they don’t have any bearing on next season, so it’s kind of a standalone game. “That’s why I think you see penalties, turnovers, a lot of things that you see maybe in the first or second games of the season, because you haven’t played in a month. You don’t get into that rhythm, a routine of playing. “When you get out of that, rhythm is a challenge, and not to mention, you have holiday time, you have transfer portal, you have all these other factors that kids have to deal with.” San Diego, CA – December 29: SMU football coach Rhett Lashlee talks with reporters at the Manchester Grand Hyatt ahead of the Trust Will Holiday Bowl on December 29, 2025 in San Diego, CA. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 4. Give and take Both defenses have been very adept this season at creating turnovers, which could make the difference in a close game. Arizona is tied for third in the nation with 28 takeaways (19 interceptions, 9 fumble recoveries). SMU is right behind, ranked fifth with 27 takeaways (17 interceptions, 10 fumble recoveries). Arizona has been the better team at limiting turnovers, enabling the Wildcats to lead the nation with a plus-16 turnover margin. “You see what incredible turnaround they made from Year 1 to Year 2 (going from 4-8 to 9-3 under Brennan),” Lashlee said. “They were great on offense both seasons, but the defense was the big differentiator.” 5. If it comes down to kicking Arizona kicker Michael Salgado-Medina (19-for-31, long of 57 yards) and SMU kicker Sam Keltner (13-for-19, long of 51 yards) should make the most of pregame prep because Snapdragon Stadium hasn’t been the easiest place for a visiting kicker to make field goals. SDSU kicker Gabe Plascencia was 8-for-9 in field goals at Snapdragon this season. Opposing kickers were 2-for-7. Holiday Bowl: No. 21 Arizona (9-3) vs. SMU (8-4) When: 5 p.m. Friday Where: Snapdragon Stadium On the air: Fox ...read more read less