Arizona football has announced game themes for the 2026 season, enhancing the excitement of home games. Fans are encouraged to participate in color coordination, continuing traditions like 'Redouts' and Homecoming.
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TUCSON, AZ - OCTOBER 04: Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tre Spivey (12) during the second half of a football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the University of Arizona Wildcats on October 4, 2025, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, AZ. (Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
What makes college football games so exciting? The unpredictability? The upsets? The traditions? Arizona football is bringing a bit more excitement to game days again this fall, with game themes set for the 2026 season.
Our 2026 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀‼️ pic.twitter.com/f0dfXhg1h0
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) April 22, 2026
The Wildcats did this last season and most fans followed through. Most of the time it came down to simple things like “Redouts” and annual games like Homecoming. Going into this season, it looks like the UA is combining both.
Game themes and color-coordinated games are scheduled for every home game at Casino Del Sol Stadium and here is the rundown for every game:
The Lumberjacks return to Tucson for the season opener, and since arriving in Tucson, Brent Brennan is 2-0 in season openers. Overall, Arizona is 17-2 against NAU.
The last time NAU came to town it gave Arizona a hard time. With a 10-6 deficit at the half, Arizona scored 12 consecutive points in the second half to win a very close 22-10 game.
Under Brennan, the Wildcats are 2-0 in Native American Heritage games. The first came in Brennan’s debut against New Mexico and the second against Hawaii last season.
With all fans asked to wear blue, this is the first “Blueout” since 2016 against Washington. The last time Arizona wore all blue uniforms was in 2019 against UCLA.
Could this mean the return of the blue helmets? The last time the blue helmets made an appearance was in the shortened 2020 COVID season against Colorado. A 24-13 loss to the Buffaloes added on what would be the longest losing streak in program history.
Arizona football has set various game themes for the 2026 season, including traditional events like Homecoming and color coordination such as 'Redouts'.
Fans can participate by following the game themes and color coordination set by Arizona football, which encourages attendance in specific colors for each game.
'Redouts' are a tradition where fans wear red to support the team during home games, creating a visually unified atmosphere in the stadium.
The specific start date for the Arizona football 2026 season has not been mentioned, but it typically begins in late summer or early fall.
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For the first time ever, Arizona will face Northern Illinois and it will also be celebrating Hispanic Heritage. The Wildcats hold a 2-0 record in Hispanic Heritage games under Brennan. Last season, UA beat Oklahoma State and in 2024 it beat NAU.
As far as non-conference opponents go, Arizona is 5-1 under Brennan. The caveat to this is that Kansas State was considered non-conference the past two seasons and those games were split.
Against true nonconference opponents, Arizona is 4-0 under Brennan. The Wildcats will hope to improve on that record and also win the first matchup between the two schools.
Arizona also has a 2-1 record in Redout games in the Brennan era. Last season, the Redout game came against Kansas where the Wildcats became bowl eligible. The other two games were split in Brennan’s first season with a win against NAU and a loss to ASU.
🔴 𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐃 🔴 pic.twitter.com/S2LOgUfbqs
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) November 8, 2025
Last season gave us the first meeting ever between Arizona and Cincinnati. The Wildcats left Cincinnati with a 30-24 upset win. The Bearcats are hoping to return the favor this season and if history follows, this could be a trouble game for the Wildcats.
Family weekend has brought trouble for Brennan and his team. A 0-2 record in Family Weekend games sticks with Arizona. Close losses to Texas Tech in 2024 and BYU last season have both helped and hurt Arizona.
The loss to Texas Tech started the downfall for the Wildcats in 2024. However, the loss to BYU last season showed that they could stick with potential CFP teams.
The good news for Arizona, it has a 1-0 record under Brennan in Pacific Islander Heritage games with the 40-6 win against Hawaii last season. Another good note is that the lone “Whiteout” game since Brennan arrived resulted in a win against New Mexico.
An overall record of 52-36-1 in Family Weekend games for Arizona does put another positive spin on the game.
Last season, Arizona took its first loss against Iowa State in a 39-14 loss. It will be looking for some revenge this season when the Cyclones come to Tucson.
The Wildcats have split their two Homecoming games under Brennan. A loss to Colorado in his first season was reversed last season against Kansas.
Unlike Family Weekend, Homecoming has been kind to Arizona. A 61-40-5 overall record in Homecoming games and an overall 4-2-1 record against Iowa State both sit with UA.
Arizona will also be celebrating 100 years of the historic battle cry of “Bear Down.” In 1926, quarterback John Byrd “Button” Salmon was involved in a fatal car crash. On his death bed, he gave one final message to the team, “Tell them…Tell the team to bear down.”
The message “Bear Down” went on to be the most famous words in Arizona history. The fight song is named after those sacred words, they are plastered on almost every UA facility, and it is part of a universal language to all Wildcat alumni.
This Friday night matchup will be the first official Sandstorm-themed game for Arizona. The theme centers around the new Sandstorm uniforms that the Wildcats debuted against Oklahoma State last season.
dress code ⏳ pic.twitter.com/6hs82Vj1Xn
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) October 4, 2025
Unofficially, UA is 1-0 in Sandstorm games, but is 1-1 when wearing the Sandstorm uniforms. The loss came on the road at Houston last season.
The history between Arizona and TCU favors the Horned Frogs as they hold a 2-1 record. The last time TCU came to Tucson was in 2003 where it left with a 13-10 win. The lone win for Arizona came in 1999 when the Wildcats left Fort Worth with a 35-31 win.
Brennan’s only game against the Horned Frogs resulted in a 49-28 loss, so yet another opponent Arizona is looking for revenge against.
The Utes return to Tucson for the first time since 2023, where it was the Wildcats walking away with a 42-18 win. The last time the two schools played was in Brennan’s first season. Arizona stunned the Utah faithful with a 23-10 upset win.
Arizona is 1-1 in Military Appreciation games under Brennan. The Wildcats have won the last two meetings against the Utes but the overall record sits with Utah at 26-21-2.
On occasion, the Wildcats bring out new uniforms for Military Appreciation with a military theme to it. This could mean that Arizona brings out new uniforms for this game. Last season, it wore the traditional white, blue, white uniforms.
For the 100th time, the Wildcats and the Sun Devils battle for the Territorial Cup. State bragging rights, pride, and ownership will be up for grabs once again.
It's coming home. 🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/YhpbPKJdFa
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) November 29, 2025
The game will also, hopefully, have big postseason implications for both schools like it did last season. Brennan has a 1-1 record in the rivalry game, and overall Arizona holds a 52-47-1 lead in the series.
The Wildcats hope for a “T-Cup” win in Tucson for the first time since 2022 and hope for its fourth win in the last five matchups.
Usually when Arizona calls for a Redout against ASU, this means the team wears all red uniforms. Since the debut of all red uniforms in 2012, the Wildcats have a 5-4 record. Against the Sun Devils, Arizona is 2-3 in all red uniforms.
While uniforms are usually decided the week of, the game themes and fan color coordinations are set. Arizona looks to defend home turf this season and will look to the fans for help with that task.
Which game theme are you looking forward to most this season? Hit us up in the comments!