The Brent Brennan era at Arizona began with the best statistical performance by a Wildcats receiver in UA football history.
In No. 21 Arizona's 61-39 season-opening win over the New Mexico Lobos at Arizona Stadium on Saturday, UA star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan erupted for 10 catches for 304 yards — a single-game record by a Wildcat — and four touchdowns, which tied Jacob Cowing for the most by a UA receiver.
McMillan's yardage is the second-most in Big 12 history. McMillan is the first player in FBS history to have 10-plus catches, over 300 receiving yards, average over 30 yards per catch and have four or more touchdowns in a game, according to OptaStats.
"It feels amazing. The last four months, I've been grinding and ready to get back on the field," McMillan, who suffered a leg injury in the spring and was limited in training camp, said on ESPN after the game. "Being able to play with my brothers again, it's a true blessing. Regardless of the records, I'm just happy to be on the field with my brothers."
Arizona's triumph on Saturday extended the Wildcats' winning streak to eight games dating back to last season. It's Arizona's longest winning streak since it won nine games between the end of the 1997 season and the start of the '98 season. Brennan, who donned a white- and yellow-flowered leis around his neck, is the first Arizona head coach since Rich Rodriguez in 2012 to begin their tenure with a win.
"It's hard to win a college football game. It feels great," Brennan said. "It's awesome."
The Wildcats produced 627 yards of total offense, which is tied for the eighth-most for an Arizona team. Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita went 19-for-31 passing for 422 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
Arizona's offensive fireworks on Saturday got started with the two faces of the program, Fifita and McMillan, connecting on a 69-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to give the Wildcats their first points of the season. Arizona running back and former Lobo Jacory Croskey-Merritt picked up a blitz to protect Fifita, who launched a pass to McMillan in busted coverage for a wide-open touchdown.
In Arizona's first trip to the red zone, McMillan broke free at the 5-yard line and scampered in the end zone to complete the 17-yard touchdown. With just over four minutes left in the first half, McMillan maneuvered through New Mexico's secondary for a 78-yard touchdown down the UNM sideline. McMillan ended the first half with six catches for 208 yards; his first-half performance was enough to put him in the Top 10 in program history for single-game receiving yards.
Brennan said the most notable element component to McMillan's record-setting outing was yards after catch (YAC). McMillan had 176 yards after catch on Saturday. McMillan's YAC alone would've been the second-most receiving yards for him after his 266-yard, one-touchdown game against Arizona State last season. Combining the Territorial Cup game, the Alamo Bowl and Saturday night, McMillan has 31 catches for 730 yards and five touchdowns in the last three games, an average of 23.5 yards per catch.
"Those big, explosive (plays) were just incredible," Brennan said. "He outran the whole secondary on that big one down the sideline. He's awesome and an awesome competitor. He's also not satisfied, like, 'We can play better.' It's what you hope for."
McMillan's three first-half touchdowns and Tyler Loops's two field goals, including a career-long 54-yard field goal, gave Arizona a 27-24 lead at halftime.
Despite McMillan and Fifita propelling Arizona's offense, the Wildcats struggled in two categories in the first half against New Mexico: rushing and stopping the Lobos' offense. New Mexico's 39 points are the most Arizona has allowed in regulation since its 45-20 loss to Utah in 2022.
New Mexico surrendered 362 rushing yards in its loss to FCS Montana State last week. The Wildcats only had 28 rushing yards in the first half, but amassed 176 yards in the second half. San Jose State transfer Quali Conley ended Saturday night with 10 carries for 90 yards and three touchdowns — all in the second half. Croskey-Merritt led the Wildcats in rushing with 13 attempts for 106 yards and a touchdown.
The Lobos, led by dual-threat quarterback and former Scottsdale Saguaro High School star Devon Dampier, had six plays of 15-plus yards in the first half and none in the second half. Dampier led the Lobos in rushing yards (130) and completed 22 of 39 passes for 252 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Dampier's top target, Luke Wysong, had eight catches for 129 yards and a touchdown. The Lobos had 471 yards of total offense on Saturday.
After replacing nine scholarship defensive linemen from last season, the Wildcats used 13 defensive linemen against New Mexico on Saturday. Arizona's starting defensive line featured San Jose State transfer edge rusher Tre Smith, junior defensive tackle Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei, UC Davis transfer defensive tackle Chubba Ma'ae and Utah transfer edge rusher Chase Kennedy.
Arizona's defensive line and skill players struggled to contain Dampier, who averaged just under 9 yards per run and had 390 of New Mexico's 471 yards, and had several missed tackles.
"The quarterback is a good player. Super athletic, strong, can throw on the run. That's going to be a handful for anyone to contend with," Brennan said. "I thought they did a good job. I thought New Mexico played well."
Arizona broke the game open with a 51-yard run by Conley, followed by an interception by senior nickel back Treydan Stukes that resulted in Fifita throwing a 40-yard touchdown to McMillan to grab a 41-24 lead. Sophomore defensive back Genesis Smith had Arizona's second takeaway on Saturday for his second interception as a Wildcat. Arizona unsheathed its popular turnover sword to celebrate its interceptions.
Croskey-Merritt stamped Arizona's win on Saturday with a 36-yard run. Arizona's 61 points are the most in season opener since it scored 62 against Northern Arizona in 2017. It's the most points Arizona has scored in a coaching debut. The Wildcats face NAU at 7 p.m. next Saturday at Arizona Stadium.
