The 2020 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Arizona was led by third-year head coach Kevin Sumlin, in the Wildcats' 121st season. The Wildcats played in the South Division (11th season) of the Pac-12 Conference, and played their home games at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona (93rd season).

On August 11, the Pac-12 Conference initially canceled all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 24, the conference announced that a six-game conference-only season would begin on November 6, with the Pac-12 Championship Game to be played December 18. Teams not selected for the championship game would be seeded to play a seventh game.

On December 12, 2020, Sumlin was fired after three seasons following a 70–7 loss to ASU in the Territorial Cup on December 11, 2020. He finished at Arizona with an overall record of 9–20 and 6–17 against the Pac-12. On December 23, 2020, the University of Arizona hired Jedd Fisch as the 32nd head coach.

Offseason Departures Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Khalil Tate 14 QB 6'0 195 Senior Inglewood, California Graduated J. J. Taylor 21 RB 5'6 180 Junior Corona, California Declared for the 2020 NFL draft Cedric Peterson 18 WR 5'11 188 RS senior Moreno Valley, California Graduated Daniel Egbo 41 WR 6'2 192 Senior Gilbert, Arizona Graduated Lee Anderson 51 LB 6'1 246 Senior Moreno Valley, California Graduated Matt Aargon 26 P 6'5 211 Senior Tucson, Arizona Graduated Finton Connolly 91 DT 6'5 300 RS senior Gilbert, Arizona Graduated Tristan Cooper 31 S 6'2 198 Senior El Paso, Texas Graduated Cody Creason 76 OL 6'4 295 RS senior Folsom, California Graduated Malcolm Holland 12 WR 5'11 189 RS senior Chandler, Arizona Graduated Terrance Johnson 83 WR 6'2 211 RS senior Tucson, Arizona Graduated Jace Whittaker 17 CB 5'11 185 RS senior Oceanside, California Graduated

Recruiting

Transfers The Wildcats lose multiple players due to various reasons.

Outgoing Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown New school Dayven Coleman 9 LB 6'2 216 Sophomore Dallas, Texas Stephen F. Austin Chaco Ulloa 13 S 5'11 200 Senior Corona, California Montana State Jake Peters 80 TE 6'4 222 Freshman Coto de Caza, California Colorado Thomas Marcus 84 WR 6'2 203 Freshman San Diego, California Montana State Justin Belknap 86 DL 6'3 245 RS senior Henderson, Nevada Montana Troy Young 11 S 6'0 205 Junior Prichard, Alabama UAB Scottie Young Jr. 6 S 5'11 201 Junior San Diego, California West Virginia Xavier Bell 37 S 6'2 196 RS junior Long Beach, California Portland State Tony Fields II 1 LB 6'1 220 Senior Las Vegas, Nevada West Virginia Colin Schooler 7 LB 6'1 230 Junior Dana Point, California Texas Tech Brenden Schooler 8 WR 6'2 193 Senior Dana Point, California Texas

Incoming Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Prev. school Aaron Blackwell 52 DL 6'3 298 Senior Peoria, Arizona New Mexico Roy Lopez 51 DL 6'2 310 Senior Tempe, Arizona New Mexico State Matthew Stefanski -- OL 6'4 314 Freshman Frankfort, Michigan Grand Valley State

Position key BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR

Returning starters

Offense

Player Class Position Grant Gunnell Sophomore Quarterback Gary Brightwell Senior Running back Jarmarye Joiner RS sophomore Wide receiver Stanley Berryhill RS junior Wide receiver Bryce Wolma Senior Tight end Josh McCauley RS senior Offensive lineReference:

Defense Player Class Position J.B. Brown Senior Defensive end Anthony Pandy Senior Linebacker Jarrius Wallace RS senior Defensive back Reference:

Special teams

Player Class Position Lucas Havrisik Senior Placekicker Jarmarye Joiner RS sophomore Kick returnerReference:

† Indicates player was a starter in 2019 but missed all of 2020 due to injury.

Preseason

Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released

Doak Walker AwardGary BrightwellRBSr.Wuerffel TrophyColin SchoolerLBSR

Pac-12 Media Day The Pac-12 Media Day was held in July 2020 in Hollywood, California.

Preseason All-Pac-12 teams

Personnel

Coaching staff Kevin Sumlin Head coach 3rd Purdue Noel Mazzone Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks 3rd New Mexico Paul Rhoads Defensive coordinator/safeties 1st Missouri Western Taylor Mazzone Assistant coach/outside Receivers 3rd East Carolina Greg Burns Assistant coach/cornerbacks 1st Washington State Stan Eggen Assistant coach/defensive line 1st Moorhead State Kyle DeVan Assistant coach/offensive line 2nd Oregon State Andy Buh Assistant coach/linebackers 1st Nevada AJ Steward Assistant coach/running backs 1st Kansas Theron Aych Assistant coach/inside wide receivers 4th Northern State Jeremy Springer Tight ends/Special teams 3rd UTEP Brian Johnson Strength and Conditioning 3rd LSU

Roster 2020 Arizona Wildcats rosterQuarterbacks 4 – Rhett Rodriguez – junior (6'0, 192) 12 – Kevin Doyle – sophomore (6'3, 205) 13 – Luke Ashworth – sophomore (6'1, 200) 15 – Will Plummer – freshman (6'1, 208) 16 – Cameron Fietz – junior (6'1, 196) 17 – Grant Gunnell – sophomore (6'6, 225)

Running backs 0 – Gary Brightwell – senior (6'1, 210) 6 – Michael Wiley – sophomore (5'11, 186) 8 – Frank Brown – freshman (6'0, 200) 20 – Darrius Smith – sophomore (5'9, 176) 21 – Jalen John – freshman (5'11, 222) 28 – Nazar Bombata – sophomore (6'0, 206) 33 – Nathan Tilford – junior (6'2, 207)

Wide receiver 1 – Drew Dixon – junior (6'3, 205) 2 – Boobie Curry – sophomore (6'2, 206) 3 – Jalen Johnson – sophomore (6'2, 199) 5 – Brian Casteel – senior (6'0, 195) 7 – Jaden Mitchell – freshman (5'9, 175) 9 – Tre Adams – sophomore (6'3, 195) 10 – Jamarye Joiner – sophomore (6'1, 210) 11 – Tayvian Cunningham – senior (5'7, 181) 14 – Dyelan Miller – freshman (6'2, 192) 16 – Thomas Reid III – senior (6'2, 205) 18 – Ma'Jon Wright – freshman (6'2, 197) 25 – Valen Jones – freshman (6'2, 164) 29 – Jashon Butler – sophomore (5'8, 182) 85 – Roberto Miranda – freshman (6'2, 217) 86 – Stanley Berryhill – junior (5'10, 177)

Tight end 42 – Connor Hutchings – junior (6'4, 230) (OL+) 46 – Jack Koceman – sophomore (6'4, 235) 81 – Bryce Wolma – senior (6'4, 245) 82 – Zach Williams – sophomore (6'3, 216) 84 – Tristen D'Angelo – junior (6'3, 203) 87 – Stacey Marshall – junior (6'5, 248)

Punter 19 – Kyle Ostendorp – sophomore (6'1, 202) 32 – Jacob Meeker-Hackett – senior (6'0, 199) (WR+) Offensive lineman 50 – Josh McCauley – senior (6'3, 292) 54 – Matthew Stefanski – junior (6'4, 314) 55 – Jamari Williams – freshman (6'3, 298) 56 – Josh Donovan – junior (6'5, 317) 58 – Sam Langi – junior (6'5, 329) 62 – Jacob Bracamonte – freshman (6'3, 298) 63 – Steven Bailey – senior (6'3, 305) 65 – Leif Magnuson – freshman (6'4, 284) 66 – Robert Congel – junior (6'3, 310) 67 – David Watson – sophomore (6'5, 303) 71 – Darrell Branch – freshman (6'2, 319) 72 – Edgar Burrola – junior (6'6, 305) 73 – Woody Jean – freshman (6'4, 314) 74 – Paiton Fears – junior (6'5, 328) 76 – Anthony Patt – freshman (6'4, 280) 77 – Jordan Morgan – sophomore (6'5, 287) 78 – Donovan Laie – junior (6'4, 315) 79 – Tyson Gardner – junior (6'4, 300)

Defensive lineman 12 – JB Brown – senior (6'3, 255) (DE+) 17 – Regen Terry – freshman (6'4, 289) 19 – Kwabena Watson – freshman (6'2, 210) (DE+) 26 – Eddie Siaumau-Sanitoa – freshman (6'3, 235) 40 – Dante Diaz–Infante – senior (6'1, 250) (DE+) 44 – Shontrail Key – freshman (6'4, 248) 45 – Issaiah Johnson – sophomore (6'1, 245) (DE+) 51 – Roy Lopez – graduate (6'2, 310) 52 – Aaron Blackwell – graduate (6'3, 298) 55 – Chandler Kelly – freshman (6'2, 209) 58 – Nahe Sulunga – sophomore (6'2, 275) (DT+) 60 – Mykee Irving – sophomore (6'3, 337) 90 – Trevon Mason – senior (6'5, 310) 92 – Kyon Barrs – sophomore (6'2, 299) (DT+) 93 – Ugochukwu Nosike – freshman (6'3, 280) 94 – Dion Wilson Jr. – freshman (6'4, 276, 319) 95 – Paris Shand – freshman (6'5, 272) 97 – Naz Higgins – sophomore (6'3, 272) (DT+) 99 – Myles Tapousa – senior (6'1, 330)

Linebackers 8 – Anthony Pandy – senior (6'0, 225) 10 – Jabar Triplett – freshman (6'1, 226) 18 – Derrick Mourning – freshman (6'3, 229) 27 – Derrion Clark – sophomore (6'1, 211) 32 – Calib McRae – sophomore (6'1, 246) 34 – John Burton – freshman (5'11, 210) 38 – Dante Smith – sophomore (5'10, 223) 41 – Mike Saliba – freshman (6'0, 188) 42 – Jeremiah Fletcher – freshman (5'11, 203) 46 – Thor Canales – freshman (6'3, 224) 47 – Rourke Freeburg – junior (6'2, 204) 48 – Parker Henley – junior (5'11, 222) 49 – Jalen Harris – junior (6'5, 250)

Placekicker' 33 – Tyler Loop – freshman (6'0, 164) 43 – Lucas Havrisik – senior (6'2, 184) 80 – Nathan Halsell – freshman (6'1, 205) Defensive backs 2 – Lorenzo Burns – senior (5'11, 175) (CB+) 3 – Jarrius Wallace – senior (6'1, 185) (S+) 4 – Christian Roland-Wallace – sophomore (5'11, 198) (CB+) 5 – Christian Young – junior (6'2, 217) (S+) 11 – Edric Whitley – freshman (5'11, 144) 13 – Isaiah Mays – junior (6'1, 190) 15 – McKenzie Barnes – junior (6'1, 193) (CB+) 20 – Khary Crump – freshman (5'11, 164) 21 – Jaxen Turner – sophomore (6'0, 189) (S+) 23 – Malik Hausman – junior (6'0, 175) (CB+) 24 – Rhedi Short – junior (6'1, 194) (S+) 25 – Bobby Wolfe – sophomore (6'1, 170) (CB+) 29 – Donte Bowers Jr. – freshman (5'10, 163) 30 – Quinn Sullivan – sophomore (5'11, 181) (S+) 31 – Trey Cartledge – freshman (6'0, 170) 35 – Adama Fall – freshman (6'3, 200) 36 – RJ Edwards – freshman (6'1, 198) 37 – Jaydin Young – freshman (6'0, 182) 39 – Treydan Stukes – freshman (6'0, 168)

Long snapper 64 – Seth Mackellar – sophomore (5'11, 195)

Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured RedshirtSource and player details:

Depth chart Starters and backups.

Depth Chart Source: 2020 Arizona Wildcats Football Fact Book

True Freshman Double Position : *

Schedule

Spring game The 2020 Wildcats began spring practice on March 2, 2020 and finish with the 2020 Arizona spring game. The remainder of spring practice and the spring game were canceled on March 18, 2020, due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

Regular season Arizona had scheduled non–conference games against Hawaii, Portland State, and Texas Tech but canceled these games on July 10 due to the Pac-12 Conference's decision to play a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Original 2020 Arizona Wildcats schedule Date Opponent Site August 29 Hawaii* Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZ September 5 Portland State* Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZ September 12 Stanford Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZ September 19 at Texas Tech* Jones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, TX October 3 at UCLA Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA October 9 Colorado Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZ October 17 USC Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZ October 23 at Washington Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA October 31 Oregon Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZ November 7 at Utah Rice–Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, UT November 21 at Oregon State Reser Stadium • Corvallis, OR November 28 Arizona State Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZ (Territorial Cup)

Game summaries

vs No. 20 USC

Statistics USC ARIZ First downs 2626 Total yards 498444 Rushing yards 32–17340–158 Passing yards 325286 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 30–43–024–36–1 Time of possession 29:5630:04 Team Category Player StatisticsUSC Passing Kedon Slovis30/43, 325 yards, TD Rushing Markese Stepp12 carries, 82 yards, TD Receiving Amon-Ra St. Brown7 receptions, 113 yardsArizona Passing Grant Gunnell24/36, 286 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Gary Brightwell21 carries, 112 yards Receiving Tayvian Cunningham5 receptions, 110 yards, TD

at Washington