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Arizona football lists 18 returning starters on season-opening depth chart

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 31, 2026, 7:30 PM

Last updated Aug 31, 2026

Arizona football lists 18 returning starters on season-opening depth chart

Summary

Arizona released its opening depth chart for the 2026 season on Monday, highlighting a shift toward roster continuity under head coach Brent Brennan. Of the 23 players listed as starters or co-starters on offense and defense, 18 are returners from a 2025 team that finished 9-4. This contrasts with the 2024 season, when the program relied heavily on transfers to fill starting roles. Quarterback Noah Fifita is set to make his 35th consecutive start in Saturday’s season opener against NAU. While the offensive and defensive units feature significant experience, the special teams unit includes several newcomers, including punter Chase Ridley, long snapper Drew Nicolson, and holder Carter Schwartz. The team prepares for its first game of the season this weekend.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Arizona lists 18 returning players as starters on the opening depth chart.
•Quarterback Noah Fifita enters the season with 34 consecutive starts.
•Five newcomers are projected to start on the offensive and defensive units.
•Arizona opens the season against NAU this Saturday.
•Special teams starters are primarily new to the program, excluding kicker Michael Salgado-Medina.

Latest Updates

7:30 PMYahoo Sports — Opening depth chart for Arizona football shows value of returners to program’s success

What they're saying

"
In order to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 season, the first under Brent Brennan, Arizona had to overhaul its roster with transfers. As a result, 15 players who were new to the program were listed as starters or co-starters on the initial depth chart and 10 ended up starting that first game. How much […]
— Yahoo Sports

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