Wildcats fans react to failed Holiday Bowl comeback | Arizona Wildcats

SAN DIEGO (KVOA) – Arizona’s football team faced a tough defeat at the Holiday Bowl Saturday, ending their season on a sour note. Despite ending the regular season with five straight wins, the Wildcats couldn’t keep up with Southern Methodist University’s (SMU’s) fast start in San Diego losing 24-19.

Initially, spirits were high at Gentle Ben’s on University Boulevard, but the atmosphere quickly changed as the Wildcats struggled early on. Arizona found itself down 7-0 just seconds into the game, and the deficit only widened throughout the first half, reaching a surprising 24-0 at halftime.

However, fans still held onto hope.

“It’s unexpected because U of A’s defense is very good. I’m actually shocked that they’re not doing well, but you know what, they are a second half team,” Priscilla Erwin, a University of Arizona fan, told News 4 Tucson.

Sylvia Wilson, a former Pride of Arizona member, was optimistic about the team’s resilience. “Hard watch, not going to lie, but I think Coach Brent is going to help them back up. They’re not done, they’re not done. I can see it . . . hopefully,” Wilson said.

Arizona’s defense had been one of the best in the Big 12, but key players like Dalton Johnson, Treydan Stukes, and Genesis Smith opted out of the game, impacting the team’s performance on that side of the ball.

As the game progressed, many fans left Gentle Ben’s by the second half. Those who stayed witnessed the Wildcats score 19 unanswered points, mounting a comeback that ultimately fell short when SMU recovered an onside kick with less than a minute remaining.

Despite the loss, several fans expressed pride in the team’s performance and optimism for the future.

“For next year I hope we do come back and ride our momentum of the last season because this was one of our best seasons for the last four or five years,” Andres Verduzco said.

Bennett Kisiel, a lifelong fan, emphasized the importance of team unity amidst the transfer portal.

“I love this team, and I thought that we had a great team this year, and I hope that we can continue that next year. Especially with the great coach that we have in Brent Brennan. He did a great job this year, and I hope that the transfer portal doesn’t affect us too much,” Kisiel said.

As the Wildcats look ahead, fans remain hopeful that the team will build on this season’s successes and come back stronger next year.