ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ announced the themes for its home games this football season.
The ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥â€™ homecoming game will be against the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday, Nov. 8.
The ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ kick off the second season under head coach Brent Brennan against Hawaii at home on Aug. 30 with a celebration of Polynesian Heritage. It’ll be the seventh all-time matchup between ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ and Hawaii. The ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥â€™ only loss in the series is a 45-38 defeat in 2019 in Honolulu. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ last played Hawaii in Tucson in 2016 before the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor; the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ wore USS ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥-themed uniforms for the game.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ will wrap up nonconference play in Tucson against other teams with ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ as their mascot, Weber State on Sept. 6 and Kansas State on Friday, Sept. 12, for “Retro Night.†The Weber State game theme is Native American Land Acknowledgement and honoring the UA Sports Hall of Fame class.
People are also reading…
Even though Kansas State is a Big 12 team, the matchup with ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ is the final part of the previously scheduled home-and-home nonconference series. UA lost to Kansas State 31-7 in Manhattan last season.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ quarterback Noah Fifita tries to run for yardage in the third quarter of Saturday’s 28-22 home loss to Texas Tech.
The ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥â€™ Big 12 home opener is against Oklahoma State on Oct. 4, which will also honor Hispanic Heritage. Oklahoma State, led by longtime head coach Mike Gundy, went winless in conference play last season. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ is 4-5 all-time against Oklahoma State. The ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ won the last game against OSU, 59-38, in Tucson during former head coach Rich Rodriguez’s inaugural season in 2012.
For Family Weekend, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ will square off with BYU in back-to-back seasons on Oct. 11. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ lost to BYU 41-19 in Provo last season. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ has lost four straight games to BYU since 2016.
In addition to homecoming, the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥-Kansas game is also “Military Appreciation.†The ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ host the Kansas Jayhawks on Nov. 8. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ is 2-3-1 against Kansas. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ last played KU in 1966. Former ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ tight end Keyan Burnett transferred to Kansas in December.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ concludes its home schedule with Senior Day on Nov. 22 against the Baylor Bears. The ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥â€™ only game against Baylor was a 20-15 loss at the John Hancock Bowl in 1992.
Contact Justin Spears, the Star’s ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
Antonio Pierce returns to ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ after 'very sour' ending to UA career
