San Diego, CA—–The Trust & Will Holiday Bowl brought together two explosive offenses in SMU and the University of Arizona, promising fireworks under the San Diego sky.
Arizona entered the matchup riding a five-game winning streak and a 9–3 record, while SMU arrived at 8–4 after an overtime win against Miami. Despite the growing trend of opt-outs, both teams had their starting quarterbacks available, setting the stage for a full-strength showdown.
“This is a big-time bowl experience and an opportunity for our program that we haven’t had in a long time,” SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee said prior to kickoff. “We’re really excited to be here.”
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita put together an outstanding regular season, throwing for 2,963 yards with 26 touchdowns and just five interceptions. SMU countered with Kevin Jennings, who led the Mustangs to a College Football Playoff appearance in 2024 and threw for 3,363 yards and 26 touchdowns this season. Both defenses entered the game with strong reputations, particularly Arizona’s pass defense and SMU’s physical front.
After more than a month away from competition, both teams showed early energy as the game kicked off beneath cloudy skies, with holiday-themed end zones framing the scene.
SMU wasted no time. On the second play from scrimmage, Jennings executed a reverse flea flicker and launched an 80-yard strike to tight end Matthew Hibner, a Holiday Bowl record for longest completion. One play later, running back T.J. Harden punched in a one-yard touchdown to give the Mustangs a 7–0 lead just over a minute into the game.
While the teams traded punts early, SMU quickly found its rhythm. Jennings led another drive deep into Arizona territory, aided by a 31-yard catch from Jalen Cooper and a 21-yard reception by Knight. After a defensive stop was erased by a pass interference penalty, Harden scored his second touchdown of the night to extend the lead to 14–0.
Arizona struggled to generate consistent offense in the opening quarter. Running back Ismail Mahdi provided brief sparks with runs of 20 and 19 yards, but penalties and missed conversions stalled multiple drives. By the end of the first quarter, the Wildcats had just four passing yards, while SMU had already amassed 187 yards through the air.
The Mustangs kept pressing early in the second quarter. Jennings continued to carve up the defense, and after an 18-yard gain to Stone Eby, the tight end capped the drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown to make it 21–0.
Arizona finally pieced together its longest drive of the half, reaching SMU territory before turning the ball over on downs. SMU responded by marching into the red zone once again but settled for a 24-yard field goal, taking a commanding 24–0 lead into halftime.
“We couldn’t have played much better in the first half,” Lashlee said. “Nobody’s done that to their defense all year.”
SMU finished the first half with 328 total yards, 248 of them passing, while Arizona’s offense continued to sputter.
The Wildcats opened the second half with possession but again failed on a fourth-down attempt inside SMU territory. The Mustangs briefly threatened to extend their lead before Arizona linebacker Michael Dansby intercepted Jennings — the first real misstep for SMU’s offense.
Arizona capitalized on the turnover. Fifita engineered a lengthy drive, converting a fourth-and-one before connecting with Javin Whatley for a 28-yard touchdown. Arizona failed to convert the two-point attempt, cutting the deficit to 24–6.
Momentum remained inconsistent for the Wildcats. After another missed fourth-down opportunity late in the third quarter, SMU opened the fourth with a three-and-out, giving Arizona new life.
Fifita delivered again, hitting Cameron Barmore for 24 yards before finding Tre Spivey in the back of the end zone on fourth-and-two. A second failed two-point conversion left the score at 24–12.
SMU then moved the ball into Arizona territory before Jennings threw his third interception of the night, this time to linebacker Riley Wilson. Despite the turnover, Arizona couldn’t fully capitalize, as Fifita later turned the ball back over to effectively seal the outcome.
The Wildcats added a late touchdown to narrow the margin to 24–19, but SMU recovered the onside kick and kneeled out the clock to secure the victory.
“We’re very thankful to get a win here,” Lashlee said. “This is the first bowl win we’ve had in a while, and we did it against a program we respect a lot.”
While Arizona made the final score respectable, SMU’s dominant start proved decisive. The Mustangs controlled the game early, built an insurmountable lead, and held on to capture the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl crown.
