How to Watch Utah vs. Arizona: TV Channel, Live Stream, Time

Tucson football fans will have a late start for one of Arizona’s biggest home games in years. The No. 23 Arizona Wildcats host the No. 2 Utah Utes on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Casino Del Sol Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. Eastern time, which is 8:30 p.m. in Tucson. The game will be broadcast nationally on Fox, with streaming available through Fox Sports, and Wildcats fans can also follow the radio call on Wildcats Sports Radio 1290 AM.

The unusually late kickoff was caused by travel trouble for Utah. The Utes were unable to fly to Tucson Friday afternoon because of a nationwide Federal Aviation Administration ground stop. To give the team time to reach Arizona, the start was pushed back three hours. The change adds another wrinkle to a matchup that already carries major stakes for both programs, while also creating a long day for fans attending the game or following Fox’s pregame coverage in Tucson.

Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff will be broadcasting from the University of Arizona mall earlier Saturday, giving the community a national spotlight before the teams take the field. The game itself will feature Gus Johnson handling play by play, Joel Klatt as analyst and Jenny Dell reporting from the sideline. For listeners, Brian Jeffries and Lamont Lovett will call the action on Wildcats Sports Radio 1290 AM.

Utah enters Tucson unbeaten and ranked second nationally, one of only two undefeated teams remaining in major college football along with UCLA. The Utes have won their last three games by at least eight points, including a 28 to 20 victory over BYU on Nov. 7. Arizona, meanwhile, arrives after an extraordinary one point win over TCU on Nov. 6. That result gave the Wildcats a chance to challenge one of the country’s top teams at home, and it has made the matchup a major event for the program and its supporters.

The most immediate problem for Arizona’s defense may be Utah quarterback Devon Dampier. He accounted for four touchdowns in the win over BYU, running for two and throwing for two more. Dampier has 20 touchdown passes, fourth most in the Big 12, along with 482 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. He ran for 150 yards against Houston on Oct. 24, showing why Arizona will need to account for him even when the passing play breaks down.

Arizona has recorded 28 sacks this season, including six from Chase Kennedy, but the Wildcats have only three interceptions. Dampier’s ability to escape pressure could make that pass rush difficult to use consistently, particularly on third down, when Arizona may need to assign a defender to watch his running lanes. Utah also has a productive ground option in Wayshawn Parker, who leads the Utes with 762 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. His 90 yard run is the longest play by either team in this game.

Parker has two 100 yard rushing performances and has also caught four touchdown passes, but he was limited to 36 yards on 14 carries against BYU. Arizona gives up 125.2 rushing yards per game, so Utah will likely look for opportunities to establish Parker early and reduce the pressure on Dampier. Parker scored at Cincinnati on Oct. 31, and his ability to create a dependable running game could be especially important against a Wildcats team that needs to keep the Utes’ offense off the field.

Arizona’s best answer may be quarterback Noah Fifita and receiver Isaiah Mizell. Fifita has thrown for at least 300 yards five times, the most among the quarterbacks in this matchup. He produced 417 passing yards at Texas Tech on Oct. 31 and 313 yards against TCU, while his 21 touchdown passes rank third in the Big 12. Utah has 13 interceptions, including three by James Chenault Jr., and has also sacked opposing quarterbacks effectively enough to make Fifita’s protection a key concern. Fifita has been sacked 22 times this season.

Mizell has emerged as Arizona’s primary big-play threat. He leads the Wildcats in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, with 40 receptions for 753 yards and seven scores. At Texas Tech, he caught seven passes for 182 yards and a touchdown, and he has topped 100 receiving yards in multiple games. Mizell has scored in each of his last three contests, while his 94 yard reception is the longest play involving either team. Utah allows 233.8 passing yards per game, giving Arizona a possible opening if Fifita has time to find him. FanDuel listed Arizona as a 1.5 point favorite, with the over under set at 55.5, adding to the sense that this could be a competitive home test despite Utah’s ranking and unbeaten record.