New Mexico at No. 21 Arizona, Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Arizona with 31 1/2.

Series record: Arizona 44-20-3

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Arizona is entering its first season under coach Brent Brennan after a successful three-year rebuild by former coach Jedd Fisch, now at Washington. Brennan arrives from San Jose State with a full roster and the program’s first preseason ranking since 2015. The Wildcats are explosive offensively and have improved greatly on defense. The Lobos opened their first season under new coach Bronco Mendenhall last week with a 35-31 loss to Montana State.

KEY GAME

New Mexico’s defense against Arizona’s running game. The Wildcats have one of the best passing duos in the country in quarterbacks Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan, so the Lobos will likely focus on slowing those two down. That could open up the running game. Arizona had to reshuffle its running backs and sign Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who rushed for 1,900 yards and 17 touchdowns for New Mexico last season. The Lobos allowed 362 yards and three touchdowns against Montana State last week, so it could be difficult to slow down the Wildcats.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

New Mexico: QB Devon Dampier. Last season’s backup had a strong spring and earned the starting job after fall training camp. He threw for 172 yards and a touchdown against Montana State and added a 24-yard running touchdown.

Arizona: Fifita. Fifita was the backup last season and developed into one of the Pac-12’s best quarterbacks, throwing for 2,869 yards and 25 touchdowns against six interceptions. His and McMillan’s decision to stay in Tucson when Fisch left was a big one for Brennan and the Wildcats.

Facts & Figures

Arizona has won seven straight games, the second-longest active winning streak in the country. … New Mexico running back Eli Sanders rushed for 87 yards on 17 attempts against Montana State, his first game since transferring from Iowa State. … McMillan had a stellar sophomore season, catching 90 passes for 1,402 yards and 10 TDs. Earlier this month, he was named Arizona’s first preseason All-American by the Associated Press. … Arizona beat New Mexico 45-37 the last time the teams met in 2015. The rivalry dates back to 1908. … Arizona has perhaps one of the best defensive lines in the country, led by CB Tacario Davis and S Dalton Johnson.

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