TUCSON (Interstat) — Noah Fifita threw for 325 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another score as Arizona defeated visiting Northern Illinois 42-17 on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in a Bowl Division game at Casino Del Sol Stadium. Fifita completed 31 of 34 passes and led the Wildcats to a 21-point first quarter. Chris Hunter III caught five passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, Isaiah Mizell had five catches for 49 yards and a score, and Caleb Smith returned a punt for a touchdown. Cooper Blomstrom made 10 tackles. Northern Illinois quarterback Taron Dickens completed 25 of 37 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown and ran for 9 yards. DeAree Rogers caught 10 passes for 68 yards, Cam Thompson had three catches for 62 yards and a score, and Telly Johnson Jr. rushed 12 times for 69 yards. Jashawn Nelson recorded seven tackles and a sack, while Yassine Falke intercepted a pass. JJ Schlenhardt made a 38-yard field goal but missed from 41 and 54 yards. Arizona improved to 2-1, while Northern Illinois dropped to 0-3.