As the calendar turns to 2025, the pressure is mounting on Arizona Wildcats head coach Brent Brennan. In what was supposed to be a season of rejuvenation and rebuilding, Brennan’s first year at the helm has been nothing short of a disaster. The once-proud program is now staring down one of the most disappointing seasons in its recent history, and the heat is on for Brennan to turn things around — and fast. Arizona’s football faithful, desperate for a return to relevance, are growing impatient, and if Brennan cannot course correct soon, his tenure may be in jeopardy.
When Brennan was hired, there were plenty of reasons for optimism. His resume, particularly his work as a successful head coach at San Jose State, indicated that he could bring stability and a fresh outlook to an Arizona team that had struggled to regain its footing in the ever-competitive Pac-12. However, what Brennan inherited was more than just a program in need of a reset—it was a ship that had already begun to sink. The talent gap was wider than anticipated, and the cultural issues within the program ran deeper than anyone expected.
Unfortunately, Brennan’s first year in charge has been marked by inconsistency, poor decision-making, and an inability to find the right solutions to the myriad problems plaguing the Wildcats. Arizona has been plagued by embarrassing losses to inferior opponents, with the team frequently failing to show up when it mattered most. The offense, which was supposed to be the hallmark of Brennan’s scheme, has sputtered, and the defense has been porous at best. Arizona’s once-promising recruiting class hasn’t yielded immediate returns, and the Wildcats’ ability to develop talent has been called into question.
The biggest issue facing Brennan, however, is the failure to build any semblance of momentum. For Arizona fans who have been starved for success for years, watching the team take one step forward and two steps back has been agonizing. The Wildcats’ performances have been maddeningly unpredictable, as they show flashes of potential one week, only to lay a complete egg the next. The lack of consistency has frustrated fans and alumni alike, and the questions are beginning to mount: Is Brennan the right guy to lead Arizona out of the wilderness, or is his tenure headed for an early exit?
On the field, the Wildcats’ offense has been anemic, struggling to find a rhythm despite Brennan’s track record as an offensive-minded coach. The quarterback play has been inconsistent, with turnovers and missed opportunities plaguing Arizona’s attack. They have failed to establish a balanced offensive game plan, and when the Wildcats do find success in one area, they often fail to sustain it. Meanwhile, their defense has been nothing short of porous, unable to stop opposing offenses, leaving them in shootout after shootout with no clear answers.
As the 2025 season approaches, Arizona’s fanbase is growing more restless by the day. The expectations may have been tempered by the reality of a rebuilding process, but this level of dysfunction has pushed many to question whether Brennan is the right person to lead the Wildcats back to relevance. The patience of Arizona supporters is running thin, and whispers of a potential coaching change are beginning to gain traction, especially if things don’t improve dramatically in year two.
Brennan finds himself on the hot seat not only because of the poor results on the field but also because of the growing perception that the program is directionless. With more talent entering the fold and the Pac-12 continuing to evolve, the pressure for Brennan to deliver a competitive, disciplined team is greater than ever. If he cannot find a way to right the ship in 2025, it’s possible that Arizona will look elsewhere for a leader capable of restoring the program to its former glory.
In college football, patience is often a luxury that coaches cannot afford, and as Brennan’s first season fades into history, it is clear that the pressure is mounting. Arizona’s football future depends on whether or not Brennan can prove he’s capable of bringing the Wildcats back from the brink—or if he’ll become yet another casualty of a program that simply couldn’t get out of its own way.
