Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita has been named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm preseason watch list for the second straight year. He is one of 58 quarterbacks across the country recognized by the selection committee for this award, which honors “the top senior or upperclassman quarterback who is on track to graduate with their class.”
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, now in its 39th year, is overseen by a committee made up of college football journalists, commentators, announcers, and former players. The committee will evaluate all candidates throughout the upcoming season.
Fifita will be entering his third season as Arizona’s starting quarterback. Over his career so far, he has completed 65.2 percent of his passes for 5,955 yards and 44 touchdowns. He enters the new season ranked eighth in program history for passing yards and seventh for touchdown passes.
Nine quarterbacks from Big XII schools are included on this year’s preseason watch list alongside Fifita. In addition to this recognition, Fifita was also named to the Maxwell Award and Polynesian Football Player of the Year preseason watch lists for 2025.
Earlier in his college career, Fifita earned honors such as Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2023 and was a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. He also appeared on several other preseason watch lists last year including those for the Davey O’Brien Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year.
This coming season marks a change in leadership on offense at Arizona. Brent Brennan is bringing in Seth Doege from Marshall as offensive coordinator—the team’s third different play-caller in as many years since Fifita became starter.
Arizona’s opening game against Hawaii is scheduled for August 30. According to ESPN’s Football Power Index projections, Hawaii is expected to have about five wins while Arizona is projected at five wins and seven losses after what was considered an offensive setback last year.
“Noah Fifita has been named to the Golden Arm preseason watchlist (…) — Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) August 19, 2025“
