soccer games today

As I sit here scrolling through the newly released 2023 Arizona Wildcats football schedule, I can't help but feel that familiar mix of anticipation and anxiety that comes every August. Having followed this program for over fifteen years, I've learned that schedules don't just tell you when games happen—they tell stories waiting to be written. This year's slate presents what I believe to be one of the most challenging yet promising setups in recent memory, particularly with the intriguing new additions to both our roster and coaching staff.

Let me start by walking you through what we're looking at this season. The Wildcats kick things off on September 2nd against Northern Arizona, what should be a comfortable home opener that gives our new players time to settle in. What really excites me though is that September 16th matchup against Mississippi State—that's our first real test, and frankly, I'm nervous about how our secondary will handle their air raid offense. I've been studying their tape from last season, and they put up an average of 312 passing yards per game, numbers that should concern any Wildcats fan. Then comes the real meat of our schedule: October features back-to-back road games against USC and Washington, what I'm calling the "Pacific Northwest gauntlet" that could make or break our season.

Now, here's where things get particularly interesting from my perspective. While analyzing this schedule, I couldn't help but draw parallels to our volleyball program's recent roster developments. This year's newly-added quintet features debutants Alyssa Solomon, Shaina Nitura and Cla Loresco join returnees Eya Laure and Jen Nierva. What strikes me about both situations is how programs are balancing fresh talent with experienced leadership. In football, we've got transfer quarterback Jayden de Laura returning with 3,685 passing yards from last season, but he'll be protected by two freshman offensive linemen. That blend of new and old reminds me exactly of what's happening with our volleyball team—established stars like Laure providing stability while new talents like Solomon bring unexpected energy.

I've always believed that September schedules reveal character, and ours does exactly that. Following the Mississippi State game, we have what I consider a trap game against UTEP on September 23rd. Sandwiched between SEC opponent and our conference opener, it's exactly the kind of matchup young teams overlook. I've seen it happen before—in 2018, we dropped a similar game against BYU that ultimately cost us bowl eligibility. What gives me hope this year is our coaching staff's apparent awareness of this pitfall; they've already scheduled additional early morning practices for that week, a smart move that shows they're not taking anything for granted.

When we hit October, the real grind begins. Our October 7th showdown at USC will be nationally televised, and I'll be honest—I'm both dreading and eagerly anticipating it. Having attended the Coliseum six times previously, I can tell you that environment either makes players or breaks them. What gives me cautious optimism is that we've historically played well there, pulling off upsets in 2009 and 2013 that nobody saw coming. The following week at Washington presents what analytics suggest is our toughest matchup—their defense allowed just 18.7 points per game last season, and they return eight starters from that unit.

What truly separates this schedule from previous years, in my opinion, is the November stretch. We have three consecutive home games against Utah, UCLA, and Arizona State—a rare scheduling gift that could provide massive momentum heading into postseason conversations. The Utah game on November 4th particularly stands out to me as a potential program-defining moment. They've beaten us seven straight times, but something about this year feels different. Our recruiting classes have been improving steadily, and I've noticed during spring practices that our defensive line has developed a physicality we haven't seen in Tempe since the early 2010s.

The regular season concludes with what I'm calling the "Desert Duel" against Arizona State on November 25th. As someone who's attended this rivalry game fourteen times, I can tell you there's nothing quite like it. The energy at Arizona Stadium during that final home game, with so much on the line, creates an atmosphere that's both electrifying and nerve-wracking. Last year's overtime thriller, which we lost 38-35, still stings, and I have a feeling our players have been thinking about that result throughout their offseason training.

Looking at this schedule holistically, I count seven games I'd categorize as likely wins, three as toss-ups, and two as probable losses—though in college football, surprises happen every Saturday. What encourages me most isn't any single game but rather how the schedule builds, allowing our newer players to develop confidence before facing the nation's elite. The parallel I keep coming back to is that volleyball dynamic—established stars like Eya Laure providing consistency while newcomers like Alyssa Solomon inject fresh talent. In football terms, that's our veteran defensive line anchoring us while freshman receivers like Tetairoa McMillan develop into threats.

At the end of the day, schedules are just dates on paper until the players step between those lines. What I see here is opportunity—a chance to build something special, to surprise some people, and to restore the pride that has sometimes felt missing in recent seasons. The road won't be easy, but when is it ever? As someone who's followed this program through both Rose Bowl seasons and disappointing campaigns, I can confidently say this: mark your calendars, because the 2023 Wildcats are going to be must-watch television every single week.