The Holiday Bowl features a matchup between the Arizona Wildcats and the SMU Mustangs as both teams close out the 2025–26 college football season. The Mustangs are 8-4 this season and are coming off a loss against California in late November.
The Wildcats, on the other hand, are 9-3 and have been on a five-game winning streak. They have defeated Colorado, Kansas, Cincinnati, Baylor, and Arizona State in their last five games.
With no late bowl-specific starting lineups officially announced, the projections below are based on the most recently updated team depth charts, offering a clear view of who is expected to open the game and how depth is structured on both sides.
Arizona vs. SMU Projected Starting Lineup for Holiday Bowl
Arizona Wildcats Starting Lineup
| Position | Starter |
| QB | Noah Fifita |
| RB | Ismail Mahdi |
| WR-X | Tre Spivey |
| WR-Z | Kris Hutson |
| Slot WR | Javin Whatley |
| TE | Sam Olson |
| LT | Ty Buchanan |
| LG | Chubba Maeae |
| C | Kaena DeCambra |
| RG | Alexander Doost |
| RT | Tristan Bounds |
| LDE | Malachi Bailey |
| NT | Tiaalii Savea |
| DT | Deshawn McKnight |
| RDE | Dominic Lolesio |
| WLB | Chase Kennedy |
| MLB | Max Harris |
| SLB | Taye Brown |
| LCB | Ayden Garnes |
| SS | Dalton Johnson |
| FS | Genesis Smith |
| RCB | Michael Dansby |
| NB | Treydan Stukes |
SMU Mustangs Starting Lineup
| Position | Starter |
| QB | Kevin Jennings |
| RB | TJ Harden |
| WR-X | Romello Brinson |
| WR-Z | Jordan Hudson |
| Slot WR | RJ Maryland |
| TE | Matthew Hibner |
| LT | Savion Byrd |
| LG | Logan Parr |
| C | Joshua Bates |
| RG | Addison Nichols |
| RT | PJ Williams |
| LDE | Cameron Robertson |
| LDT | Jeffrey M’ba |
| RDT | Terry Webb |
| RDE | Isaiah Smith |
| WLB | Alexander Kilgore |
| MLB | Brandon Booker |
| LCB | William Nettles |
| SS | Isaiah Nwokobia |
| FS | Ahmaad Moses |
| RCB | Marcellus Barnes Jr. |
| NB | Deuce Harmon |
Arizona vs. SMU Depth Chart for Holiday Bowl
Arizona Wildcats Depth Chart
| Position | 1st | 2nd |
| QB | Noah Fifita | Bradyn Locke |
| RB | Ismail Mahdi | Kedrick Reescano |
| WR-X | Tre Spivey | Chris Hunter |
| WR-Z | Kris Hutson | Isaiah Mizell |
| Slot WR | Javin Whatley | Luke Wysong |
| TE | Sam Olson | Cameron Barmore |
| LT | Ty Buchanan | Matthew Lado |
| LG | Chubba Maeae | Wyatt Wooten |
| C | Kaena DeCambra | Grayson Stovall |
| RG | Alexander Doost | Ise Matautia |
| RT | Tristan Bounds | Rhino Tapa‘atutai |
| LDE | Malachi Bailey | Mays Pese |
| NT | Tiaalii Savea | Leroy Palu |
| DT | Deshawn McKnight | Julian Savainaea |
| RDE | Dominic Lolesio | Eduwa Okundaye |
| WLB | Chase Kennedy | Riley Wilson |
| MLB | Max Harris | Leviticus Su’a |
| SLB | Taye Brown | Jabari Mann |
| LCB | Ayden Garnes | Marquis Groves-Killebrew |
| SS | Dalton Johnson | Coleman Patmon |
| FS | Genesis Smith | Jack Luttrell |
| RCB | Michael Dansby | Jay’Vion Cole |
| NB | Treydan Stukes | Gavin Hunter |
SMU Mustangs Depth Chart
| Position | 1st | 2nd |
| QB | Kevin Jennings | Ty Hawkins |
| RB | TJ Harden | Chris Johnson Jr. |
| WR-X | Romello Brinson | Link Rhodes |
| WR-Z | Jordan Hudson | Jalen Cooper |
| Slot WR | RJ Maryland | Yamir Knight |
| TE | Matthew Hibner | Stone Eby |
| LT | Savion Byrd | Zion Nelson |
| LG | Logan Parr | Nate Anderson |
| C | Joshua Bates | Graham Uter |
| RG | Addison Nichols | Abel Hoopii |
| RT | PJ Williams | Andrew Chamblee |
| LDE | Cameron Robertson | Jahkai Lang |
| LDT | Jeffrey M’ba | Kevin Allen |
| RDT | Terry Webb | Woo Spencer |
| RDE | Isaiah Smith | DJ Warner |
| WLB | Alexander Kilgore | Brandon Miyazono |
| MLB | Brandon Booker | Zakya Barker |
| LCB | William Nettles | Jaelyn Davis-Robinson |
| SS | Isaiah Nwokobia | Jaden Milliner-Jones |
| FS | Ahmaad Moses | Jaylen Moses |
| RCB | Marcellus Barnes Jr. | Abdul Muhammad |
| NB | Deuce Harmon | Kyron Chambers |
How To Watch Arizona vs. SMU
- TV: FOX
- Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Date: Friday, January 2, 2026
- Location: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, California
- Broadcast crew: Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst), Jenny Taft (sideline)
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