Arizona Wildcats have work to do with 2025 recruiting class compared to Big 12 peers

The Arizona Wildcats made their presence known in the first Big 12 Conference game in program history.

In Week 5 of the college football season, they went on the road and pulled off a major upset by defeating the Utah Utes 23-10. While it’s still very early, that puts them very much in contention for a spot in the conference championship, which could lead to the College Football Playoff.

There’s plenty of football to be played between now and then, as things can change in an instant.

On the field, the Wildcats look like they can join the upper echelon of teams in the conference. But there is also work to be done off the field to reach their colleagues at the conference.

Over at ESPN, Craig Haubert has shared updated rankings for the 2025 recruiting class. His top 50 does not include Arizona, which lags behind other Big 12 schools when it comes to the next crop of freshmen.

The conference’s top-ranked team may surprise some people. Coming in at No. 23 are the UFC Knights, who have received commitments from four players in the ESPN 300. Seven four-star players and eleven three-star players currently make up their recruiting class.

Right behind them, at number 25, are the TCU Horned Frogs. They have three top 300 recruits and 24 total, which amounts to 19 three-star players.

The Kansas State Wildcats, who demolished Arizona 31-7 in Week 3, are ranked No. 33 nationally. Their class features two top 300 players and 16 total commits, four of whom are four-star players.

Right behind them at number 34 is Utah. They have the same number of ESPN 300 and four-star players as Kansas State.

The Baylor Bears, ranked 37th overall, also have two ESPN 300 players coming to campus in 2025. With a total of 19 commits, there are three four-star players and fifteen three-stars.

An Arizona team that will host later this season, the West Virginia Mountaineers, captured the No. 43 spot with one top 300 player. Rounding out the list at No. 50 for the Big 12 Conference is the Texas Tech Red Raiders, who don’t have a single top 300 recruit.

Brent Brennan already has some excellent building blocks in place, but if the Wildcats want to remain prominent players in the Big 12, they need to start finding success on the recruiting trail.

The transfer portal offers opportunities to upgrade the squad, but cannot be the only impactful addition.