Iowa Native Quinn Olson Faces Biggest Test Yet as Arizona Opens Against NAU
Arizona's season opener against Northern Arizona carries a distinct Iowa flavor, and the matchup could hinge on a former Sioux City standout who took an unlikely path to the starting lineup. The Wildcats host the Lumberjacks on Saturday night in Tucson, and while Arizona enters as a heavy favorite, NAU has already proven it can pull off dramatic moments after erasing a 21-point deficit in Week 0.
The game features three key individual battles that could determine whether Arizona cruises or finds itself in an early-season scare. For Iowa readers, the most compelling storyline involves Quinn Olson, a Bishop Heelan High School graduate who went from walk-on quarterback to starting defensive back in less than two years.
Who is Quinn Olson and why does his matchup matter?
Olson joined Arizona in 2024 as a walk-on after starring at Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City, where he played quarterback. He redshirted his first year and spent nearly all of his 85 snaps in 2025 on special teams. Now, he has been named the starting BEAR defensive back, a position that frequently lines up against opposing tight ends.
His assignment Saturday: contain Jeter Purdy, NAU's lone offensive player named to the All-Big Sky preseason team. Purdy delivered in Week 0 with seven catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, leading all pass catchers in the Lumberjacks' comeback win over Eastern Washington.
The 6-foot-3 sophomore is NAU's biggest offensive weapon, and Olson's ability to limit him will be critical to avoiding an upset. It's a classic college football storyline: the former walk-on from Iowa tasked with shutting down the conference's top playmaker.
Tre Spivey faces a stiff test from NAU's preseason All-Conference defender
On the other side of the ball, Arizona's projected top receiver Tre Spivey will face Shoes Brinkley, NAU's other preseason All-Conference selection. Brinkley recorded a team-high nine tackles in Week 0 while helping limit Eastern Washington to 6.5 yards per reception and just two passing touchdowns.
Brinkley transferred from McNeese, where he racked up 81 tackles and three interceptions last season. He is more than capable of making life difficult for Spivey, who is expected to become quarterback Noah Fifita's primary target after hauling in 23 catches for 381 yards and seven touchdowns in his first season at Arizona following two years at Kansas State.
Establishing that connection early matters beyond Week 1, as Arizona faces BYU in a significant Week 2 matchup. Brinkley provides a legitimate test for an Arizona passing attack that needs to hit the ground running.
Can Arizona's special teams avoid a momentum-shifting mistake?
Special teams often decide close games, and NAU has already shown it can flip a contest with one play. Against Eastern Washington, Lindsay Graves returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 24-10. NAU scored again two minutes later, turning what was a 24-3 hole with 2:57 left in the half into a 24-17 game at the break.
Arizona returns significant talent across the field, but special teams will feature several new faces. Week 1 often exposes those inconsistencies, and a team like NAU is positioned to capitalize on any miscue.
When and where to watch Arizona vs. Northern Arizona
Arizona and NAU kick off at 7:30 p.m. MT (8:30 p.m. CT) on Saturday, Sept. 5. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
For Iowa fans following Olson's journey from Bishop Heelan to the Pac-12 stage, this opener offers a glimpse of a hometown athlete seizing an opportunity that few could have predicted just two years ago.