Northern Arizona @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2011 ) Northern Arizona 10, Arizona 41

A pair of running backs will be in the spotlight when Arizona hosts Northern Arizona on Friday. Arizona junior Ka'Deem Carey led the nation in rushing yards (1,929) in 2012 and Northern Arizona senior Zach Bauman, a 2013 nominee on the Walter Payton Award watch list, is coming off his third consecutive 1,000-yard season. The Wildcats and Lumberjacks last met in 2011, with the Wildcats scoring an easy 41-10 victory in coach Rich Rodriguez's Arizona debut.

Both teams are replacing their starting quarterbacks. Cary Grossart, a two-year starter for Northern Arizona, leaves as the school's all-time leader in completion percentage (66.3). Arizona is in the process of finding a successor to Matt Scott, who ranked second in the Pac-12 in completions (301) and passing yards (3,620) last season.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network LINE: None

ABOUT NORTHERN ARIZONA (2012: 8-3, 6-2 Big Sky): Jerome Souers led the Lumberjacks to their best overall record since 2003 in his 15th year as coach, but was unable to capture a Big Sky title or reach the playoffs. Northern Arizona returns nine starters on offense and nine on defense as well as 14 Big Sky all-conference players. The Lumberjacks are ranked 18th in the preseason FCS Coaches Poll.

ABOUT ARIZONA (2012: 8-5, 4-5 Pac-12): The Wildcats finished fourth in the Pac-12 South under Rodriguez and concluded 2012 with a 49-48 come-from-behind victory over Nevada in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. Arizona earned wins over nationally ranked Oklahoma State and USC but fell victim to stiff competition within a conference that included Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA and Arizona State. The Wildcats were selected to finish fourth in the six-team South Division of the Pac-12.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Arizona will be without its leading receiver from a year ago in junior Austin Hill, who is recovering from an ACL tear he suffered in spring practice.

2. The Wildcats will also be without junior WR Tyler Slavin, who left the program in June.

3. Bauman is 119 yards shy of breaking the school record for career rushing yards (3,794 by Marcus King in 2011).

PREDICTION: Arizona 41, Northern Arizona 13