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Arizona Football: Everything You Need to Know About the ASU Game and More

By Shereen Rayan

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It’s rivalry week for the Arizona Football team who has one goal in mind, keep the territorial cup in Tucson where it belongs.

Here are the standings for the Pac-12 by division, there are now eight teams who are bowl eligible including Arizona.

http://pac-12.com/team/arizona-football

This is the first time the Cal Bears are bowl eligible since 2011. What’s surprising is that Washington State is bowl eligible for the first time since 2013, they have only been eligible twice since 2003. That said, the Pac-12 has messed up their chances of making it into the final teams for the NCAA Championship playoffs, but time will tell.

Two teams, Utah, and Stanford are 8-2, and four teams are 7-3: UCLA, USC, Washington State and Oregon, who have redeemed themselves in the last couple of games. Arizona and Arizona State are about tied, except for the fact that ASU got a bye, so Arizona has one more loss, but that is going to change this weekend if the players have anything to say about it.

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If Stanford wins this weekend, they clinch the Pac-12 North division. The loss against the Wildcats caused the Ute’s chances of becoming the Pac-12 South division champs more tenuous. USC, UCLA, and Utah are all still in contention for the South crown. USC will have to lose one of their last games and Utah win their final two to become Champs. If both USC and UCLA post wins this weekend, then the USC vs. UCLA rivalry game will decide who becomes the Pac-12 South champion. Utah should win easily against Colorado, but you never know in the Pac-12.

In Pac-12 conference play to-date, the visiting team has won 23 out of 43 times, three more than the 20 that have lost while traveling. Great for the Wildcats.

The Sun Devils

Nov 7, 2015; Pullman, WA, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham looks on against the Washington State Cougars during the second half at Martin Stadium. The Cougars won 30-24. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

In coach Todd Graham’s weekly press conference, he explained his opinion about The Territorial Cup, “This is a rival game and one that is very passionate on both sides. This game has been a game where it comes down to turnovers. You’ve got to win that battle. The years we’ve won that battle, we’ve won, and the years we haven’t, we haven’t.”

Graham was also asked about getting a win in a bowl game, and his response was as it should be, “You know, I really haven’t even — I mean, your first statement is the true statement, the most important statement, is that it’s the Territorial Cup. That’s it. Enough said. That’s how important it is.”

Graham spoke about the differences he sees in Arizona’s quarterbacks, “I think obviously Solomon is the more seasoned, more veteran, has more of a command of the offense, obviously, and Randall is just a tremendous athlete and very, very explosive, had a big, big game — threw the game-winning touchdown and came in and did a great job for them.”

Coach Graham confirmed that Arizona State safety Jordan Simone suffered a knee injury in the first half of their game against Washington and his season is over. He expects everyone else to play, unfortunately.

Senior quarterback Mike Bercovici threw for 253 yards and completed 22 out of 34 passes, one for a touchdown to WR Devin Lucien against the Huskies. Oh and he was sacked three times. Bercovici’s principal targets are senior WR/RB D.J. Foster, who caught five passes for 63 yards (26 longest) and junior TE Kody Kohl, who caught four passes for 63 yards (32 longest).  The Sun Devils longest punt return last week was 16 yards.

Pac-12 Notes:

  • ASU is now one game away from becoming bowl eligible for the Fourth straight season under Graham, a feat no other Sun Devil head coach has accomplished in his first four seasons
  • Sophomore RB Kalen Ballage finished with 102 total yards (92 rushing, 10 receiving) and two rushing TDs in the win over Washington
  • Ballage has carried the ball 36 times for 301 yards (8.4 ypc) in the last three games after having just 183 yards on 53 carries (3.5 ypc) in his first four games
  • Senior WR D.J. Foster set a Pac-12 record of 50 consecutive games with a reception. It’s the longest active streak in the FBS.

The Wildcats

Nov 7, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez reacts during the NCAA football game against the Southern California Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez had a lot to say about his plans for this week’s preparations in Monday’s press conference, “We’ll talk about it with our players all week, we will have things on the television all week about the past rivalry games. We will put stuff in the locker rooms. We have about 35 newcomers in our program, and they need to understand the importance of this game. We will take everybody up. The guys who aren’t on the travel squad, including those who are injured will come up on the bus on Saturday with their teammates.”

Woo hoo! That means that Scooby and his teammates who are listed as “out” can go to the game and be on the sidelines. Scooby was active on the sidelines during the Utah game, and it helped!

Just how important does coach Rich Rod take this rivalry game? “This is as intense as any of the ones I have been involved in, and I have been involved in some big ones. I think the fact that it is in the same state, in the same conference, and the same division in the same conference, our staff knows each other..Our fans talk about this game year round. Our guys, our players, and our coaches here about it all the time. It is an intense rivalry, and a lot of emotion goes into it…there is still a lot at stake. It is the biggest game on our schedule every year.”

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Rodriguez explained that Anu Solomon is day-to-day, he looks good, but “It’s up to the medical experts. If they tell Anu he can play then we will let him play.” The one thing that came out of last week’s win over the Ute’s was the injury to MLB Jake Matthews, who is out for the season with an injury and is having surgery this Friday.

Adam Green of ArizonaSports.com wrote a piece about sign stealing and quoted Coach Rodriguez on his tactics that will be different this week. He feels it’s all part of the game, and it’s up to him and his staff to mask the calls.

"“I’ve seen the purple curtains with Washington and what color was Oregon,” he asked, before being informed they were white. “We may go with some fashion design, get some kind of really neat, kind of design and start a new trend in college football.”“I don’t think we’ll do the curtain thing, but I understand why,” he said. “But we will have a, I guess, different plan or special plan for that reason because they’re going to try to get your signals and they probably have multiple guys assigned to try to get your signals."

Pac-12 Notes:

  • Junior QB Anu Solomon completed 17-of-27 for 277 yards and two TDs in the win over Utah. The two TD passes gives him 46 in his career, moving him into a tie for third on UA’s all-time list (Tom Tunnicliffe, 1980-83). He now has 6,053 career passing yards, moving him up two spots into fourth on UA’s all-time list
  • Junior WR Cayleb Jones had five receptions for 126 yards and one TD against Utah, giving him his third 100-plus yard receiving performance this season, seventh of his career.
  • Last Meeting: Arizona secured the Pac-12 South title with a 42-35 win over Arizona State as freshman Nick Wilson rushed for 178 yards on 24 carries and 3 TDs. Scooby Wright III led the Arizona defense with 13 tackles, including five tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. Arizona State’s Taylor Kelly and Mike Bercovici combined to complete 27-of-44 for 267 yards and 4 TDs but were sacked seven times.

Before we get to the nitty-gritty of this rivalry, it’s history and game info, enjoy this video by

@UA_DigitalGurus

, two-thirds in you will see and hear Rich Rod happy and his post-game pep talk and celebration in the locker room. It’s a MUST SEE video. Note Mrs. Rich Rod on the sidelines celebrating, and fan favorite

Paul Magloire

, who we think lost and possibly swallowed his tooth, but it didn’t phase him, he’s #hardedge.

Territorial Cup matchup history care of AZCentral.com:

  • ASU and Arizona have met 88 times in football.
  • The Wildcats lead the all-time series 48-39-1.
  • The lone tie came in 1987.
  • ASU leads the series in games played in Tempe 20-18-1.
  • Arizona leads the series in games played in Tucson 30-19.

Results of the last six games, the last two games the home team won (three wins each, home team in all caps):

  1. 2014: ARIZONA 42, Arizona State 35.
  2. 2013: ARIZONA STATE 58, Arizona 21.
  3. 2012: Arizona State 41, ARIZONA 34.
  4. 2011: Arizona 31, ARIZONA STATE 27.
  5. 2010: Arizona State 30, ARIZONA 29 (2 OT).
  6. 2009: Arizona 20, ARIZONA STATE 17.

Records: Arizona State (5-5, 3-4) vs. Arizona (6-5, 3-5)   No Line Yet! will update (MGM)

Series:  Arizona leads, 48-39-1. Last: ARIZ, 42-35 (2014)

Last game: Arizona State beat Washington 27-17, and Arizona beat Utah 37-30

Date: Saturday, Nov. 21

Game Time: 1:30 p.m. MST (AZ) and 12:30 p.m. PST, TV – Fox Sports 1, Radio – TuneIn, Arizona IMG Sports Network

Location: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

Hashtag: #ASUvsAZ

Pre-Game Notes: 

  • Both head coach Todd Graham and coach Rich Rodriguez have been with their respective program for four years.
  • Scoring Offense: Arizona ranks No. 4, Arizona State ranks No. 9
  • Field Goals: Arizona ranks No. 4 (95%), Arizona State ranks No. 11 (68%) – this is good if the game goes to overtime or comes down to a field goal
  • Rushing Offense: Arizona ranks No. 2, Arizona State ranks No. 6
  • Passing Offense:  Arizona State ranks No. 5, Arizona ranks No. 6
  • Total Defense: Arizona State ranks No. 7, Arizona ranks No. 10
  • Third Down Conversions: Arizona ranks No. 4, Arizona State ranks No. 5 – surprised?
  • Sacks: Arizona State ranks No. 1, Arizona tied for No. 8 – this is something the Wildcats need to be cognizant of

Arizona Injuries (will update guess at this time):

Upshot:  

Both coaches are four years into their tenure at their respective school; both are saying goodbye to seniors who have played for them during that time. Both teams have about the same record, their passing and third down conversion records are about the same was well. The difference in the two teams seems to be that Arizona State’ defense has an edge over Arizona and Arizona has an edge on offense.

Both teams are being pumped up by their coaches; they know a whole season could be in the dumpster as far as what will be remembered if they don’t win this game, and they will carry the shame for an entire year until the two teams meet again. Arizona State does need one more win to be bowl eligible, and their seniors want that cup back. Arizona’s seniors proved last week that they can step up and make things happen, and they know how it feels to have the territorial cup.

Look for this to be a highly contentious yet pretty even game coming down to the wire. If Arizona fans decide now after last week’s win, it is worth it to go to Tempe to cheer on their cats, and they can get a good crowd there, we think Arizona can pull this out and make a losing season in the Pac-12 feel much better.

Next: Arizona Football: Matt Dudek, the Heart of the Program

Prediction:  

Arizona 31 Arizona State 28

BEARDOWN ARIZONA AND BEAT THE SUN DEVILS!

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