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2 weeks Ago
There are few certainties in life, but one of them happens to be Arizona having a major backslide a year after a breakout season. The Wildcats ended a massively disappointing 2024 campaign with possibly the worst performance of the fall, losing 49-7 at home to No. 14 ASU on Saturday afternoon at Arizona Stadium.
And in doing so, the UA matched the biggest 1-season drop in wins in school history. Arizona (4-8, 2-7 Big 12) finished with six fewer victories than in 2023, when they won 10 for the fourth time in school history. That drop matches the 1999 team that went 6-6 after posting a school-best 12-1 mark in 1998.
ASU (10-2, 7-2) scored on its first four possessions and led 35-0 at halftime, only slightly worse than the 42-0 start to the 70-7 debacle four years ago. The Sun Devils tallied 643 yards, most in Territorial Cup history, with 281 on the ground including 177 from on 21 carries with three 1 -half touchdowns. Quarterback was 17 of 22 for 291 yards and three TDs and receiver had eight catches for 143 yards and a score.
Arizona gained 210 yards, its fewest in a Territorial Cup since gaining 168 in 2006 and fewest in any game since 2019. It got a season-low 126 yards from on 14-of-29 passing while had eight catches for 68 yards and a TD in his final college game, giving him 3,423 yards for his career to sit 92 in FBS history. became the fourth consecutive UA coach to lose the Territorial Cup in his first season, and the 42-point margin of defeat was the worst in a T-Cup debut in series history.
The previous worst was 40 by 1957 team. ASU scored on its opening possession, with Skattebo running it in from two yards out on a direct snap. He had 34 yards on the drive.
Arizona got into ASU territory in two plays on its first drive but then stalled and punted, an early indication of the Wildcats’ unwillingness to take chances. The Sun Devils then quickly marched downfield again, the big play a 59-yard catch and run by Tyson that set up Skattebo’s second 2-yard TD run on another direct snap. The Wildcats were outscored 108-58 in the first quarter this season.
ASU made it 21-0 early in the second quarter on a 13-yard TD catch by Tyson, who caught an inside screen and shot through the UA defense. Two plays earlier gained 28 yards on a jet sweep on 3 and 10 as Arizona loaded the box but had nobody outside. Arizona finally had something go its way when returned the ensuring kickoff 61 yards to the ASU 37, only to see the Wildcats do nothing from there.
They settled for a 50-yard field goal attempt, which was good, but a false start was called as the UA was short a player and ran one onto the field just before the snap. Loop then missed the 55-yard attempt, and six minutes later Skattebo scored on a 3-yard run to make it 28-0. The UA managed to stop ASU’s fifth drive, forcing a punt, and thanks to some Sun Devil penalties got inside the 35 with less than two minutes before halftime.
But with two chances to gain two yards gained none and one, turning it over on downs. ASU made it 35-0 less than a minute later on a 22-yard TD pass from Leavitt to . Outgained 390-57 in the first half, Arizona gained 75 on the opening drive of the third quarter.
The last 28 came on a TD pass from Fifita to McMillan, the 16 and final scoring connection of their UA careers. ASU, which ran for 148 yards in the first half, gained 68 on three plays to get immediately back inside the UA 10 but then had to settle for a 21-yard field goal, which doinked off the right upright. Yet after the Wildcats got it near midfield they opted to punt on 4 and 2, down 28 late in the third quarter.
The Sun Devils had their own 4 down decision on the first play of the final quarter, needing eight yards, smartly went for it and Leavitt hit over the top for a 31-yard TD pass and a 42-7 lead. ASU’s backups then added a TD with 10:56 left when senior , who is from Marana, threw a 64-yard pass to for his first career reception..
