No. 16 Arizona faces rival Arizona State with Pac-12 title hopes still alive
Wed, Nov 22, 2023
NCAAF News (AP)
No. 16 Arizona (8-3, 6-2 Pac-12, No. 15 CFP) at Arizona State (3-8, 2-6), Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Line: Arizona by 10 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Arizona leads 50-45-1.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
Arizona can clinch a spot in the Pac-12 championship game against No. 4 Washington with a win and No. 15 Oregon State beating No. 6. Oregon. The Wildcats have won four games against AP Top 25 teams in a season for the first time since 1989 have five straight Pac-12 wins for the first time since 1998. Arizona State has labored in coach Kenny Dillingham's first season and is coming off a 49-13 loss to Oregon, his former team. The Sun Devils have been decimated by injuries and have lost six straight, but a win over their rival would make them feel a whole lot better going into the offseason.
KEY MATCHUP
Arizona State's defense against Arizona's passing game. The Sun Devils were picked apart last week by Oregon's Bo Nix, who threw for 404 yards and all six of his TD passes in the first half. It doesn't get any easier against Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita and one of the nation's best receiving duos in Tetairoa McMillan and Jacob Cowing. Fifita has been superb since replacing Jayden de Laura, who was injured against Stanford on Sept. 23. Fifita kept the job when de Laura returned and has thrown for nearly 1,200 yards and 18 TDs. McMillan and Cowing have combined for 143 catches for 1,1,15 yards and 19 TDs.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Arizona: LB Jacob Manu. Part of coach Jedd Fisch's stellar 2022 recruiting class, Manu has been an anchor in Arizona's defensive resurgence. The junior leads the Pac-12 with 99 tackles and has 5.5 sacks.
Arizona State: RB Cam Skattebo. The Sacramento State transfer has been one of the Pac-12's toughest running backs to tackle all season. Skattebo leads Arizona State with 680 yards and eight touchdowns, is a threat to throw and has been superb at pooch punting.
FACTS & FIGURES
Arizona State had won five straight in the series until the Wildcats pulled out a 38-35 win in Tucson last season. ... The Territorial Cup is the nation's oldest rivalry trophy, dating to 1899. ... Arizona has its most wins since going 10-4 in 2014. ... Arizona State QB Jaden Rashada could make an appearance in the final game of the season. The starter out of fall camp has been out since suffering a leg injury against Oklahoma State the second game of the season. ... Arizona's Jordan Morgan has the highest offensive lineman rating in the Pac-12 at 82.5, according to Pro Football Focus.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
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