An ESPN graphic at the conclusion of Arizona’s 23-10 win over No. 10 Utah on Saturday night indicated that the Wildcats have nine wins as an unranked team against opponents in the top 25 in the last 10 years, the most of any FBS team in that span.
Incredibly, five of the upsets have occurred in the last three seasons after the Wildcats had only won four of their previous 33 games overall from 2019 to 2022.
Furthering the rags-to-riches story: Arizona is 10-1 in its last 11 games dating to last year, with a 6-1 record against ranked teams in that stretch. Four of the six wins occurred when Arizona was unranked, including on Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium at Salt Lake City.
“Awesome night for our football team, and I think for Arizona fans everywhere,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan said. “This is a really special win for our football team. I’ve coached in a lot of games here. I know how tough it is. I know what the environment is.”
GIANT KILLERS
Arizona’s five wins over ranked teams as an unranked team over the last three years brings back memories of when Larry Smith’s teams in the early 1990s were called “Giant Killers” because of their monumental unexpected wins.
The Wildcats beat six ranked teams in six seasons, from 1980 to 1985, when Smith was establishing the program in what was then the Pac-10.
Included in that run was a win over No. 2 UCLA in 1980 at Arizona Stadium (when the Bruins were in line to be the No. 1 team after top-ranked Alabama lost earlier that day), No. 1 USC in 1981 at the L.A. Coliseum when the Trojans had Marcus Allen, No. 9 Notre Dame in 1982 at South Bend, Ind., and No. 6 Arizona State in 1982 at Arizona Stadium (knocking the Sun Devils out of the Rose Bowl contention).
"So many people contributed to this win… it feels great" pic.twitter.com/1osn3946n5
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) September 29, 2024
Mike Stoops and Rich Rodriguez had impressive “Giant Killer” stretches of their own.
Stoops’ unranked teams had eight wins over top 25 teams from 2004 to 2009, including wins over No. 7 UCLA in 2005 and No. 2 Oregon in 2007, both at Arizona Stadium.
Rich Rod’s unranked teams had five victories over top 25 opponents in his first three years, including two wins over vaunted Oregon when the Ducks were No. 5 in 2013 (42-16 rout at Arizona Stadium) and No. 2 (31-24 at Eugene, Ore.).
The key for Arizona’s program is to have more victories while ranked against top 25 teams.
The Wildcats are 16-24 in that regard, including 5-12 against top 10 teams.
They have lost five straight games against top 10 teams while they were ranked dating to 2010.
ARIZONA WINS VS. TOP 25 AS UNRANKED TEAM
Arizona's victories as an unranked team against teams ranked in the AP Top 25.ORec - Opponent record at time of game
ARec - Arizona record at time of game
*2008 Las Vegas Bowl
| Year | Score | Opponent | ORec | Arec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 14-7 | No. 20 Wyoming | 7-2 | 7-1 |
| 1980 | 23-17 | No. 2 UCLA | 6-0 | 2-4 |
| 1981 | 13-10 | at No. 1 USC | 4-0 | 2-2 |
| 1982 | 16-13 | at No. 9 Notre Dame | 4-0 | 1-2-1 |
| 1982 | 28-18 | No. 6 ASU | 9-1 | 5-4-1 |
| 1984 | 28-14 | No. 19 Oregon | 4-0 | 3-2 |
| 1985 | 28-6 | No. 6 SMU | 2-0 | 3-1 |
| 1989 | 42-7 | No. 22 UCLA | 3-2 | 3-2 |
| 1990 | 28-16 | No. 11 Illinois | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| 1990 | 35-26 | at No. 15 USC | 5-1 | 4-2 |
| 1992 | 23-3 | No. 11 UCLA | 3-0 | 1-2-1 |
| 1992 | 21-6 | at No. 8 Stanford | 5-1 | 2-2-1 |
| 1997 | 28-22 | No. 16 Stanford | 4-1 | 2-3 |
| 1997 | 28-16 | at No. 12 ASU | 8-2 | 5-5 |
| 2000 | 31-15 | at No. 22 USC | 3-1 | 3-1 |
| 2004 | 34-27 | No. 18 ASU | 8-2 | 2-8 |
| 2005 | 52-14 | No. 7 UCLA | 8-0 | 2-6 |
| 2006 | 27-17 | No. 25 at Wash St | 6-3 | 3-5 |
| 2006 | 24-20 | No. 11 Cal | 8-1 | 4-5 |
| 2007 | 34-24 | No. 2 Oregon | 8-1 | 4-6 |
| 2008 | 42-27 | No. 25 Cal | 4-1 | 4-2 |
| 2008 | 31-21 | No. 17 BYU* | 10-2 | 7-5 |
| 2009 | 21-17 | at No. 20 USC | 8-3 | 7-4 |
| 2012 | 59-38 | No. 19 OK St | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| 2012 | 39-36 | No. 10 USC | 6-1 | 4-3 |
| 2013 | 42-16 | No. 5 Oregon | 9-1 | 6-4 |
| 2014 | 31-24 | at No. 2 Oregon | 4-0 | 4-0 |
| 2015 | 37-30 (2OT) | No. 10 Utah | 8-1 | 5-5 |
| 2017 | 58-37 | No. 15 Wash St | 7-1 | 5-2 |
| 2018 | 44-15 | No. 19 Oregon | 5-2 | 3-5 |
| 2022 | 34-28 | at No. 9 UCLA | 8-1 | 3-6 |
| 2023 | 44-6 | at No. 19 Wash St | 4-1 | 3-3 |
| 2023 | 27-24 | No. 11 Ore St | 6-1 | 4-3 |
| 2023 | 27-10 | No. 20 UCLA | 6-2 | 5-3 |
| 2024 | 23-10 | at No. 10 Utah | 4-0 | 2-1 |
QUICK HITS
— Saturday’s win over Utah was the first win over an AP Top 25 program for Brennan, who was 0-4 in that regard with three of the losses at San Jose State before the 31-7 loss at No. 14 Kansas State two weeks ago. In 2018, San Jose State lost at No. 20 Oregon 35-22 and at No. 16 Utah State 42-14, and last season, the Spartans lost their season opener at No. 6 USC 56-28.
— The Wildcats allowed 10 points to Utah, which marked the fewest points allowed to a top 10 team since shutting out No. 10 Miami 29-0 in 1994 Fiesta Bowl.
— Arizona’s defense turned away Utah on fourth down four times, marking its first 0-for-4 performance since Oregon in 2006.
“I thought our defense was incredible,” Brennan said. “If you take the fourth down stops with the turnovers, I think we would count that as six, which is just what you have to do to win a game like that on the road. The defense kept answering the call. I thought our D-line was outstanding against a really physical offensive line of theirs.”
— TE Keyan Burnett recorded career-high marks in both receptions (five) and yards (76). His fourth quarter touchdown was the first of his career.
SING THAT SONG!!!! pic.twitter.com/V1Ek1oU2DH
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) September 29, 2024
— QB Noah Fifita threw for two touchdowns and moved into a tie for 12th all-time at Arizona with 33 career touchdowns. He is two touchdown passes away from moving into the program’s top ten. … He is currently 13th in program history with 4,057 career passing yards. He is 864 yards away from passing Matt Scott (4,921 yards, 2008-12) for 12th all-time.
— K Tyler Loop connected on 3-for-4 field goals, tying his career high with three made attempts. … Loop has 283 career points, the fourth most in program history. He is 30 points shy of passing Ka’Deem Carey (312 points, 2011-13) for third all-time. … Loop currently boasts an 84.84 percent (56-of-66) career field goals made percentage, which would be the best mark in program history (minimum 30 made FG).
— DL Stanley Ta’ufo’ou, a transfer from USC, recorded his first sack with the Wildcats late in the first half.
— S Genesis Smith, playing in place of injured Treydan Stukes (right knee), picked off Utah QB Isaac Wilson for his third-career interception and second of the 2024 season.
— CB Tacario Davis made five pass breakups, marking a single-game career high and giving him 21 passes defended for his career.
— S Gunner Maldonado also logged an interception on Saturday, giving him four career picks.
— RB Kedrick Reescano posted career-high marks in attempts (seven) and yards (73) in Saturday’s victory.
— LB Taye Brown led the Wildcats with 10 tackles, marking his second double-digit tackle performance of the season.
— WR Tetairoa McMillan has 22 career receiving touchdowns, the sixth most all-time at Arizona. He is one receiving touchdown away from tying Mike Thomas (2005-08) and Bobby Wade (1999-02) for fourth in program history with 23 career receiving touchdown. … McMillan has 2,607 career receiving yards, the fifth most in program history. He is 253 yards shy of passing Juron Criner (2,859 yards, 2008-11) for fourth all-time. … He has nine 100-yard receiving games in his career. He is two 100-yard games away from tying Thomas and Criner for third all -time with 11 career 100-yard receiving games.
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