We are now only 65 days until the Arizona Wildcats kick off their 2018 season under new coach Kevin Sumlin.

When Arizona hosts BYU on Sept. 1, it will mark the 40th anniversary since the Wildcats joined the Pac-12 (went from the Pac-8 to the Pac-10 then) and also the 20th anniversary of the 1998 team with the best record in school history, 12-1, and the 25th anniversary of the 1993 team that went 10-2 with a win over Miami in the Fiesta Bowl.

To get ready for the upcoming season, All Sports Tucson offers another countdown, which will include memories from former Wildcats, history notes and a look ahead to the season. Think of it as a way to keep Arizona football on the mind in the summer months leading up to fall camp in early August and then kickoff against the Cougars marking the start of the Sumlin Era.

To catch up on the countdown click on this: Arizona Wildcats 2018 countdown to kickoff.

A look back

— With it being the 65th day until kickoff, the best player to wear No. 65 for Arizona? That would be defensive tackle Ken Hakes, who played for Larry Smith and Dick Tomey from 1986 to 1989. He made a big career improvement in his time at Arizona and ultimately led the Wildcat linemen with 72 tackles in 1989.

Ken Hakes, with his wife Dani Lyn, is very active as an Arizona football alum (Hakes photo)

Hakes is a highly successful businessman in Phoenix as the Chief Operating Officer at Oldcastle Superlite Block, a company that specializes in the production of architectural masonry and concrete aggregate products. He has worked for Oldcastle Superlite Block since 1998.

A look ahead

USA Today has Khalil Tate ranked as the ninth-best quarter back in the nation. Last week, Sports Illustrated had him as the No. 4. Never before has an Arizona quarterback been so hyped entering the season, but then again never before has an Arizona quarterback produced as much as he did on the ground and yes in the air even after missing essentially the first three games last year.

10 Best Quarterbacks in College Football per @USATODAY

1. Trace McSorley, PSU
2. McKenzie Milton, UCF
3. Ryan Finley, NC State
4. Will Grier, West Virginia
5. Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
6. Justin Herbert, Oregon
8. Khalil Tate, Arizona
10. Jake Browning, Washington pic.twitter.com/zZ22YiDTi4

— SportsPac12 (@SportsPac12) June 28, 2018

They tweeted it

The College Football News believes Arizona will finish with more victories than any other team in the Pac-12 South this year and third-most overall, believe it or not.

Projected Pac-12 Football Wins per @ColFootballNews

—North—
1. Washington, 10.5
2. Oregon, 9.5
3. Stanford, 8
4. WSU, 6.5
5. Cal, 5.5
6. OSU, 2.5

—South—
1. Arizona, 9
2. USC, 8.5
3. UCLA, 7.5
4. Utah, 7
5. Colorado, 5.5
6. ASU, 4

— SportsPac12 (@SportsPac12) June 25, 2018