Arizona plays its way into the Pac-12 title game with win against Arizona State
The Arizona-Oregon rematch you didn’t know you wanted is now a certainty.
Arizona’s 42-35 win against rival Arizona State, coupled with UCLA’s improbable loss to Stanford, makes the Wildcats Pac-12 South champions. They earned the right to face the Ducks in next week’s conference title game.
Arizona defeated Oregon 31-24 on Oct. 2, the Ducks only loss this season.
Now the Ducks will have a chance for revenge and a chance to solidify their place in the College Football Playoff. If Arizona were to win, the Pac-12 would probably miss out on the playoff since all of its teams will have at least two losses.
Friday’s Territorial Cup between Arizona and Arizona State was a wild one, which was ultimately sealed on a Wildcat defensive stand late in the fourth quarter. The teams essentially traded touchdowns in the first half and went into halftime tied at 21. But in the second half, Arizona held a 35-21 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Sun Devils backup quarterback Mike Bercovici relieved starter Taylor Kelly and tried to lead the Sun Devils back. However, a costly interception with Arizona State within a touchdown allowed the Wildcats to ultimately regain their two-touchdown lead. Bercovici made up for it with a touchdown pass on the next drive, but that was as close as the Sun Devils would get. Bercovici threw three consecutive incomplete passes to end the game.
Few saw a rematch between Arizona and Oregon coming, especially with UCLA in the driver’s seat in the Pac-12 South. But the Bruins failed to show up against 6-5 Stanford and were manhandled 31-10. The loss not only knocks the Bruins out of the Pac 12 title game, it also ensures they won’t play in a top tier bowl game.
For more Arizona news, visit GOAZCats.com.
For more Arizona State news, visit ASUDevils.com.
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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday
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