Breaking down the Territorial Cup between Arizona and ASU, other Big 12 news | Michael Lev

“Lev it on the Field” is back for the regular-season finale against ASU. It’s the Star’s unique look at Arizona’s upcoming football matchup and other happenings around the Big 12 through the eyes of UA beat reporter-turned-columnist Michael Lev. Away we go ...

Brent Brennan is almost there.

He’s inside the red zone — after being backed up to the 1-yard line.

He’s one win away from being a made man.

Brennan’s second season as Arizona’s head coach started out on shaky ground. Heck, his first season was so disappointing it wasn’t guaranteed that there would be a second season.

It has turned into an apology tour of sorts from fans who doubted him or even despised him — despite his genuine love for the UA and his sincere desire to shepherd its football program for the next 10-15 years.

An eight-win season will do that for you. It's just the second time in the past 11 years that the Wildcats have won that many games.

You’d like to think that UA fans won’t turn on Brennan if Arizona loses the Territorial Cup against Arizona State on Friday night. It’ll happen to at least some degree; after all, college football fans are the ficklest people on Earth. The message-board madness is part of what makes the sport so fun.

But if Arizona can win it, that’ll cinch it: Brennan will be a conquering hero. At least until next season (or at least until the offseason, when he’ll get blamed — wrongly — for players entering the transfer portal or assistant coaches taking higher-paying jobs elsewhere).

A lesser man would consider giving a metaphorical middle finger to the so-called fans who treated him like dirt for the sin of losing football games (or wearing a lei on the sideline). But Brennan is not that kind of guy. One of the reasons he and the Wildcats have risen this year is that they didn’t dwell on the past. They learned from it and moved on.

Brennan set that tone as far back as December by clearly establishing the non-negotiables: Any returning or incoming Wildcat had to be tough, had to love football and had to want to be here. There would be no exceptions.

Eleven months later, the narrative surrounding Brennan has flipped to such a degree that he’s considered a candidate — or at least appearing on some lists — for the UCLA job. That’s his alma mater.

I have no idea whether he’s considered that possibility for even a millisecond. But I’m sure he realizes that Arizona is a better job, for many reasons.

No other job — besides the School Up North — offers the opportunity to gleefully trot around with the Territorial Cup while your sworn enemy trudges to the locker room.

What a sweet moment that would be Friday night for the Wildcats and their once-beleaguered head coach.

Take that for data!

How fast do things change in college football these days?

Just three players who started for Arizona in the 2023 Territorial Cup are still with the team: quarterback Noah Fifita and defensive backs Dalton Johnson and Treydan Stukes.

That was only two years ago!

Only eight players who participated in that game are still Wildcats. The others are receiver Chris Hunter (three special-teams snaps), tight end Tyler Powell (currently injured and unavailable Friday), defensive end Dominic Lolesio, linebacker Taye Brown and safety Genesis Smith.

(One UA defender from the '23 team will suit up Friday but not for the Wildcats: Defensive tackle Jacob Rich Kongaika transferred to ASU in January 2024.)

Of the 22 UA offensive and defensive starters in that game, eight are still playing college ball for other schools. Six are on NFL rosters or practice squads. The latter group includes defensive lineman Bill Norton, who spent his final college season at Texas.

Only one on-field UA assistant is still around two years later: safeties coach Brett Arce, who was a defensive analyst in 2023.

(Rincon) Market report

Going up: Sonny (Bono) Dykes

TCU posted a pair of videos from the team’s flight home after its 17-14 triumph at Houston last week. One featured none other than former UA offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes, the Horned Frogs’ head coach, leading the squad in a rousing rendition of Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer.” It was incredibly corny and endearing — and yet another example of what makes college football unique. Also, could there be a better song to represent a victory by a Christian university that won by three points thanks largely to the other team missing two field goals?

Going down: College kickers

About that ... it was a rough Saturday for some of the Big 12’s most reliable placekickers. Houston’s Ethan Sanchez went 0 for 2 after making 19 of his first 22 attempts this season. His miss from 38 yards in the final minute was his first unsuccessful try from inside 40 yards in the past two seasons. Meanwhile, Cincinnati’s Stephen Rusnak went 0 for 3 in a game the Bearcats lost 26-14 to BYU. Before that game, Rusnak had missed one kick since the start of the 2024 season. It’s yet another reminder that nothing is guaranteed when a college team sets up for a field goal.

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A question from my X

“Is the two guaranteed AQs from the Big 12 the only way we will get two conference teams in?” — @match15 via X/Twitter

One of the many proposals for altering or expanding the College Football Playoff field is to guarantee a certain number of spots for each of the “power” conferences. In most of the models, the Big 12 and ACC would get two bids apiece.

I don’t like that idea for a variety of reasons. That’s a topic for another time.

I do think it’s possible the Big 12 will occupy two of the 12 slots this season. But there’s only one pathway, and it’s narrow.

No. 11 BYU has to win out.

The Cougars should take care of business Saturday at home against UCF. Assuming No. 5 Texas Tech does the same at West Virginia, that would set up a BYU-Tech rematch in the Big 12 Championship Game.

If the Cougars can win that contest, they’d be in as a 12-1 Big 12 champion. The question then becomes: Would the CFP committee drop Texas Tech out at 11-2 with losses at ASU (with Sam Leavitt) and against a BYU team the Red Raiders previously drubbed?

I don’t see that happening.

Threads

Arizona is wearing traditional road garb for the Territorial cup: white helmets, white jerseys, navy pants. It’s a solid combo. No problems here. But it’d be way cooler if both the Wildcats and Sun Devils wore their home uniforms for the battle of supremacy in the state. It last happened in 2019, when Arizona’s home uniforms weren’t nearly as nice as the ones they have now. It would require approval from the home team and the conference. I know Brennan would be down for it in the future. I’m sure Kenny Dillingham would be, too.

What he said ...

“You probably saw all the ‘AI’ stuff online over the last couple days. I talked bad stuff about this place. You gotta be all in where you are.” — Arizona DC Danny Gonzales on video clips from his time as ASU’s defensive coordinator

What he meant ...

“Yeah, I said some things when I was with the School Up North. And I meant them — at the time. I’ve since come to understand that Tucson is the place to be. I truly believe in the potential of this town and this program. I wouldn’t have had custom ‘520’ shirts made if I didn’t. Does Tempe even have its own area code? Maybe it should be 200. If you know you know.”

The other side

"You aways want to beat your brother. ... You play your brother in something, you'll hear about it for a year if he beats you. I play a random person, that sucks for a week. You play your brother and you're around him 24/7, you hear about it all year, and it's horrible." — Dillingham

Pick to click (aka #fadelev)

Did you catch Chris Klieman’s postgame address after Kansas State’s heartbreaking loss at Utah last week? It was as raw and real as you’ll ever see a coach in a setting like that. His Wildcats played their hearts out for him, and they will do so again on Senior Day with bowl eligibility on the line. Colorado is the perfect patsy. Promising freshman quarterback Julian Lewis is sitting out to preserve his redshirt. With or without him, this Buffaloes team is a mess. They’ve lost four in a row by an average margin of 28.3 points. Give me KSU minus-16.5. (season record: 7-4)

One last thing

Why is the Big 12’s final-week schedule so random?

Aside from the Territorial Cup — and maybe Houston-Baylor — the slate is devoid of rivalry games.

That needs to change ASAP.

There’s no reason the “Holy War” (BYU-Utah) and the “Sunflower Showdown” (Kansas-Kansas State) can’t be on the final weekend. Houston should be facing UCF at year’s end for “space program” bragging rights. Baylor and TCU have been squaring off for over 100 years and have an official title for their rivalry, the “Bluebonnet Battle.” They should be playing this Friday or Saturday, not in mid-October.

The other potential pairings are a bit imperfect, but you gotta start somewhere. I’d pit Cincinnati against West Virginia because of their geographical proximity. That leaves Colorado, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. I’d be OK with any combination among those four.

It’s better than what the league is doing now. And the whole shebang could be marketed and sponsored.

You’re welcome, Commissioner Yormark.