Territorial Cup: Arizona Wildcats take down ASU to finish regular season with 9 wins

TEMPE — Arizona's November to remember added another win, as the 25th-ranked Wildcats outlasted No. 20 Arizona State, 23-7, at Mountain America Stadium Friday night in Tempe.  

Arizona (9-3) avenged last season's 42-point loss to the Sun Devils (8-4) in Tucson and have now won back-to-back games in Tempe for the first time since 2009 and '11. Arizona has won the Territorial Cup three of the last four seasons. 

The Wildcats have now won five straight games to end the regular season — all of them in November. Arizona has finished the regular season with nine wins for the second time in three seasons. 

"Just an absolute team win," said Arizona head coach Brent Brennan. "I could not be more proud of us. As you guys know, this game means more to everybody than any other game. It's more important to our players, our coaches. It's more important to our university, to our fans, our community.

"To come up here and get the win, it's just incredible. I'm excited, because now the Territorial Cup gets to come back to Tucson, Arizona, where I think all of us Wildcats feel like it belongs."

It wasn't a problem-free performance for the Wildcats. 

All of Arizona's first-half drives ended in ASU territory — four of them inside the Sun Devils' 30-yard line — but the Wildcats only scored 3 points in the first half. Arizona was 0-for-3 in the red zone in the first half.  

The Wildcats converted all four of their third-down plays on their opening drive, but running back Quincy Craig, who missed last game due to a leg injury, fumbled on the ASU 8-yard line. 

Arizona kicker Michael Salgado-Medina missed a 45-yard field goal on the left hashmark in the first quarter. His 42-yard attempt from the left hashmark in the second quarter was also blocked. Salgado-Medina made a 47-yarder with a second left before halftime to cut into the deficit, 7-3. Salgado-Medina made a 49- and 29-yarder in the second half. 

ASU quarterback Jeff Sims scored the Sun Devils' first touchdown of the game with a 27-yard designed run to the left side.

Arizona safety Dalton Johnson, who was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week following his 18-tackle performance against Baylor, was in position to tackle Sims but whiffed and the ASU quarterback ran for a 27-yard touchdown — his longest run since he rushed for 228 yards against Iowa State.

"It happens," Johnson said. "It's the open field and he's a great athlete. It happens." 

ASU scored after the UA defense forced back-to-back three-and-outs and an interception by cornerback Michael Dansby, who recorded his first pick of the season and the first since last November during his final season at San Jose State.

The Wildcats forced five takeaways on Friday. Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes "Mossed" ASU wide receiver Jaren Hamilton for an interception on a deep pass in the third quarter for his fourth interception of the season. Stukes also had an interception at the start of the fourth quarter against Baylor.

"They had a fast receiver in there and we knew they wanted to take him vertical," Stukes said of his interception on Friday. "I just had a lead on the post, knowing I might not be helped. The quarterback launched a pretty deep ball, but I feel like I got a pretty good jump on the trajectory and I was able to make a play, jump on time and use my hands to finish."

Johnson forced Sims, who had four fumbles this season entering Friday, to fumble on the UA 13-yard line — the first forced fumble of the season for Johnson, who had a combined six forced fumbles in the previous two seasons. Arizona safety Genesis Smith recovered the fumble.

"I knew the play was coming, because they ran it three times," Johnson said. "I got a jump on it. I was hoping he was going to come outside, but he stayed inside and kept the ball outside. I decided to take a shot and it worked out." 

Johnson put a bow on the win with an interception with just under two minutes remaining. 

Turning point

After punter Isaac Lovison's 62-yard punt that landed inside the ASU 4-yard line, the Wildcats recovered a fumble at the 6-yard line. Sims botched the exchange on a zone-read play with running back Raleek Brown and Arizona linebacker Taye Brown recovered the loose ball. 

Two plays later, Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita fired a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cameron Barmore — the first touchdown catch of Barmore's career at the UA. The touchdown put Arizona ahead, 10-7, early in the second half.

For the second straight game, Arizona held its opponent to a scoreless second half. The Wildcats outscored Baylor in the second half last week, 27-0, and outscored the Sun Devils, 20-0, in the second half.  

Including the two three-and-outs and three of Arizona's five takeaways, ASU had six three-play drives on Friday.  

Offensive MVP

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Fifita completed 28 of 45 passes for 286 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and was named the Bob Moran Territorial Cup MVP for the second time in three years.  

Fifita is the first UA quarterback since Nick Foles to win back-to-back Territorial Cup starts in Tempe. 

The Wildcats converted a season-high 10 of 20 third-down plays and dominated time of possession, 40:01-19:59. 

Defensive MVP

Johnson only had three tackles, but had an interception, a forced fumble and a pass breakup on Friday.  

Unsung hero

In addition to his touchdown catch in the third quarter, Barmore caught an 11-yard pass over the middle on third-and-7 from the UA 47-yard line. Barmore absorbed the hit by ASU safety Adrian Wilson and maintained possession for the first down. 

Injury report

Arizona left guard Chubba Maae and cornerback Jay'Vion Cole, who were both listed as game-time decisions on the final availability report entering Friday's game, were active for the Territorial Cup. Maae started at left guard, while Cole was dressed but didn't play.  

UA defensive tackle Tiaoalii Savea missed his third straight game due to a leg injury. Arizona cornerback Marquis Groves-Killebrew also missed his fifth straight game due to an undisclosed injury. 

ASU wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, who's been nursing a hamstring injury in the last month, exited the game after aggravating his hamstring injury.  

What's next

The Wildcats will await their postseason fate, which will be decided on Sunday, Dec. 7. 

With its current-standing Pac-12 affiliation for the postseason, Arizona could conceivably play in the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego on Jan. 2. Representatives from the Holiday Bowl were in attendance for the Territorial Cup on Friday.

One of those Holiday Bowl reps attended the UA's postgame press conference and hinted at the bowl game inviting the Wildcats for the first time since 2009. The Holiday Bowl rep was also spotted talking to Brennan and other staffers in the hallway near Arizona's locker room after the game.  

Arizona could also play in the Bucked Up LA Bowl hosted by Gronk on Dec. 13 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California or the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas on Dec. 31.

The Wildcats "don't have a preference" for the bowl game they play, according to Stukes.

"Anywhere we go, we'll have a good time," Stukes said. "This group of guys can click anywhere. We'll have a good time anywhere we go."

The goal for the next month?

"Soak it in," Stukes said. "It's our last few weeks as an Arizona Wildcat. With this special group of guys, these moments are going to be the days we look back on and these are the good ol days, like that 'Office' quote. We're going to soak it in as much as we can for the last month." 

The Wildcats are also preparing for the early signing period on Wednesday. Arizona's 20-player 2026 recruiting class currently ranks No. 36 nationally — seventh in the Big 12.

"I think the coaches need a little sleep," Brennan said. "This coaching staff is really special. Great people, they love their players, the players love them, everyone is so committed and works so hard to get us to this point. We're sitting here 9-3 in one of the best conferences in the country, it's pretty special. 

"This week, we'll have a little bit of downtime. Hopefully, we can heal up and get our bodies fresh and healthy. Then, we'll find out where we're going pretty soon after. I couldn't be more proud of this team. I couldn't be more proud of this coaching staff. I'm appreciative of them and the effort they put into helping us build something that's really special.

"I think we're just getting started."  

Photos: Arizona posts a gritty 23-7 win over Arizona State, 99th Territorial Cup