“Lev it on the Field” is back for Arizona’s season finale. It’s the Star’s unique look at the Wildcats’ upcoming football matchup and other happenings around the Big 12 through the eyes of UA beat reporter-turned-columnist Michael Lev. Away we go ...
The questions were slightly different; the answer was exactly the same.
Michael Lev is a senior writer/columnist for the Arizona Daily Star, Tucson.com and The Wildcaster.
Departing senior center Josh Baker was asked to name his favorite Territorial Cup moment. His classmate, kicker Tyler Loop, was asked to name his favorite moment overall at Arizona.
They both cited the 2022 Territorial Cup victory over Arizona State.
The Wildcats survived a 38-35 shootout to end a five-game losing streak against the Sun Devils. Then something wonderful happened.
UA fans stormed the field at Arizona Stadium. The players reveled amid the masses. Their collective suffering had come to an end. They were awash in joy.
Can you imagine a scene like that unfolding Saturday afternoon? Wouldn’t that be something?
It requires a vivid imagination to visualize it. ASU is rolling and heavily favored; Arizona is reeling and more banged up than ever.
But strange things happen in this series. In my time here, the 2016 matchup has become a referendum for unexpected outcomes. That UA team was worse than this one. Then again, this ASU team is way better.
Brent Brennan and his players can’t think about what might be when the scoreboard displays triple zeroes. He’s been adamant of late — wisely so — that the Wildcats focus on the here and now, maximizing every rep in hopes of getting the most out of a season gone awry.
An Arizona player hoists his helmet in victory after the Wildcats defeated ASU in the 2022 Territorial Cup, which ended with fans storming the field at Arizona Stadium.
But we sure can.
A victory over ASU — with an accompanying field storming — is precisely what Brennan and the program need. It would provide joy, momentum, optimism — a vibe that’s been missing for a while now.
Beat the Sun Devils. Storm the field. Celebrate together.
Can you picture it?
Take that for data!
No team remains the same from one season to the next. But the way college football works now, you can transform your roster in a single offseason. And if you do it right, you can turn your program around.
The Sun Devils are a shining example. Kenny Dillingham brought in 60 new players this year — ninth most among FBS schools, per ASU media relations. The Sun Devils were second in that category in 2023.
Forty-six of those players were on scholarship, tied for third most. ASU’s 58 returnees tied for the fifth fewest.
The second offseason is a critical one for head coaches. Dillingham found his quarterback, Sam Leavitt, and built an improved roster around him. Deion Sanders and Colorado also made a substantial leap after a second round of recruiting and transfer-portal shopping.
The next month will be vital for Brennan and the UA program. That’s when the bulk of next year’s team will be acquired. That’s when Arizona can start the process of rebuilding what’s been broken this year.
As the Sun Devils and Buffaloes (among others) have proved, quick turnarounds are more achievable than ever.
(Rincon) Market report
Going up: Tiebreaker mania
With conferences supersizing — and divisions dying — tiebreakers became an inevitable path to deciding league championship-game participants. Unsurprisingly, the Big 12 has leaned into the potential chaos like no other. Entering the final weekend, nine of the conference’s 16 teams still had a chance to reach the title game. A four-way tie among Colorado (which beat Oklahoma State on Friday), ASU, Iowa State and BYU is very much in play — in which case the Sun Devils and Cyclones would meet for the Big 12 crown. But if we’ve learned anything about this sport in the era of NIL and the transfer portal it’s that form seldom holds. Expect zaniness.
Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham encourages his team during the Sun Devils’ game against UCF on Nov. 9, 2024, in Tempe.
Going down: Clock management
It required some reflection, but Dillingham finally conceded the point Monday: He didn’t handle the end of the BYU game the right way. Rather than hand the ball to his battering-ram tailback, Cam Skattebo, from the 3-yard line to potentially give ASU a 12-point lead, Dillingham had Leavitt retreat, then chuck the ball into the stands, to try to run out the clock. It nearly backfired as one second remained, giving BYU a Hail Mary attempt near midfield — which was stopped at the ASU 2, allowing the Sun Devils to escape. “It worked horribly,” Dillingham said. “I gotta coach that scenario better.”
A question from my X
“Why doesn’t Arizona adopt a gimmick offense as its identity, like the run-and-shoot, that’s exciting and doesn’t require massive investment in high-priced offensive linemen? Or have a blitzing, hair-on-fire defense as its identity?” — @zona7378 via X/Twitter
I respect the thought process here. Offensively, the Wildcats never established an identity in Year One under Brennan.
He said on a recent podcast that he’d base that identity on his personnel versus the other way around. I’d go about it differently. I’d rather say, “This is what we’re going to do,” build the roster accordingly and adjust in-season as needed.
The ideal offensive identity, in my view, is run-first. In both of the aforementioned Territorial Cup victories, 2016 and 2022, the Wildcats dominated on the ground. ASU has one of the best running attacks in the Big 12. Kansas upended Colorado by outrushing the Buffs 331-42.
You can go about that in different ways — a “conventional” power scheme or some version of that option (see RichRod). But that’s where I would start.
Chris Hunter and the Wildcats will wear all-red uniforms for a Territorial Cup 'Red Out' at Arizona Stadium on Saturday.
On defense, the principles trump the schematics. Playing with great effort, toughness and discipline is paramount.
Threads
The Territorial Cup is a “Red Out” at Arizona Stadium. The Wildcats are wearing red from top to bottom — helmets, jerseys and pants. I get it, but I don’t love it. The red jerseys are a clean, strong alternative to the usual home navy. They look especially sharp when paired with Arizona’s white helmets and pants. Many UA fans prefer the navy tops for the ASU game. I support that. Then again, “Blue Out” doesn’t have the same ring to it.
What he said ...
“We are growing in that area. I’m gonna keep it like that. Sometimes it goes really well. Sometimes it doesn't. It's a work in progress.” — UA receivers coach Bobby Wade on his unit’s perimeter blocking
What he meant ...
“My group’s blocking hasn’t been nearly good enough. Not even close to what it needs to be. The kids know it. It’s no secret in our room. We’ve been working on it all year. But I’m not going to call them out in THIS room. Those conversations stay in house.”
The other side
Michelle Gardner, via the Arizona Republic:
Two years ago, on Nov. 27, 2022, Kenny Dillingham was introduced as the new Arizona State head football coach.
It was a job not many wanted. The cloud of an NCAA investigation was still hovering and penalties had not been doled out yet. The fan base was frustrated at the direction of the program under the previous leadership.
The Sun Devils were coming off a 3-9 season. The NIL situation lagged woefully behind its conference peers and players were transferring out at an alarming rate.
Dillingham's first words at that news conference: "I'm home."
It was a nice thought. Local man comes back trying to lead the program back to national relevance. No one expected it to happen this fast.
The Sun Devils (9-2, 6-2) took to the practice field on Wednesday morning with a shot at a Big 12 Conference title in their sights, just months removed from a second 3-9 season and being picked last in the conference this year. ...
A win will likely boost the Sun Devils into the Big 12 title game. They're No. 16 in the College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday.
Pick to click (aka #fadelev)
We clinched a bowl berth last week — thank you, Utah! — but we’re not satisfied. We’re going back to the Beehive State for our final pick of the season. It’s possible that BYU will be out of the running for the Big 12 Championship Game by the second quarter of its game against Houston. It won’t matter. The Provo Cougars will be determined — on a mission, if you will — to finish a breakthrough season strong after consecutive losses by a combined nine points. They’ll beat offensively challenged Houston by more than 13. They just might pitch a shutout. (season record: 6-4-1)
One last thing
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) runs against TCU cornerback Channing Canada (7) during the first half of their game, Nov. 23, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Barring an extremely unlikely set of circumstances, Tetairoa McMillan will play his final game at Arizona Stadium on Saturday.
It’s just as improbable that we’ll ever see anyone like him here again.
The junior receiver, Biletnikoff Award finalist and certain first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft is so talented and skilled that he makes the game look easy at times — so much so that TV analysts have questioned his body language, effort and health during broadcasts. McMillan acknowledged that the former was an issue earlier in the season and worked to address that. Any accusations about his effort level or work ethic are off base.
We watched McMillan work out during training camp as he recovered from a lower leg injury. He attacked that rehab. It was nonstop.
McMillan could have opted out of playing this season; it wouldn’t have been unprecedented for a surefire first-rounder. That was never an option.
Even this week, some fans have asked me whether McMillan should sit out the Territorial Cup now that he has passed Wade as Arizona’s career leader in receiving yards and the Wildcats are out of bowl contention.
No chance. You think T-Mac would come this far and then opt out of the most important game of the season — and probably his last chance to play with his best friend, Noah Fifita?
Misguided narratives about a misunderstood superstar.
