Arizona running back Rayshon Luke turns the corner on UCLA defensive back Jaylin Davies and heads to the red zone before finally being brought down in the fourth quarter of the Wildcatsβ win over the Bruins on Saturday at Arizona Stadium.
Former Arizona standout Khalil Tate gets a hug on the sidelines during the Wildcatsβ homecoming game against UCLA Saturday in Tucson. The last time Arizona was ranked in the AP Top 25 college football poll was in October 2017, when Tate was the Wildcatsβ starting quarterback.
Arizona running back Rayshon Luke turns the corner on UCLA defensive back Jaylin Davies and heads to the red zone before finally being brought down in the fourth quarter of the Wildcatsβ win over the Bruins on Saturday at Arizona Stadium.
Kelly Presnell photos, Arizona Daily Star
Former Arizona standout Khalil Tate gets a hug on the sidelines during the Wildcatsβ homecoming game against UCLA Saturday in Tucson. The last time Arizona was ranked in the AP Top 25 college football poll was in October 2017, when Tate was the Wildcatsβ starting quarterback.
For the first time in six years, the Arizona Wildcats are ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. Following its upset win over UCLA on Saturday, Arizona checked into the Week 11 AP poll at No. 23.
Arizona also became bowl-eligible for the first time since the 2017 season following its win over the Bruins, who came into Saturday ranked No. 19 in the AP poll and No. 20 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
The win over UCLA also landed Arizona at No. 24 in the AFCA (USA Today) Coaches Poll. Itβs the first time the Wildcats have been ranked in both polls under third-year head coach Jedd Fisch.
The second CFP Top 25 release of the 2023 season will be Tuesday at 5 p.m.; if the Wildcatsβ ascent into the AP and coaches polls are any indication, Arizona might break onto that list this week as well.
The Wildcats were previously ranked in the AP Top 25 in October of the 2017 season, when a Khalil Tate-quarterbacked Arizona team ultimately finished with a 7-6 record and a loss to Purdue in the Foster Farms Bowl.
Entering this week, Arizona is the fifth-highest ranked team from the Pac-12 in the AP Top 25 behind Washington (5), Oregon (6), Oregon State (12) and Utah (13). Following their losses on Saturday, the Big Ten-bound USC and UCLA were dropped out of the Top 25, but received votes.
Arizona and No. 18 LSU are the only two teams with 6-3 records to be ranked in the AP poll. No. 22 Notre Dame is the only other three-loss team at 7-3.
After beating three straight ranked opponents for the first time in school history, No. 23 Arizona (6-3) will face Colorado (4-5) in Boulder on Saturday at noon on Pac-12 Network.
Photos: Arizona football defeats No. 20 UCLA, Pac-12 football