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. It’s 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 Wildcats’ 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.
The Arizona Wildcats will have a postseason and play in a bowl game after beating No. 19 UCLA 27-10 in Tucson. Video by Justin Spears / Arizona Daily Star
Photos: Arizona football defeats No. 20 UCLA, Pac-12 football
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) manages to hold onto the throw despite an elbow to the face from UCLA defensive back John Humphrey (6) for a Wildcats touchdown late in the fourth quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., November 4, 2023. McMillian was initially called out of bounds on the catch, but was overturned on review and put Arizona up 24-10.
Arizona coach Jedd Fisch reacts after the Wildcats’ appeal on wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan’s catch was confirmed, giving them a two-score lead over UCLA late in the fourth quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium earlier this month.
Arizona safety Dalton Johnson (43) draws a crowd, including defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen, left, after he stopped UCLA running back TJ Harden (25) short of the marker on fourth down in the fourth quarter of the Wildcats' win over the Bruins on Nov. 4 at Arizona Stadium.
Like he does after just about every game, UA redshirt freshman Noah Fifita finds his family and friends in the stands while other Arizona fans pour onto the field at Arizona Stadium to celebrate the Wildcats 27-10 win over then-No. 20 UCLA on Nov. 4, 2023.
An Arizona fan rides the crowd as thousands rush the field to celebrate the Wildcats’ 27-10 win against UCLA at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., November 4, 2023.
Arizona tight end Tanner McLachlan, left, hugs wide receiver Jacob Cowing as he celebrates his touchdown catch against UCLA in the second quarter last November. The Wildcats defeated the Bruins 27-10 at Arizona Stadium.
Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes, left, forces UCLA wide receiver Logan Loya to lose his grip on a catch, stopping a Bruin drive in the third quarter of the Wildcats’ third consecutive win over a ranked opponent on Nov. 4, 2023, at Arizona Stadium.
Arizona cornerback Treydan Stukes, left, and defensive lineman Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei team up to stop UCLA running back Carson Steele on. Nov. 4 last year.
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) slips the tackle of UCLA defensive back Alex Johnson (36) after a catch in the first quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., November 4, 2023.
Arizona wide receiver Kevin Green Jr. signals his first down after getting the Wildcats inside the 10 against UCLA in 2023’s game.
Arizona defensive back Martell Irby (13) upends UCLA running back Carson Steele (33) on a run in the first quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., November 4, 2023.
Arizona edge rusher Taylor Upshaw, left, has been looking forward to Saturday’s game against Deion Sanders and Colorado for months.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita leaves UCLA linebacker Kain Medrano on the turf after juking his way out of danger on a scramble Saturday. Fifita has been the Pac-12's Freshman of the Week after each of his past four starts.
Former Wildcat and NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski trades high fives with the fans as he and Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch lead Arizona through the crowd during the Wildcat Walk to Arizona Stadium before facing No. 20 UCLA Saturday night. With the game ongoing as the Star went to press, find stories, photos and more at Tucson.com/Wildcats, or by pointing your smartphone camera at the NewsVu QR code and tapping the link that pops up.
Arizona safety Gunner Maldonado (9) stops UCLA running back Carson Steele (33) dead on his run in the third quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., November 4, 2023.
Arizona tight end Tanner McLachlan (84) pays the price for his leaping catch with a hit from behind by UCLA defensive back Kenny Churchwell III (23) in the third quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., November 4, 2023.
Former Arizona and NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski high fives the crowd in the Zona Zoo during the fourth quarter of the Wildcats’ game against UCLA at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., November 4, 2023.
Arizona cornerback Treydan Stukes (2) bulldogs down UCLA running back Colson Yankoff (7), stopping his run after catch for a loss in the fourth quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., November 4, 2023.
Arizona running back Rayshon Luke (21) turns the corner on UCLA defensive back Jaylin Davies (24) and heads to the red zone before finally being brought down in the fourth quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium on Nov. 4, 2023.
Arizona running back Jonah Coleman, left, tries to fend off UCLA defensive back Jordan Anderson while looking to stay in bounds and burn clock in the final minutes. UA ran for 129 yards, more than twice what the Bruins were allowing.
Arizona running back Jonah Coleman runs over UCLA defensive lineman Laiatu Latu in the first quarter.
UCLA wide receiver Logan Loya (17) gets a throw under the coverage from Arizona cornerback Treydan Stukes (2) in the first quarter of their game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., November 4, 2023.
UCLA wide receiver Ryan Cragun (10) can’t get to a ball thrown behind him in the first quarter of the Brunis’ game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., November 4, 2023.
Arizona wide receiver Montana Lemonious-Craig gets hit by UCLA linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo on Saturday. The Wildcats improved to 4-2 in the Pac-12.
Arizona defensive back Martell Irby celebrates after making a stop on a UCLA run in the Wildcats’ 27-10 win at Arizona Stadium on Nov. 4, 2023.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita draws a crowd as he rolls out to throw against UCLA in the first quarter. Fifita again was steady throughout, throwing for 300 yards in the 27-10 win.
The ZonaZoo waves their foam Wildcat fingers at kickoff of Saturday’s game. It wasn’t a capacity crowd, but the UA fans still made a difference, especially in the fourth quarter.
Former Arizona standout Khalil Tate gets a hug on the sidelines during the Wildcats’ 2023 homecoming game against UCLA at Arizona Stadium last Saturday.
