One of the most poisonous words in college sports is “decommitted.” As in, a recruit who pledged to play for School A, later announces he has “decommitted’’ and will play at School B.
Arizona knows the drill. Last summer it lost two of the most touted football prospects of Tucson’s last 25 years, with Salpointe pass rusher Elijah Rushing moving to Oregon and Lancers linebacker Kevin Willhite switching to Nebraska.
Two hometown prospects gone in the blink of an eye. That’s trouble.
If Rushing and Willhite didn’t want to play for an Arizona team coming off a 10-3 season, who would?
Last week two UA recruits from the Class of 2025 decommitted. SoCal cornerback Josh Tuchek veered to UNLV, and Texas receiver Terry Shelton switched to TCU. That list is likely to grow.
And then the Wildcats were blown out 49-28 Saturday at TCU. Look, TCU isn’t very good, one of the many .500-type teams in a forgettable Big 12 season. (Well, except for Arizona State).
TCU wide receiver JP Richardson scores a touchdown past Arizona defensive back Genesis Smith during the second half on Nov. 23, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Can things get any worse for Brent Brennan‘s football program?
Yes. The Wildcats can lose to ASU on Saturday, Nov. 30, at Arizona Stadium. That’s worse times 10, especially since a Sun Devil victory could clinch a berth in the Big 12 title game for ASU, which is becoming one of the most irresistible stories in college football, 2024.
What are the chances of Arizona upsetting the Sun Devils and regaining some dignity in an otherwise lost season?
Arizona teams with losing records have upset ASU five times since 2000. That’s an unusually high number, about the only promising statistic on Arizona’s side during Territorial Cup week.
In 2001, a 4-6 Arizona team beat ASU 34-21.
In 2004, a really bad 2-8 Arizona team, Mike Stoops‘ first, beat an 8-2 ASU team 34-27.
In 2011, a 2-8 Arizona team torn asunder by the mid-season firing of Stoops beat ASU 31-27.
In 2016, Rich Rod‘s worst UA team, 2-9, beat ASU 56-35.
And in 2022, Jedd Fisch‘s second UA team, 4-7, beat the Sun Devils 38-35.
Am I suggesting there is a chance for a colossal upset on Saturday? Not really. The worst of the UA’s 2024 season may be yet to come.
