“Lev it on the Field” is back for Game 10. It’s the Star’s unique look at Arizona’s upcoming football matchup and other happenings around the Pac-12 (and Big 12) through the eyes of UA beat reporter-turned-columnist Michael Lev. Away we go ... Ah, the dreaded trap game.
It feels as though No. 21 Arizona might be walking into one Saturday in Boulder, Colorado. The Wildcats achieved a major program milestone last Saturday, defeating UCLA to attain bowl eligibility for the first time in six years. Then came a spot in the AP Top 25. Then a place in the College Football Playoff Rankings.
Michael Lev is a senior writer/columnist for the Arizona Daily Star, Tucson.com and The Wildcaster.
How will they handle success? Will they play as if they’ve got it made? Or will they remain focused and hungry against a struggling but talented Colorado squad?
Jedd Fisch has done a superb job of getting his team ready to play on a weekly basis. Even going back to 2021, it’s hard to find many occasions when Arizona looked flat. The ’21 games at Colorado (a 34-0 loss) and at Washington State (44-18) are two that spring to mind. But the Wildcats never stopped playing hard in those contests. And the program is in a much better place.
That said, I can envision some sloppiness seeping in Saturday, whether that’s turnovers, penalties or a breakdown on special teams. The Cats have been on point every week since the Mississippi State game. They’re due to regress a bit.
That doesn’t mean Arizona can’t win without its “A-game.” It just might be closer than a lot of people think.
Take that for data!
Colorado is a better team under first-year coach Deion Sanders. But the 2023 Buffaloes are deeply flawed.
Colorado ranked 121st or worse nationally in 10 statistical categories entering Thursday’s slate of games. Here’s the rundown:
- Rushing offense: 129th
- Sacks allowed: 129th
- Tackles for loss allowed: 126th
- Total defense: 129th
- Passing yards allowed: 128th
- First downs allowed: 129th
- Third-down defense: 121st
- Blocked kicks allowed: 127th
- Blocked punts allowed: 127th
- Penalties per game: 130th
- Penalty yards/game: 126th
“Coach Prime” has work to do.
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Going up: Water celebrations
After Texas State defeated Georgia Southern to reach bowl eligibility last week, Bobcats coach G.J. Kinne and school president Kelly Damphousse jumped into the San Marcos River. Multiple players and others quickly joined them. After Kansas upset No. 6 Oklahoma the previous week in Lawrence, delirious KU students carried the goalposts to nearby Potter Lake and dumped them into the water. Several students then flung themselves into the chilly lagoon. Arizona’s goalposts are mechanically lowered to the turf when the fans storm the field, so there’s no way to take them. I’m also not sure where they could be submerged. The Reid Park pond?
Going down: Lincoln Riley’s rep
It’s probably premature to say that USC fans have turned on Riley. Remember, he’s only in his second season; the Trojans are 18-6 under his watch; and they were 4-8 the year before he took over. But there’s definitely unrest among fans and alumni. USC is just 7-5 in its past 12 games. The defense somehow got worse, leaving Riley no choice but to fire coordinator Alex Grinch. Starting next year, Riley most likely won’t have Caleb Williams around to bail the Trojans out of trouble. They’re also headed to the Big Ten, where, if you believe that styles make fights, things could get even harder.
A question from my X
“Is there a player on the roster that you are surprised hasn’t played in a game yet?” — @ds67056039 via X/Twitter
Two stand out. One is second-year edge rusher Sterling Lane II. Lane, one of the highest-ranked recruits in the exceptional 2022 class, appeared in four games last season and flashed his potential. He hasn’t seen the field this year, in part because the competition for playing time at the defense end spots is fierce.
Fellow second-year players Isaiah Ward, Russell Davis II and Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei have upped their games. Arizona added veteran Taylor Upshaw to play the strong side. Jeremy Mercier has found a role as a pass-rush specialist. Even freshmen Dominic Lolesio got a handful of snaps last week. Lane and transfer Orin Patu (two games, none since UTEP) have been the odd men out.
The other player is freshman linebacker Leviticus Su’a. Su’a was one of the top-rated players in Arizona’s 2023 class, and the precedent was set the previous season when multiple freshmen — including Jacob Manu, another linebacker from Orange County, California — played for the Wildcats.
But after arriving on campus in June, Su’a wasn’t able to make up ground. Fisch praised his work on the scout team, though, so there’s hope that Su’a can develop in the future. Every player operates on his own timeline.
Threads
Future Big 12 foe UCF is hosting its annual “Space Game” on Saturday against Oklahoma State. The Knights — or ’Nauts, as they’ve dubbed themselves this week — are wearing special uniforms for the occasion. The tops and pants are sky blue with white numbers (matching the helmets) and silver and black accents. The pant stripes depict a rocket ascending into space. UCF was founded as Florida Technological University in 1963 “with the mission of providing personnel to support the growing U.S. space program,” per a UCF news release.
What he said ...
“He’s a fantastic guy. He’s got great character, great personality. One of the best players to ever play the game. And Colorado’s lucky to have him.” — Fisch on Sanders
What he meant ...
“I genuinely like and respect ‘Coach Prime,’ going back to our Baltimore days. If you’re trying to get me to provide some bulletin-board material for the Buffaloes, it’s not gonna happen. This week, and this week only, it’s not personal.”
Sean Lewis was stripped of his play-calling duties at Colorado, replaced by veteran NFL coach Pat Shurmur, who had been an off-field analyst for the Buffaloes.
The other side
Brian Howell, via BuffZone.com:
Deion Sanders made a big change a week ago when he chose to promote analyst Pat Shurmur to a co-offensive coordinator role, while handing him the play-calling duties.
Colorado’s head coach explained last weekend that the move was made to try to spark the offense. And, on Tuesday, he was in no mood to keep talking about.
Offensive coordinator Sean Lewis had called plays in the first eight games before Shurmur took over.
Asked Tuesday at his weekly press conference if Shurmur would remain in the play-calling roll, Sanders said, “Let that go, man. Just let it go. You’re barking up a tree that you ain’t gonna get up. Just let it go.
“We’re some happy people right now. We’re ecstatic. We’re blessed. We’re highly favored. We’re not where we want to be, but we ain’t where we used to be and we’re going in the right direction. So we’re good.”
Pick to click (aka #fadelev)
You’ve heard my arguments for the “trap game,” so I like Colorado at plus-10.5 this week. But my best bet is Oregon State at minus-20.5 vs. Stanford. It’s a lot of points, but the Beavers are a different team at home. They’re 4-0 with an average margin of victory of 22.7 points in Corvallis; 3-2 with an average margin of 10 points on the road. OSU beat Colorado 26-19 last week but outgained the Buffs 418-238. Stanford is actually better on the road (3-1) than at home (0-5), but this is the Cardinal’s second trip in as many weeks to the Pacific Northwest. That’s not easy. (season record: 7-2)
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.
One last thing
The reports this week about the UA’s financial woes are unsettling to say the least.
School president Robert C. Robbins, as big a supporter of athletics as you’ll find, even suggested the possibility of having to cut sports programs.
Ugh.
Football obviously isn’t going anywhere, as it’s a major driver of revenue. But if money is in short supply, some of the Wildcats’ coaches — including Fisch — could go elsewhere.
Double ugh.
I’m not reporting anything, by the way. Haven’t even heard rumors to that effect. I just know how the coaching world works.
I hope Fisch is here for a long time. I hope he’s able to keep his staff intact.
I fear money will get in the way.
