2023 Season Thread

[PHXCATS]

What do we need to do for the Vegas Bowl?

The 2008 UA Basketball then Vegas Bowl was Epic and this would be a million times better

Noon Ua Basketball v FAU at TMobile
Nap
4:30 Vegas Bowl

Absolutely incredible potential. Casinos and hotels would love it

[Chicat]

Beat the two teams that killed the Pac? Check.
Going to a bowl game for the first time since 2017? Check.
Beat three top 25 teams for the first time EVER? Check.

NOW RANK US YOU COWARDS

It’s too bad I’m already married.

[AZCatGirl]

[AZCatGirl]

Deserves its own post.

[ASUHATER!]

Beat the two teams that killed the Pac? Check.
Going to a bowl game for the first time since 2017? Check.
Beat three top 25 teams for the first time EVER? Check.

NOW RANK US YOU COWARDS

We didn't beat USC

[scumdevils86]

This is an incredible year. I'm very impressed. Defense that gives up only 19 PPG (just 16 without the 3OT USC marathon!). Fifita seems to be the real deal. I can't believe we're 16 points away from being undefeated. Just awesome work.

[CalStateTempe]

Still can get to 8 wins!

[CalStateTempe]

Fuck my prediction. Let’s get 9!

No one scares me on our renaining schedule

[Chicat]

Fuck my prediction. Let’s get 9!

No one scares me on our renaining schedule

Thankfully our toughest opponent is at home.

Unfortunately I feel like at Colorado is a trap. It’s really hard to maintain this level of enthusiasm and to keep taking it up a notch week after week, especially going on the road. Colorado needs to win these next two games to assure themselves of going to a bowl, because losing at Utah to end the season with only five wins will be a major disappointment with how their season started.

Can we hold up at altitude against a team with a lot of talent at the skill positions? Can we keep up the “Us Against The World” attitude now that we are going to be ranked and getting talked about nationally in a way we haven’t since before any of the players or coaches were with this current team? Can we overcome injuries, fatigue, and a motivated opponent? In many ways, this next game might be our most mentally and emotionally difficult of the season.

[gouacats]

Beat the two teams that killed the Pac? Check.
Going to a bowl game for the first time since 2017? Check.
Beat three top 25 teams for the first time EVER? Check.

NOW RANK US YOU COWARDS

We didn't beat USC

But…we did break them.

[dmjcat]

Speaking of rankings:

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... gs-week-10

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-fo ... 012eb749db

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... edlam-win/

https://sportsnaut.com/week-11-college- ... -rankings/

[azcat49]

Going to be all alone in third after next week if we best CU. Utah has UDub and USC has Oregon and we own the tiebreaker with Oregon St.

Get one team in the playoffs and we will have a top two conference connected bowl and I would think we would be a very attractive choice for whomever has that top pick

[Carcassdragger]

Speaking of rankings:

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... gs-week-10

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-fo ... 012eb749db

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... edlam-win/

https://sportsnaut.com/week-11-college- ... -rankings/

This team is better than those rankings. We just smoked a ranked team by three scores and destroyed another ranked team 2 weeks ago, not to mention beating a very good Oregon State ranked team.

[OSUCat]

Fuck my prediction. Let’s get 9!

No one scares me on our renaining schedule

Thankfully our toughest opponent is at home.

Unfortunately I feel like at Colorado is a trap. It’s really hard to maintain this level of enthusiasm and to keep taking it up a notch week after week, especially going on the road. Colorado needs to win these next two games to assure themselves of going to a bowl, because losing at Utah to end the season with only five wins will be a major disappointment with how their season started.

Can we hold up at altitude against a team with a lot of talent at the skill positions? Can we keep up the “Us Against The World” attitude now that we are going to be ranked and getting talked about nationally in a way we haven’t since before any of the players or coaches were with this current team? Can we overcome injuries, fatigue, and a motivated opponent? In many ways, this next game might be our most mentally and emotionally difficult of the season.

Arizona has three things going for it against a possible trap game at Colorado.
1: media hype at Colorado is still off the charts. It is likely every team wants to beat Colorado badly this year. It is naturally harder for Colorado to be a trap game. (Playing for clicks or playing for wins)
2: Noah’s temperament. He will be a calming head in Colorado and keep them team on track and moving forward.
3: Colorado star power (tied to point 1): The DBs will want to go up against Hunter and S. Sanders. The Dline will want to sack S. Sanders. The WR will want to go up against Hunter and Sanders.

[azcat49]

Biggest thing to me is to disrupt CU’s QB you need to bring heat with blitzes and hurry him up. Nansen doesn’t like to do that much. I expect to see a lot of the 3-1-7 dollar package which worries me.

We also should be a favorite and we are 8-0 as a dog and 0-1 as a favorite against the line so the next step might be playing and dominating as a road favorite

[PHXCATS]

Favored by 9.5 Saturday

[azcat49]

CU averages 9m viewers a game and you know the networks would love to have them in a bowl game. As Chi said, this is a very important game for them. I hope we understand their mentality and we don’t get two emotional when we get done bad calls against us which I very much expect

[PHXCATS]

CU averages 9m viewers a game and you know the networks would love to have them in a bowl game. As Chi said, this is a very important game for them. I hope we understand their mentality and we don’t get two emotional when we get done bad calls against us which I very much expect

Why do you expect bad calls?

[azcat49]

I have been noticing calls that would appear to protect the brands of different conferences. There is just too much money at stake to risk losing out on that dough.

Now a be minor bowl game might not mean much to the conference but it would mean so much to ESPIN or Fox to get 9m viewers for the Independence Bowl or LA bowl.

I am just going into the game thinking we better not expect any 50/50 call to go our way

[PHXCATS]

I have been noticing calls that would appear to protect the brands of different conferences. There is just too much money at stake to risk losing out on that dough.

Now a be minor bowl game might not mean much to the conference but it would mean so much to ESPIN or Fox to get 9m viewers for the Independence Bowl or LA bowl.

I am just going into the game thinking we better not expect any 50/50 call to go our way

I think you are completely overthinking it

[dmjcat]

Arizona-UCLA highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoGofGZ26TY

[azgreg]

[azgreg]

[BBQ wildcat]

I have to admit it. This team has really surprised me. I was pretty confident we would be improved, but I didn't think at all that we would be THIS improved. I am a happy camper and really do hope we cn get to (at least) 8 wins in the regular season.

[KaibabKat]

In nine games this team has only been behind once at the end of the fourth quarter.

[azgreg]

[Captain Obvious]

I have been noticing calls that would appear to protect the brands of different conferences. There is just too much money at stake to risk losing out on that dough.

Now a be minor bowl game might not mean much to the conference but it would mean so much to ESPIN or Fox to get 9m viewers for the Independence Bowl or LA bowl.

I am just going into the game thinking we better not expect any 50/50 call to go our way

I think you are completely overthinking it

I concur.

[TheCat]

FUCK ESPN.

Looks like we are guaranteed to win again since they have us playing ourselfs the last game of the year.
From ESPN:
No. 24 Arizona Wildcats (6-3)
While Colorado was grabbing offseason headlines, Arizona was the Pac-12 team revving up for a major turnaround. The Wildcats beat UCLA 27-10 to secure their third straight win -- all against ranked opponents -- and remain in the Pac-12 title chase. QB Noah Fifita doesn't look like he'll relinquish the starting job back to Jayden de Laura anytime soon. He completed 25 of 32 passes for 300 yards against UCLA as the Wildcats became bowl eligible. They haven't played in a bowl game since the 2017 season, the last under former coach Rich Rodriguez. Arizona travels to Colorado next week before finishing the regular season with games against Utah and Arizona. -- Bonagura

Up next: at Colorado

[Chicat]

Still too many ballots without the Block A.

[dmjcat]

PFF Grades for the UCLA game:

https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/ ... 2023-pac12

The Arizona Wildcats ran 71 offensive snaps and 63 defensive snaps in beating then-No. 20 UCLA on Saturday night, their third consecutive win over a ranked opponent. Here is how much action each UA player saw along with their Pro Football Focus grades.

Offense
LT Jordan Morgan, 71 (88.0)
QB Noah Fifita, 71 (75.1)
C Josh Baker, 71 (55.3)
RT Jonah Savaiinaea, 71 (52.2)
TE Tanner McLachlan, 68 (59.2)
WR Tetairoa McMillan, 63 (76.0)
WR Jacob Cowing, 62 (68.4)
LG Wendell Moe, 58 (55.3)
RG Leif Magnuson, 57 (58.1)
WR Montana Lemonious-Craig, 45 (62.0)
RB Jonah Coleman, 40 (72.6)
RG Raymond Pulido, 27 (46.5)
RB DJ Williams, 15 (65.5)
RB Michael Wiley, 12 (69.3)
TE Roberto Miranda, 12 (58.7)
WR Malachi Riley, 12 (55.2)
TE Keyan Burnett, 9 (69.4)
RB Rayshon Luke, 6 (81.0)
WR AJ Jones, 6 (60.6)
WR Kevin Green Jr., 4 (77.5)
QB Jayden de Laura, 1 (50.1)
Defense
CB Treydan Stukes, 63 (79.4)
S Dalton Johnson, 63 (60.1)
S Gunner Maldonado, 63 (57.3)
LB Jacob Manu, 63 (49.2)
CB Tacario Davis, 62 (75.9)
CB Ephesians Prysock, 62 (75.0)
CB Martell Irby, 57 (52.9)
DE Taylor Upshaw, 32 (67.3)
DE Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, 30 (60.8)
DE Isaiah Ward, 29 (61.6)
DE Russell Davis II, 24 (76.9)
DT Tia Savea, 24 (67.3)
DT Tyler Manoa, 24 (57.5)
DT Bill Norton, 24 (52.8)
DT Sio Nofoagatoto’a, 20 (59.8)
LB Jeremy Mercier, 14 (52.1)
DT Jacob Kongaika, 13 (61.2)
S Genesis Smith, 10 (45.3)
DE Dominic Lolesio, 5 (60.2)
DT Keanu Mailoto, 5 (56.7)
LB Daniel Heimuli, 4 (28.0)
LB Justin Flowe, 1 (63.7)
LB Taye Brown, 1 (60.9)

[azgreg]

[dmjcat]

Week 10 Bowl Projections

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... edictions/

[azgreg]

[azgreg]

[Postmaster]

Red-out for Utah?

[azcat49]

Think bigger as in Game Day. Only three decent match ups assuming everyone wins.

Georgia Tennessee but I think Gameday is going to Georgia this week so they wouldn’t go back to back.

Washington plays at Oregon St which is a very good game and OSU deserves that opportunity but we play Utah and they
Might opt for the sunshine

[ASUHATER!]

Sun bowl for me could be fun. I'm only 2.5 hours from there

[CatsbyAZ]

Red-out for Utah?

Oh please no. The red outs, blue outs, green outs, white outs, black outs, etc across college football are way too frequent. Let everyone wear what they want. These feel like something from 15 or 20 years ago when they started up, and back then felt like a gimmicky fade that would come and go because they should've been.

But to stop sounding like a grouch while I battle the flu, I hope nobody's taking for granted how badly our defense handed it to UCLA last night. 6-14 on third downs. Only 271 yds of total offense. People might blame Gerbers leaving the game, but his receivers weren't doing him any favors. And once Dante Moore was in the game, his passing was so inaccurate Chip shifted the playcalling to a ground attack.

If the Bruins hadn't squeezed in a frantic touchdown drive with 3 seconds left in the first half, final score would've been 27-3.

[AZCatGirl]

Isn't it a red out because it's senior day?

[waysouthcat]

Maybe somebody could check my math, but if we win out, wouldn't we be Pac South winners, and play Udub for the Pac-12 championship? What a fitting end that would be for the last year of the Pac.

[KillerKlown]

Maybe somebody could check my math, but if we win out, wouldn't we be Pac South winners, and play Udub for the Pac-12 championship? What a fitting end that would be for the last year of the Pac.

There's no longer a South or North division in the Pac. Top two teams in the conference get the bids.
Sucks because we'd pretty much control our own destiny because there is no way USC is beating Oregon.

[UAEebs86]

Maybe somebody could check my math, but if we win out, wouldn't we be Pac South winners, and play Udub for the Pac-12 championship? What a fitting end that would be for the last year of the Pac.

Need Oregon to lose a game. No more divisions. Top two teams play.

[Merkin]

LB Jacob Manu, 63 (49.2)

CB Ephesians Prysock, 62 (75.0)

AZ Desert Swarm posted on Facebook that Manu was the defensive player of the game. I posted I thought it should have been Prysock.

Defense

Jacob Manu, LB

Stat Line: 12 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack

First things first: I need to make up for my mistake last week not even having Manu in the PotG article. That was my mistake. Now, Manu was all over the field against the Bruins. He notched double digit tackles and was a problem for the UCLA QBs. He had a great sack in the red zone that pushed Chip Kelly to kick a field goal. On the play he flew past the line and was in the backfield in a hurry. Another fantastic game for Manu

[CalStateTempe]

Still too many ballots without the Block A.

I think that will change next year when people have a reason watch our games being the Texas boys of the big 12

[84Cat]

I think Miss St having a losing record and 1 - 5 record in the SEC is holding us back a little.

[Chicat]

I think Miss St having a losing record and 1 - 5 record in the SEC is holding us back a little.

I can see that. But of course you know those same pundits probably cite the “overall strength” of the SEC when over-ranking Mizzou or Tennessee.

[UAEebs86]

I think Miss St having a losing record and 1 - 5 record in the SEC is holding us back a little.

I think you are giving the voters way too much credit for the amount of time they spend and the detail they look at each week.

[tgrumpy2]

I'm blaming the time it took to rank us on Colorado. Its their fault. lol At the beginning of the season Colorado won a couple of game and coach Prime was goosing it for all it was worth and they got ranked. Over the next few weeks the people doing the ranking went....oops. I think we overreacted here and they weren't going to do it again. That's my opinion anyway

[Merkin]

I think Miss St having a losing record and 1 - 5 record in the SEC is holding us back a little.

I think you are giving the voters way too much credit for the amount of time they spend and the detail they look at each week.

Don't some of the coaches have interns do their polling? With coaches working 70-80 hour work weeks during the season I don't think they have the time, or knowledge of other teams outside their next opponent.

[wyo-cat]

Sights and Sounds just released. It’s a beaut.