2023 Season Thread

[OSUCat]

Two things seen certain, first we must win out and second, Oregon needs a loss. I can see the first but hard for me to see the latter

It’s all about that civil war rivalry. OSU is good enough to win, to bad it’s at Oregon.

[Carcassdragger]

Can we get some clarity here?

[PHXCATS]

Can we get some clarity here?

Two-Team Tie

If two teams are tied for first place both teams will participate in the championship game and the winner of the head-to-head will be the #1 seed. If there is not a tie for first place, but two teams are tied for second place, the two-team tiebreaker policy will apply and the winner will be the #2 seed and visiting team.
If no game is played between the two tied teams or that game ends in a tie, the following tie-breaking procedures shall be applied.
Win percentage against the next highest placed common opponent in the standings (based on record in all games played within the Conference), proceeding through the standings.
When arriving at another group of tied teams while comparing records, use each team’s win percentage against the collective tied teams as a group (prior to that group’s own tie-breaking procedure) rather than the performance against individual tied teams.
Win percentage against all common conference opponents.
Combined win percentage in conference games of conference opponents (ie, strength of conference schedule).
Total number of wins in a 12-game season. The following conditions will apply to the calculation of the total number of wins:
Only one win against a team from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision or lower division will be counted annually.
Any games that are exempted from counting against the annual maximum number of football contests per NCAA rules. (current Bylaw 17.10.5.2.1) shall not be included.
Highest ranking by SportSource Analytics (team Rating Score metric) following the last weekend of regular-season games.
Coin toss

[dmjcat]

https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/ ... 2-football


Tracking Arizona Wildcats’ snap counts and PFF grades at Colorado
By Ezra Amacher Nov 12, 2023

The Arizona Wildcats played 65 offensive snaps and 70 defensive snaps in their 34-31 win over Colorado Saturday. Here is how much each player played along with their Pro Football Focus grades.

Offense
QB Noah Fifita, 65 (79.3)
RT Jonah Savaiinaea, 65 (66.6)
RG Raymond Pulido, 65 (61.6)
C Josh Baker, 65 (66.1)
LG Wendell Moe, 65 (64.8)
LT Jordan Morgan, 65 (65.5)
WR Tetairoa McMillan, 63 (73.6)
TE Tanner McLachlan, 62 (41.1)
WR Montana Lemonious-Craig, 55 (71.6)
WR Jacob Cowing, 47 (57.2)
RB Jonah Coleman, 40 (77.6)
RB D.J. Williams, 17 (60.3)
TE Keyan Burnett, 14 (50.2)
WR AJ Jones, 11 (57.9)
TE Roberto Miranda, 7 (58.2)
RB Rayshon Luke, 7 (57.7)
RB Michael Wiley, 2 (65.3)
Defense
CB Treydan Stukes, 70 (56.0)
LB Jacob Manu, 70 (76.9)
S Dalton Johnson, 70 (56.5)
CB Tacario Davis, 70 (73.7)
CB Ephesians Prysock, 70 (63.5)
S Gunner Maldonado, 70 (69.0)
DL Taylor Upshaw, 42 (62.2)
DE Isaiah Ward, 40 (70.9)
CB Martell Irby, 37 (66.2)
DE Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, 33 (60.8)
NT Bill Norton, 27 (78.5)
DL Russell Davis II, 25 (70.8)
DT Jacob Kongaika, 23 (65.1)
DT Tyler Manoa, 22 (68.0)
DT Tiaolii Savea, 19 (53.1)
LB Kamuela Ka’aihue, 17 (57.0)
S Genesis Smith, 15 (68.3)
DL Dominic Lolesio, 10 (63.2)
S DJ Warnell Jr., 10 (69.9)
LB Jeremy Mercier, 9 (64.7)
NT Sio Nofoagatoto’a, 9 (66.3)
DE Sterling Lane, 5 (66.2)
LB Daniel Heimuli, 5 (62.9)
LB Justin Flowe, 2 (65.5)

[Chicat]

#22 in the Coaches poll

[wyo-cat]

Utah is #16.

Back to being underdogs

[Postmaster]

My current concern is Fafita getting TMac broken in half with all the high throws.

[Carcassdragger]

My current concern is Fafita getting TMac broken in half with all the high throws.

Yes!

[Chicat]

#22 in the Coaches poll

#19 in the AP. We are no longer under the radar.

[pc in NM]

#22 in the Coaches poll

#19 in the AP. We are no longer under the radar.

Maybe we are!

Auerbach’s Top 10: Alabama over Texas? Oregon over Washington? November providing clarity

Each Saturday night throughout the season, I’ll rank the 10 best teams in the country. The order will fluctuate week to week based on new results, player availability and whatever else impacts this chaotic sport. This is obviously a subjective process, and I look forward to the arguments. The final spot each week will go to a team that may not actually be the 10th best team in the country but still deserves a little shine.

10. Arizona (7-3)

The Wildcats are flying a bit under the radar nationally, maybe because they’re not in the Pac-12 championship race and some of their best performances have come well past everyone’s bedtime on the East Coast. But Arizona is a great example of a downtrodden program building itself back up until the results show up in the win column. Jedd Fisch’s squad went 1-11 in Year 1, 5-7 last season and is now bowl-bound at 7-3, on a four-game winning streak that includes three wins over AP top-20 teams. Quarterback Noah Fifita, who began the season as the backup, was thrust into the starting role against Stanford on Sept. 23 and has largely thrived since. Even after a slow start Saturday, he finished with 214 yards and two touchdowns in the come-from-behind 34-31 win at Colorado.

So much of this season’s success is due to Fisch’s 2022 recruiting class, and it’s all a great example of patience and a plan paying off for a rebuild. Arizona may not be headed to Las Vegas, but this team has not been an easy out for anyone. And the Wildcats are only trending upward.

https://theathletic.com/5055298/2023/11 ... ign=601983

[UAEebs86]

[wyo-cat]

They’re breaking teams.

[azcat49]

That shows how physical this group is. Saturday will be a rough and tumble game

[azgreg]

2-7. Both Washington and Oregon St won the following week.

[arizonawildcats]

[arizonawildcats]

[dmjcat]

Bowl speculation time:

https://www.azdesertswarm.com/2023/11/1 ... 2c1e7576e8

[azcat49]

I want the Alamo vs Oklahoma

[PHXCATS]

I want the Alamo vs Oklahoma

I want Vegas just because UA Basketball is already playing there

But if no Vegas then Alamo v Oklahoma is absolutely the best option

[azcat49]

I want the Alamo because it is separate from the basketball team. I know that would be an epic day but it’s pre Christmas which gives off a minor league bowl IMO.

I think Oklahoma would be a great opponent. A team with great heritage moving to the SEC. Dreaming as it is because we have to win twice and UDub needs to go into the PAC championship undefeated and I think OSU beats them this week

[RichardCranium]

I'm having trouble groking this article: College football midseason freshman All-America team: Caleb Downs, Zachariah Branch and more

Arizona has an entry on offense: Wendell Moe. Good on Moe, but isn't there a more visible freshman?

[MrMeow]

I'm having trouble groking this article: College football midseason freshman All-America team: Caleb Downs, Zachariah Branch and more

Arizona has an entry on offense: Wendell Moe. Good on Moe, but isn't there a more visible freshman?

Wendell Moe is fair dinkum

[RichardCranium]

So is Fifita, isn't he?

[UAEebs86]

Pullido too if he hadn't gotten hurt early. Took Magnuson's starting position already.

[AZCatGirl]

And good riddance!

[ASUHATER!]

It's still sad though

[ASUHATER!]

So beat ASU next week and have OSU lose to UW and then have OSU beat Oregon and we're in the title game

[AZCatGirl]

[azgreg]

[azgreg]

It's still sad though

Not in the slightest.

[azgreg]

[wyo-cat]

Clue swinging a 2 x 4.

[KaibabKat]

Eleven games. Behind once at end of regulation.

[azgreg]

[azgreg]

Clue swinging a 2 x 4.

That guy is awesome.

[TheCatInTheHat]

And good riddance!

Can we put the XII on there now? Or is it going to be the XVI?

[Chicat]

And good riddance!

Can we put the XII on there now? Or is it going to be the XVI?

Should make it the “Big A” because we are going to own that goddamn conference.

[scumdevils86]

Still blows me away we're 2 OT losses from being in playoff contention and 16 points away from being undefeated and a top 3-4 team.

[Chicat]

Best team since 2014 for sure.

Maybe since ‘98?

[gouacats]

Best team since 2014 for sure.

Maybe since ‘98?

I feel like this team is better than 2014. That team seemed to have a lot of luck go their way (nothing wrong with that). This team is just solid.

[gouacats]

I wonder how Barrs is feeling about “the most wins of his career” now?

[dovecanyoncat]

Best team since 2014 for sure.

Maybe since ‘98?

I feel like this team is better than 2014. That team seemed to have a lot of luck go their way (nothing wrong with that). This team is just solid.

For a good team luck is pro-cyclical. It's the same for every category of competition.

[ASUHATER!]

It's still sad though

Not in the slightest.

It is. We're not a Midwest plains school. It's not our culture or identity or our fit. It makes no sense to play Baylor, West Virginia and Iowa State instead of Cal, Oregon and UCLA...unless it's for money. Just is sad money dictated this and it isn't what Arizona belongs with.

[wyo-cat]

It's still sad though

Not in the slightest.

It is. We're not a Midwest plains school. It's not our culture or identity or our fit. It makes no sense to play Baylor, West Virginia and Iowa State instead of Cal, Oregon and UCLA...unless it's for money. Just is sad money dictated this and it isn't what Arizona belongs with.

Blame the corksuckers at UCLA and USC.

It was survival, not money that pushed us to the B12.

[pc in NM]

It's still sad though

Not in the slightest.

It is. We're not a Midwest plains school. It's not our culture or identity or our fit. It makes no sense to play Baylor, West Virginia and Iowa State instead of Cal, Oregon and UCLA...unless it's for money. Just is sad money dictated this and it isn't what Arizona belongs with.

I am sad the PAC has died.

But, where do you think the majority of Tucson’s, and Arizona’s, population moved here from? Yep, the so-called “Midwest plains”…

[arizonawildcats]

[AZCatGirl]

Still blows me away we're 2 OT losses from being in playoff contention and 16 points away from being undefeated and a top 3-4 team.

Makes you wonder what our record would be if Fifita had played all season.

[Fishclamps]

10-1, that's would be our record

[ASUHATER!]

It's still sad though

Not in the slightest.

It is. We're not a Midwest plains school. It's not our culture or identity or our fit. It makes no sense to play Baylor, West Virginia and Iowa State instead of Cal, Oregon and UCLA...unless it's for money. Just is sad money dictated this and it isn't what Arizona belongs with.

I am sad the PAC has died.

But, where do you think the majority of Tucson’s, and Arizona’s, population moved here from? Yep, the so-called “Midwest plains”…

They haven't though. At least 40% alone are native born or are from Mexico. And that's just the Hispanic population. Lots are actually from Arizona or are from California.

[dmjcat]

https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/ ... 2-football

Tracking Arizona Wildcats’ snap counts and PFF grades vs. Utah
By Ezra Amacher Nov 19, 2023,

The Arizona Wildcats played 57 offensive snaps and 97 defensive snaps in their 42-18 win over Utah. Here is how much each player played along with their Pro Football Focus grades.

Offense
RT Jonah Savaiinaea, 57 (55.2)
RG Raymond Pulido, 57 (60.4)
C Josh Baker, 57 (49.5)
LG Wendell Moe, 57 (64.5)
LT Jordan Morgan, 57 (69.0)
WR Tetairoa McMillan, 54 (81.0)
QB Noah Fifita, 53 (79.9)
TE Tanner McLachlan, 50 (83.7)
WR Montana Lemonious-Craig, 45 (61.8)
WR Jacob Cowing, 40 (53.8)
RB Jonah Coleman, 33 (70.3)
RB Michael Wiley, 14 (85.5)
WR Kevin Green Jr., 12 (68.1)
TE Keyan Burnett, 10 (66.2)
WR Malachi Riley, 9 (67.7)
RB Rayshon Luke, 7 (65.3)
TE Roberto Miranda, 5 (62.8)
QB Jayden de Laura, 4 (84.9)
RB D.J. Williams, 3 (58.3)
WR AJ Jones, 3 (57.3)
Defense
LB Jacob Manu, 80 (67.6)
CB Treydan Stukes, 77 (78.1)
CB Ephesians Prysock, 77 (75.4)
S Gunner Maldonado, 77 (76.9)
S Dalton Johnson, 76 (65.2)
LB Kamuela Ka’aihue, 53 (58.3)
CB Tacario Davis, 48 (70.9)
DE Isaiah Ward, 47 (65.3)
DL Taylor Upshaw, 46 (70.1)
DE Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, 42 (65.9)
DT Jacob Kongaika, 37 (54.9)
S Genesis Smith, 32 (66.8)
LB Jeremy Mercier, 32 (54.8)
S DJ Warnell Jr., 32 (63.7)
S Dylan Wyatt, 32 (68.1)
DT Tiaolii Savea, 31 (70.5)
NT Bill Norton, 31 (72.4)
NT Sio Nofoagatoto’a, 26 (52.9)
DT Tyler Manoa, 25 (63.1)
DL Dominic Lolesio, 22 (55.7)
LB Daniel Heimuli, 20 (66.1)
S Isaiah Taylor, 17 (52.4)
CB Charles Yates Jr., 16 (53.2)
DT Keanu Mailoto, 16 (64.1)
LB Taye Brown, 14 (57.2)
CB Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine, 13 (64.2)
DE Sterling Lane, 7 (58.1)
LB Justin Flowe, 6 (42.8)
CB Devin Dunn, 1 (60.0)
CB Jeffrey Robinson, 1 (60.0)