The last time an Arizona State team went undefeated at home (2004), the then No. 18 Sun Devils went to Tucson with a chance to finish their season strong against a struggling Arizona team (2-8).
They lost 34-27.
In the 98th iteration of the Territorial Cup, this edition of No. 16 ASU (9-2)–who matched the 2004 team’s undefeated mark at home–hopes to avoid a similar fate against Arizona (4-7).
This season, the game holds extra weight. With a win over Arizona, the Sun Devils can nearly guarantee themselves a spot in the Big 12 championship.
But the battle for college football’s oldest rivalry trophy is more than just a stepping stone to the postseason: It means everything to supporters on both sides.
As an Arizona native, who spent extensive time around the rivalry growing up, ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham knows the game’s importance to the communities involved.
“It’s almost like brother-sister because we all live together,” Dillingham told reporters Monday. “Everybody lives in the same valley together, right? You’re like, ‘Where’d you go to school’? It’s usually one of those two options is probably the answer. I would say it’s [the rivalry] very deep because of how closely connected the two schools are with their fan bases.”
Last year, Arizona came to Tempe and flexed its muscles against an ASU team that lacked the personnel to compete against the Wildcats. With a much-improved roster, the Sun Devils now look to avenge last season’s 59-23 loss.
“We got our butt kicked last year,” Dillingham said. “So you better have a little bit about yourself when someone embarrasses you like that. And they got the same quarterback returning, the same wide receiver, they got a lot of the same players returning off that football team.”
However, the squads find themselves in opposite positions this season.
Arizona’s transition into a new era under first-year head coach Brent Brennan hasn’t exactly gone to plan. After coming into the season ranked No. 21 in the AP preseason poll, the Wildcats now sit at just 4-7–a far cry from their 8-3 record after 11 games last season.
But Arizona’s recipe for success is the same.
Sophomore quarterback Noah Fifita and junior wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan remain the focal points of an offense that seems to have found its footing in the past two weeks.
Of course, the Sun Devils are no stranger to this dynamic duo, as the two terrorized ASU in 2023. McMillan accounted for a whopping 266 receiving yards alone in last year’s Territorial Cup.
Although McMillan’s numbers haven’t seen a massive drop off, the Wildcats’ offensive struggles have led many to believe the duo’s connection isn’t as strong in its second season.
Still, Dillingham praised Arizona’s star pass catcher ahead of their matchup.
“Credit to you T-Mac (McMillan), you’re [close to] number one in the country in receiving yards and people are still saying you don’t look the same,” Dillingham said. “That’s an incredible compliment… It’s really hard to beat one person in college football. It’s even harder to beat two and T-Mac does that at times, which makes him a special player.”
Conversely, Arizona State has its own blossoming quarterback-wide receiver connection that looks to continue its success this week.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt and redshirt sophomore receiver Jordan Tyson will play in the Territorial Cup for the first time in each of their careers on Saturday.
Over the last four games, Tyson has averaged just over 120 receiving yards per game; he only needs 42 yards to reach the 1,000 receiving yard mark.
Meanwhile, the rivalry game also serves as the last regular season game in the careers of many key contributors on ASU’s roster.
Seniors such as running back Cam Skattebo, center Leif Fatanu, linebacker Caleb McCullough and quarterback Trenton Bourguet will suit up to play against Arizona one final time.
Kick-off for the Territorial Cup is set for 1:30 p.m. MST on Saturday, Nov. 30 at Arizona Stadium.
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