ARIZONA FOOTBALL

USA Today writer: Arizona Wildcats are under-ranked

Jul 31, 2015, 12:16 PM | Updated: 1:28 pm

The Arizona Wildcats are better than people think.

At least, that’s the opinion of USA Today sports writer Paul Myerberg.

Myerberg took a look at the preseason Amway Coaches Poll, in which Arizona is listed at No. 22, in a piece going over teams that were over-ranked and under-ranked.

The Wildcats were in the latter group.

Let’s see. The defending Pac-12 Conference South Division champion and New Year’s Six participant finds itself ranked behind three teams within its own division: No. 10 Southern California, No. 14 UCLA and No. 16 Arizona State. This same Arizona program continues to improve with each season under Rich Rodriguez, embracing his style and philosophies while challenging Oregon for Pac-12 supremacy. Recent history indicates that Arizona might be even better in 2015, which in turn suggests the folly behind being picked fourth in its own division.

It is quite possible the Wildcats are not being given enough credit, though head coach Rich Rodriguez said he’s not concerned with where his team is ranked or what kind of predictions are being made.

Still, it will be up to Arizona to prove the doubters wrong — or right — starting Sept. 3 when the Wildcats host UTSA at Arizona Stadium in Tucson.

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USA Today writer: Arizona Wildcats are under-ranked