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Sun Devils vs. Wildcats: A look back at Territorial Cup history

Nov 29, 2024, 7:10 AM

Michael Wiley, Arizona Wildcats RB in 2022 Territorial Cup...

Running back Michael Wiley #6 of the Arizona Wildcats rushes the football against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half of the NCAAF game at Arizona Stadium on November 25, 2022 in Tucson, Arizona. This year's game is the 96th annual Territorial Cup match between Arizona rival schools. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Every time Arizona and Arizona State match up in the Territorial Cup, regardless of record for either team, it just matters.

The 2024 Territorial Cup sets up to be monumental in the rivals’ first season after leaving the Pac-12 for the Big 12. ASU can make the conference title game in 255 of 256 scenarios that include seven games and nine teams in the Big 12.

The favorites in the conference despite nine teams still in the running to win it, the Sun Devils just need to worry about a win. Either way, it’s been a remarkable turnaround for head coach Kenny Dillingham in his second year on the job.

After all, Arizona State was picked in the Big 12 preseason media poll to finish last in the conference.

For Arizona, a disappointing season without bowl possibilities comes down to going off on the right note in head coach Brent Brennan’s first season. The Wildcats play in front of a home crowd that will likely watch its last game of receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who last week set the program record for receiving yards and is projected to become a first-round NFL Draft pick.

The Sun Devils and Wildcats meet up for a 1:30 p.m. MST kickoff in Tucson that will air on FOX, Arizona Sports, the Arizona Sports app and ArizonaSports.com.

Here’s a little thumbnail history of what this heated rivalry game has looked like since the two schools joined the Pac-10 in 1978 before their final game in the Pac-12 Saturday.

Territorial Cup history of Arizona, ASU between 1978-present

Year Site ASU Record UA Record Score Details
1978 Tucson 7-3 5-5 ASU 18-17 Sun Devils win 4th straight in rivalry
1979 Tempe 6-4 5-4-1 UA 27-24 Brent Weber makes last-second field goal to lift Wildcats
1980 Tucson 6-4 5-5 ASU 44-7 ASU stormed to 31-0 halftime lead
1981 Tempe 8-2 (#18) 6-4 ASU 24-13 Teams combine for 10 turnovers in rain-soaked game
1982 Tucson 9-1 (#6) 5-4-1 UA 28-18 Wildcats knock ASU out of Rose Bowl
1983 Tempe 6-3-1 6-3-1 UA 17-15 UA’s Max Zendejas kicks GW 45-yard field goal as time expires
1984 Tucson 5-5 6-4 UA 16-10 Max Zendejas kicks three field goals, including a 52-yarder
1985 Tempe 8-2 7-3 UA 16-13 Max Zendejas’ 32-yd FG keeps ASU out of the Rose Bowl again
1986 Tucson 9-0-1 (#4) 7-2 (#14) UA 34-17 Wildcats ruin ASU’s undefeated season
1987 Tempe 6-4 4-4-2 Tie 24-24 Dick Tomey opts to kick FG for tie; Wildcats end season with three ties
1988 Tucson 6-4 6-4 UA 28-18 Ronald Veal hits Derek Hill on a 55-yard Hail Mary TD pass on last play of first half
1989 Tempe 6-3-1 6-4 UA 28-10 Sun Devils take field in all gold uniforms
1990 Tucson 4-5 6-4 UA 21-17 Bobby Roland preserves win by intercepting Paul Justin at UA 4-yard line with :30 left
1991 Tempe 5-5 4-6 ASU 37-14 “The Streak” ends at 9; Larry Marmie’s final game as ASU coach
1992 Tucson 5-5 6-3-1 (#16) ASU 7-6 Kevin Galbreath’s 51-yd TD run in 4th qtr gives ASU win
1993 Tempe 6-4 8-2 (#19) UA 34-20 Dan White throws three second-half touchdowns
1994 Tucson 3-7 7-3 UA 28-27 Wildcats rally from 27-15 deficit in fourth quarter; Jon Baker misses last-second field goal
1995 Tempe 6-4 5-5 UA 31-28 Wildcats score 17 unanswered points in fourth quarter; Jon Prasuhn’s last-second field goal wins it
1996 Tucson 10-0 (#4) 5-5 ASU 56-14 ASU completes perfect regular season
1997 Tempe 8-2 (#17) 5-5 UA 28-16 Ortege Jenkins throws three first-half TD passes
1998 Tucson 5-5 10-1 (#7) UA 50-42 Trung Canidate runs for 288 yards and 3 TDs
1999 Tempe 5-5 5-5 ASU 42-27 Backfield tandem of J.R. Redmond and Delvon Flowers leads ASU to 226 rushing yards
2000 Tucson 5-5 5-5 ASU 30-17 Sun Devils force three turnovers; Terrell Suggs scores def. TD; Mike Barth scores on fake FG
2001 Tempe 4-6 4-6 UA 34-21 Wildcats take 20-0 lead after first quarter; Clarence Farmer 158 yards rushing and one TD
2002 Tucson 7-5 4-7 ASU 34-20 Mike Williams runs for 162 yards and four TDs
2003 Tempe 4-7 2-9 ASU 28-7 Andrew Walter throws for 281 yards and three touchdowns
2004 Tucson 8-2 (#18) 2-8 UA 34-27 Richard Kovalchek throws for three scores, ASU commits five turnovers
2005 Tempe 5-5 3-7 ASU 23-20 Terry Richardson 71-yard punt return TD; Jess Ainsworth kicks GW 20-yard FG with :09 left
2006 Tucson 6-5 6-5 ASU 28-14 Rudy Carpenter throws three TD passes; Wildcats gain only 168 total yards
2007 Tempe 9-2 (#13) 5-6 ASU 20-17 Rudy Carpenter throws two touchdown passes
2008 Tucson 5-6 6-5 UA 31-10 Willie Tuitama throws for 284 yards and two scores; ASU only 162 total yards
2009 Tempe 4-7 7-4 UA 20-17 Kyle Williams muffs fourth-quarter punt; Alex Zendejas kicks GW FG with no time left
2010 Tucson 5-6 7-4 ASU 30-29 (2OT) James Brooks blocks two extra points to preserve ASU win
2011 Tempe 6-4 2-8 UA 31-27 Backup QB Bryson Beirne hits Juron Criner on GW TD with 5:18 left
2012 Tucson 6-5 7-4 ASU 41-34 Sun Devils explode for 24 points in the fourth quarter
2013 Tempe 9-2 (#13) 7-4 ASU 58-21 D.J. Foster runs for 124 yards and 2 TDs, Jaelen Strong tallies 142 receiving yards and a TD
2014 Tucson 9-2 (#13) 9-2 (#11) UA 42-35 Nick Wilson runs for 178 yards and three TDs as the Wildcats win the game and the Pac-12 South
2015 Tempe 5-5 6-5 ASU 52-37 Late Arizona rally is thwarted by pair of fourth-quarter pick sixes from Kareem Orr and Lloyd Carrington
2016 Tucson 5-6 2-9 UA 56-35 Arizona rushes for a school-record 511 yards and does not throw a pass in the second half
2017 Tempe 6-5 7-4 ASU 42-30 The Sun Devils outscored their rivals 28-6 in the second half for the final win of the Todd Graham era
2018 Tucson 6-5 5-6 ASU 41-40 ASU erases 19-point deficit in 4th quarter, Wildcats K Josh Pollack missed a 45-yard FG with 11 seconds left
2019 Tempe 6-5 4-7 ASU 24-14 Sun Devils RB Eno Benjamin dominated with 168 yards rushing and 2 TDs
2020 Tucson 0-2 0-4 ASU 70-7 ASU runs for 259 yards and scores 10 total touchdowns in Kevin Sumlin’s last game as Wildcats head coach
2021 Tempe 7-3 1-9 ASU, 38-15 Amid a recruiting scandal, the Sun Devils end the year with a win for head coach Herm Edwards, whose AD confirms he will retain his job into 2022 following the game
2022 Tucson 3-8 4-7 UA, 38-35 ASU is led by interim coach Shaun Aguano and Tucson-grown QB Trenton Bourguet. The Sun Devils allow 265 total yards and 3 scores to Wildcat RB Michael Wiley
2023 Tempe 3-8 8-3 UA, 59-23 Arizona gets 527 passing yards and five TDs from QB Noah Fifita, and 266 of those yards to WR Tetairoa McMillan.

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