Utah beats Colorado, eliminates UA from Pac-12 South race
Nov 17, 2018, 2:40 PM | Updated: 9:48 pm
Utah tight end Cole Fotheringham, right, is tackled by Colorado defensive back Kyle Trego in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Duel in the Desert just lost potential significance.
The Arizona Wildcats (5-5, 4-3 Pac-12) were eliminated from the Pac-12 South race Saturday before they kicked off against the Washington State Cougars as the Utah Utes (8-3, 6-3 Pac-12) defeated the Colorado Buffaloes, 30-7. That eliminated the Wildcats from a chance at earning a berth into the conference title game with a win over ASU next Saturday.
Arizona would have had to defeat the Cougars in Pullman, Wash., (8:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday), then defeat the rival Sun Devils in order to earn a berth into the championship game in Santa Clara, Calif.
Utah’s victory Saturday, which wrapped its Pac-12 slate, also makes ASU’s path more difficult.
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Had the Utes lost, ASU (6-4, 4-3 Pac-12) would have had leeway to fall on the road against Oregon at 8:30 p.m. Saturday and beat Arizona to still make it to the title game. Now, the Sun Devils must beat the Ducks and the Wildcats to take the regular season division title.
USC entered the second-to-last regular season week at 4-4 in Pac-12 play and already eliminated from contention because of tiebreakers.
