Arizona State vs. Arizona: A history of the Territorial Cup
Nov 19, 2015, 12:47 PM
It would be foolish to pretend this year’s matchup carries as much weight as a year ago.
After all, when last these teams met on the field, the ASU Sun Devils and UA Wildcats were top-15 teams who, unbeknownst to them when the game began, were playing for the Pac-12 South title.
This year, neither team is ranked, as each is hoping to salvage a disappointing season with a big rivalry game victory.
The Sun Devils enter the game 5-5 (3-4 in Pac-12) looking to reach bowl eligibility, while the Wildcats (6-5, 3-5) are just hoping to improve their postseason standing.
But of course, there’s more than that on the line in a series the Wildcats lead 48-39-1.
The winner of this game will claim the oldest trophy in college football along with the all-important bragging rights that come with it.
As we get closer to Saturday’s contest, 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.
| 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 ops 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 | — | — |
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