Territorial Cup History: Arizona State vs. Arizona
Nov 26, 2014, 10:46 PM | Updated: Nov 19, 2015, 10:26 am
It’s the oldest trophy in college football.
It’s been lost and found, and once again represents the prize awarded to the winner of the annual football game between the University of Arizona and Arizona State University.
Friday afternoon in Tucson, the 13th-ranked Sun Devils will travel south to face off against the 11th-ranked Wildcats, who are looking to claim the cup for the first time since 2011.
But that’s not the only thing on the line in this. At worst, the teams are fighting for a likely berth in one of the country’s best bowl games — possibly the Fiesta — and at best the Pac-12 South title could be on the line Friday.
Think this game matters?
Arizona leads the all-time series 47-39-1 and in the Pac-10/Pac-12 era, holds a 19-16-1 advantage. But since the turn of the century, ASU has a 9-5 edge, including last season’s 58-21 blowout of the visiting ‘Cats.
This year’s game features a pair of ranked teams for the first time since 1986.
As we get closer to Friday’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. |
