Nov 30, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; General view down the line of scrimmage as the Arizona State Sun Devils prepare to snap the ball against the Arizona Wildcats in the first half during the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesAlex D’AgostinoTue, November 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM UTC·5 min read👋 GOOD MORNING – It’s Thanksgiving week, which means only one thing: lots of football. But if the NFL is the turkey this Thursday, Friday night is the dessert — a Territorial Cup between two competitive in-state teams.
It’s been a while since both teams were having successful seasons, so let’s keep things civil (but not too civil) in Tempe this weekend.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLet’s talk about the matchup!
— Alex D’Agostino, PHNX Sports Daily Editor
Previewing an Exciting Territorial Cup
Nov 30, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) holds the Territorial Cup at the end of the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn ImagesArizona State (8-3, 6-3 Big 12) vs Arizona (8-3, 5-3 Big 12)Game info: Friday, 7:00 p.m., Tempe, AZLast Meeting: ASU, 49-7 (November 30, 2024)
It’s one of the best traditions in sports. On Friday, the Territorial Cup makes its 100th appearance. And this time, both teams are playing hot, competent football. What a treat!
Time for some obligatory (minor) matchup history:
The two teams have traded blowouts in back-to-back seasons. In fact, the home team hasn’t won the matchup since 2022, when Arizona snuck out a 38-35 win in Tucson.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Wildcats do own the official all-time head-to-head record by a thin margin — 51-47-1 (I can hear ASU fans typing their angry emails as I write this).
But the Sun Devils have been the more dominant program in the last decade’s worth of matchups. Since 2015, ASU is 7-3 over the Wildcats, including the famous (or infamous?) 70-7 blowout in 2020.
The hope is this year’s won’t be quite such a lopsided affair. Both teams seem to be hitting their stride at the right time. The Sun Devils have won three straight, with a 42-17 blowout win over Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes last weekend.
And, they’ve been doing it all without their starting QB and WR1. Jordyn Tyson did return against Colorado, but it’s been remarkable to watch coach Kenny Dillingham push the Devils to gritty wins behind backup QB Jeff Sims and a banged-up roster.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Cats are on a four-game win streak, with a similar-looking 42-17 blowout win over the Baylor Bears on Senior Day. Arizona’s defense has bordered on terrifying in their recent wins, and it seems Brent Brennan’s culture is beginning to take form at the right time.
The keys to the historic matchup:
Arizona State – Commit to the (QB) Run
The Wildcats have the top-ranked passing defense in the Big 12. With Jeff Sims under center, it might be tough for ASU to get the passing attack going.
Arizona owns a middling run defense in the conference, but they’ve especially struggled to contain mobile QBs. Sims’ strength is his legs, as he ran for 228 yards and three touchdowns against Iowa State — a school record.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut it’s not just Sims. Raleek Brown ran for 255 yards and a touchdown last week. The Devils can certainly run the ball.
Arizona – Capitalize on Turnovers
This, of course, is mostly dependent on the Wildcats’ ability to stop Sims from running, but if he does turn the ball over, Noah Fifita and the offense have to collect points off those turnovers.
If ASU is going to play a ball-control game on the ground, Arizona has to be able to take advantage of the opportunities they’re afforded. Fifita and co. will have to get the air attack working, as the Sun Devils rank second in run defense but 11th in passing defense.
The Wildcats will have to be offensively adaptable, too. ASU’s defensive front is no joke, and the Cats’ OL has been a little suspect.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis game could very well be one of the lower-scoring iterations of what has been a generally shootout-prone matchup.
Quick Hits
Rocked: The banged-up Suns fell 114-92 to the KD-less Houston Rockets at Mortgage Matchup Center last night. Dillon Brooks had the leading effort with 29 points, but it was a tough night for most of the rest of Phoenix’s lineup (well, except for Collin Gillespie and his 16 points off the bench.
Keeping it 100: The newly-crowned No. 2 overall Wildcat basketball team took care of business against Denver, winning 103-73 at McKale over the Pioneers. Brayden Burries had a needed bounce-back, with 20 points on 7-for-13 shooting. Ivan Karchenkov matched that 20-point total, Dwayne Aristode had 17 off the bench, and the Cats drained 12 three-pointers for a season-high point total.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHorns Down: If you stayed up late again, you were rewarded with a 87-86 Arizona State win over Texas in Maui. Senior guard Maurice Odum dominated, with an unbelievable 36 points in 35 minutes. The Sun Devils advance to 5-1 on the season.
New-look Merc: The Mercury unveiled a new logo yesterday. Personally, I’m a fan, but that may not be the general consensus… I’m a sucker for state-shaped logos, though.
Tip of the Hat by Branded Bills
Feels good to have a coach like Jordan Ott leading the Suns.
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