History of the Territorial Cup
The weekend we have all been waiting for is nearly here… The Territorial Cup! This year’s rivalry weekend will be highly contested with both the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Arizona Wildcats coming into the game at 9-2 overall and 6-2 in Pac-12 play with both teams vying for a shot at the Pac-12 South championship.
Arizona State, Arizona, and UCLA all have identical records, but UCLA holds the tiebreakers on both the Sun Devils and the Wildcats so both Arizona schools will need assistance from Stanford to beat UCLA in order to win the division.
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If Stanford is able to defeat the Bruins then the winner of the Territorial Cup will be crowned the Pac-12 South winner and face the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 Championship.
Some people may be asking: what exactly is the big deal about the Territorial Cup? For students at each campus it is about bragging rights. Students of the team that wins holds authority on Twitter in arguments for the next year. After all, Arizona fans have basketball and kindly remind Arizona State fans of this repeatedly, but Sun Devil students have had the upper hand this year for that sport as well (See: Last year’s 69-66 2OT victory for Arizona State over No. 2 Arizona).
Feb 14, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils center Jordan Bachynski (13) celebrates with the fans after defeating the Arizona Wildcats 69-66 in double overtime at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
The first of 87 meetings in the Territorial Cup occurred in 1899 when the Arizona Normal (Arizona State was established as the Territorial Normal School) defeated the Arizona Wildcats 11-2 on Thanksgiving day.
The Wildcats hold a 47-39-1 advantage in the all-time series, including 11 consecutive victories from 1932-1948. Arizona won 20 of the first 22 match-ups.
Arizona State’s longest winning streak in the series is nine consecutive games from 1965-1973. They currently hold a two game winning streak with a victory on the road against No. 24 Arizona two years ago of 41-34 and last year’s 58-21 blowout victory at home. The Sun Devils have won six of the last nine against their inter-state rival.
Nov 30, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver D.J. Foster (center) runs into the end zone for a second half touchdown against the Arizona Wildcats in the 87th annual Territorial Cup at Sun Devil Stadium. Arizona State defeated Arizona 58-21. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
This will only be the second meeting in series history with both teams ranked. In 1975 the No. 8 Sun Devils defeated the No. 12 Wildcats 24-21 in Tempe. This time, the No. 11 Wildcats will have the advantage of home field and are also ranked higher than the No. 13 Sun Devils. Arizona State is 6-3 on the road in Tucson in the last nine games there.
The Sun Devils and Wildcats will take the field on Friday with a lot at stake. Make sure you are tuned into the action as kickoff will be at 1:30 p.m. MT on Friday afternoon on FOX.