Despite raised expectations with the Arizona football program this season, UA head coach Brent Brennan fully anticipated the Wildcats to struggle at points this season, especially in the beginning stages of his first season at the helm.
The Wildcats (2-1) enter their Big 12 opener against No. 10 Utah (4-0) on Saturday in Salt Lake City with plenty of wounds from the nonconference schedule, including a 31-7 thumping by Kansas State.
But “it’s football,” Brennan said. “There are always things that are complicated, especially when you have a transition. Lots of new pieces, new coaching staff, new way you go about business. That’s not surprising to me at all.”
Arizona is looking to find its mojo and get back on the winning track, but the Wildcats face arguably their toughest challenge of the season — and it’s at Rice-Eccles Stadium, a place Utah rarely loses at. Since the start of the 2018 season, the Utes are 34-3 at home.
“The biggest thing is we know we’re going into a hostile environment. I want to see us handle the moment and play clean football, which is hard, because against this team, this is a team that frustrates you because of how they play,” Brennan said. “There’s going to be a loss-yardage play, but we have to line up and play the next play.
“There’s never been a perfect football game played, and that’s something we have to continue to understand, learn and grow from and play the next play.”
Over the last nearly dozen years, the Wildcats and Utes have squared off as Pac-12 opponents. Utah, Arizona, Colorado and Arizona State were the “four corners” additions to the 16-team Big 12.
In their time as conference foes, Utah leads the head-to-head series with a 6-5 record. After winning five straight heading into last season’s contest, Arizona routed Utah 42-18 last season in Tucson. The Wildcats haven’t won in Salt…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/tons-history-between-big-12s-012011772.html
Author : AZCentral | The Arizona Republic
Publish date : 2024-09-28 01:20:11
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