2018 Arizona Wildcats football team

The 2018 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season marked the Wildcats's 119th season. They played their home games at the Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona (for the 90th year) and competed members of the South Division (8th season) in the Pac-12 Conference (41st overall season). They were led by first-year head coach Kevin Sumlin. The Wildcats finished the season 5–7 and did not qualify for a bowl game. They went 4–5 in Pac-12 play, tying USC for third place in the South Division.
Previous season.
The 2017 Arizona Wildcats football team finished the regular season with a 7–5, 5–4 in Pac-12 play to finish in third place in the South Division. They were invited to the Foster Farms Bowl where they fell to Purdue, 35–38. Following the conclusion of his sixth season with the Wildcats, head coach Rich Rodriguez was fired.
Offseason.
Offseason departures.
The Wildcats have 17 senior graduates only graduated players noted until spring practice. As well as one junior who would choose to forgo their senior season in pursuit of an earlier NFL career. The Wildcats would lose four more players from the 2017 team due to various reasons. Notable departures from the 2017 squad included.
Recruiting.
On December 20, 2017, NCAA Football started the first ever early signing period which they signed 15 recruits. On the national signing day the Wildcats received 2 more high school recruits tipping off the signing period with a total of 20 high school recruits, 1 walk-on HS recruit, 2 JUCO transfers and 4 college transfers which totals 28 total recruits in the 2018 offseason.
Incoming transfers.
In addition to the 2018 recruiting class, Arizona add two JC transfer players from junior college and six transfer players from college, which includes eligible for the current season, to the 2018 roster:
Position key
Returning starters.
Arizona returns 30 starters in 2018, including 15 on offense, 9 on defense, and 5 on special teams.
Offensive starters
Defensive starters
Special Teams starters
† Indicates player was a starter in 2017 but missed all of 2018 due to injury.
Preseason.
Pac-12 media poll.
The 2018 Pac-12 media days are set for July 25, 2018 in Hollywood, California. Kevin Sumlin (Head coach), Khalil Tate (QB) &amp; Colin Schooler (ILB) at Pac-12 media days. The Pac-12 media poll was released with the Wildcats predicted to finish in third place at Pac-12 South division.
Spring game.
The 2018 Wildcats had spring practice on March 19, 2018. The 2018 Arizona football spring game will take place in Tucson, AZ on April 14, 2018, and time to be determined.
Schedule.
Arizona announced its 2018 football schedule on November 16, 2017. The 2018 Wildcats' schedule consists of 7 home and 4 away games for the regular season. Arizona will host nine Pac-12 conference opponents California, Colorado, Oregon, USC and arch-rival Arizona State for the 91st annual Territorial Cup to close out the regular season and will travel to UCLA, Utah, Oregon State and Washington State. Arizona is not scheduled to play Pac-12 North opponents Stanford and Washington in the 2018 regular season. The Wildcats bye week comes during week 11 on November 10.
Arizona's out of conference opponents represent the American and Big Sky conferences. The Wildcats will host two non–conference games which are against Southern Utah (first ever meeting) from the Big Sky and BYU (NCAA Division I FBS independent) and travel to Houston from the American.
Personnel.
Coaching staff.
Arizona's coaching staff has finalized as of February 22, 2018.
Depth chart.
Starters and backups.
Depth Chart Source: 2018 Arizona Wildcats Football Fact Book
"True Freshman"
Double Position : *
Game summaries.
BYU.
To open up the 2018 season, Arizona hosted the BYU Cougars for the non-conference home opener in Tucson. Arizona lost the previous meeting in Glendale to BYU, 16–18. Arizona leads the all-time series with 12–10.
at Houston.
After losing to BYU to begin the season. Arizona traveled to Houston to face the Cougars. It was the second straight game that the Wildcats played an opponent that was nicknamed the Cougars. Arizona lost the previous meeting to Houston, 16–19 in Tucson last season. Arizona trails the all-time series by Houston with 1–2.
Southern Utah.
After playing Houston, Arizona hosted the Southern Utah Thunderbirds for third and final non-conference game of the season. This was the first ever meeting between the two schools. Arizona won to give Sumlin his first win as a Wildcat coach.
at Oregon State.
After defeating Southern Utah at home for Sumlin's first win as coach, Arizona opened the Pac-12 regular season on the road at Corvallis against Oregon State. Arizona won the previous meeting over Oregon State 49–28 at Tucson last season. Arizona leads the all-time series over Oregon State at 23–15–1.
USC.
After winning its first Pac-12 game of the season against Oregon State on the road, Arizona faced USC in Arizona's family weekend game in Tucson. The Wildcats have lost four games in a row to the Trojans. UA lost 38–31 in 2013, 38–30 in 2015, and last previous meeting 49–35 at Los Angeles in 2017, and 28–26 at Tucson in 2014 in a close games. Arizona's last win in the series came in 2012 in Tucson. Arizona trails the all-time series by USC with 8–32.
California.
After losing against USC at home, Arizona played again at home facing California in Tucson. In the previous meeting, Arizona won over California 45–44 in double overtime in Berkeley and captured a 49–45 crazy comeback win in Tucson in 2014. Arizona leads the all-time series lead over California with 17–14–2. The Golden Bears have not defeated the Wildcats since 2009 and has not won in Tucson since 2004.
The first half was a low-scoring affair. Arizona would score a pair of defensive touchdowns to get the win.
at Utah.
After defeating the California Golden Bears at home, Arizona traveled to Salt Lake City and faced the Utah Utes. The Wildcats lost the previous meeting to Utah 24–30 in last season at Tucson. Arizona last defeated the Utes in 2015 in Tucson and trails the all-time series by Utah, 19–22–2.
at UCLA.
After losing to Utah on the road, Arizona faced UCLA on the road at Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Arizona defeated the Bruins in the previous meeting 47–30 last season in Tucson. Arizona trails the all-time series by UCLA, 16–24–2.
Oregon.
Following its close loss to UCLA on the road, Arizona returned home against 19th-ranked Oregon in the homecoming game. The Ducks defeated the Wildcats 48–28 in the previous meeting on the road at Eugene. Arizona trails the all-time series to Oregon, 26–16.
Colorado.
After dominating Oregon in an upset win, the Wildcats remained at home against the Colorado Buffaloes in Tucson, AZ. In previous season, Arizona defeated Colorado 45–42 in Boulder in a game where quarterback Khalil Tate broke the NCAA single-game record for most rushing yards. Colorado won the previous meeting in Tucson, 49–24, in 2016. Arizona trails the all-time series to Colorado at 5–14.
at Washington State.
After their win over Colorado, the Wildcats traveled to Pullman to face eighth-ranked Washington State in their final road game of the season. Arizona defeated Washington State in Tucson in the previous year. After a 21–7 start, the Cougars’ powerful offense exploded for 34 second quarter points, leading 55–14 at halftime, and cruising to a 41-point victory. It was the second straight time that the Wildcats went to Washington State and lost by giving up 69 points (they were destroyed by a 69–7 score in 2016) and the third loss of the season to a team named the Cougars (they lost to BYU and Houston to start the year). Arizona leads the all-time series lead over Washington State at 27–17.
Arizona State (Territorial Cup).
After being blown out by Washington State on the road, Arizona closed out the season and faced its arch-rivals, the Arizona State Sun Devils, in the 92nd meeting of the "Territorial Cup" in Tucson. Arizona lost to ASU in the previous meeting in Tempe, 42–30. The Wildcats defeated the Sun Devils 56–35 in Tucson in 2016. Arizona leads the all-time series over ASU at 49–41–1.
This game featured one of the most biggest comebacks/collapses in Arizona football history. The Wildcats, needing a win to become bowl-eligible, dominated ASU for the first three quarters to lead 40–21 going into the fourth. However, Arizona, feeling like the game was over due to their 19-point lead, began to play conservatively by draining the clock, which led to being prone to turnovers, which seemed to motivate Arizona State. The Devils capitalized on the Wildcats’ errors and scored 20 points to take the lead with over three minutes left. The Wildcats drove down the field in the final minute to possibly regain but missed a field goal attempt and the Territorial Cup remained in the Phoenix area for another year. The Wildcats ended the season with a record of 5–7 (4–5 in Pac-12 play).
Many fans blamed Sumlin and the coaching staff for the loss by calling more running plays than passing ones in the final quarter. Sumlin said that the team wanted to run the ball more to drain more time to keep the lead, but that doing so would lead to mistakes. He also believed that the loss affected the program, particularly in recruiting, which led to mixed results on the field and a period of futility, in which it became a factor in Sumlin's firing after the 2020 season.
Statistics.
Team.
Non-conference opponents
Pac-12 opponents
Score total by Quarters
Offense.
Note: G = Games played; ATT = Attempts; YDS = Yards; AVG = Average yard per carry; LG = Longest run; TD = Rushing touchdowns
Note: G = Games played; COMP = Completions; ATT = Attempts; COMP % = Completion percentage; YDS = Passing yards; TD = Passing touchdowns; INT = Interceptions; EFF = Passing efficiency
Note: G = Games played; REC = Receptions; YDS = Yards; AVG = Average yard per catch; LG = Longest catch; TD = Receiving touchdowns
Defense.
Note: G = Games played; Solo = Solo tackles; Ast = Assisted tackles; Total = Total tackles; TFL-Yds = Tackles for loss-yards lost; Sack = Sacks; INT = Interceptions; PD = Passes defended; FF = Forced fumbles; FR = Forced recoveries
Special teams.
Kick and punt returning
"Note: G = Games played; PR = Punt returns; PYDS = Punt return yards; PLG = Punt return long; KR = Kick returns; KYDS = Kick return yards; KLG = Kick return long; TD = Total return touchdowns"
Kicking
"Note: G = Games played; FGM = Field goals made; FGA = Field goals attempted; LG = Field goal long; XPT = Extra points made; XPT ATT = XPT attempted; In20 = Kicking inside the 20; 20-29 = Kicking inside the 20-29; 30-39 = Kicking inside the 30-39; 40-49 = Kicking inside the 40-49; 50 = Kicking inside the 50; TP = Total points"
Punting
"Note: G = Games played; P = Punts; YDS = Yards; AVG = Average per punt; LG = Punt long; In20 = Punts inside the 20; TB = Touchbacks"
Awards and honors.
All-Pac-12 Teams.
3rd Team