Rivalry games are special, or at least they are supposed to be.
They are the one game a year that can make the rest of the season moot. A loss in the matchup can leave a sour taste in one’s mouth even after a good season. Conversely, a victory over your rival can bring about a joy that few other games can.
The feelings last an entire offseason, with even a low-level bowl game doing little to placate the loser or tarnish things for the winner.
Sometimes there are even significant postseason implications, though in the case of Arizona and Arizona State that has rarely been the case.