Halfway through the 2023 season, Arizona has the same exact record as a year ago: 3-3 overall and 1-2 in Pac-12 play. But unlike last fall, when those first two conference losses were by a combined 45 points, the Wildcats have battled consecutive top-10 foes to within one score and went to triple overtime on the road last weekend at USC.
The UA has a bye after this next game, Saturday afternoon at No. 19 Washington State (4-1, 1-1), which means the conditions are ripe for a potential letdown performance after those recent near misses. It certainly had such a performance last year against WSU, losing 31-20 at home on the heels of an upset win at a top-10 UCLA squad.