Territorial Cup countdown to the 100th UA-ASU rivalry matchup

When the Arizona Wildcats and Arizona State Sun Devils meet in Tucson this season, it’ll be the 100th edition of the Territorial Cup, which is recognized as the oldest trophy in college football.

To celebrate the rivalry that divides the state of Arizona — Tucson vs. Tempe — and caps the regular season for both programs, we’re entering a time machine and going all the way back to the first Territorial Cup matchup and counting down from the first game, to the most recent matchup the day before the big game on Saturday, Nov. 28, which is also quarterback Noah Fifita’s last home game at the UA.

Fifita is a Territorial Cup legend, owning the program’s single-game passing yards record with 527 yards against the Sun Devils in 2023.

Fifita has a key role in the lore of the Territorial Cup, but there were so many more T-Cup stars and moments that make the rivalry special.

Arizona leads the all-time series 52-46-1, but each school has had its fair share of dominance.

The rivalry started in 1899, when ASU — then “Tempe Normal School” — beat the Wildcats, 11-2, on Thanksgiving Day in Tucson. The rivalry took years off due to World Wars and lack of consistent scheduling. After 1945, Arizona and ASU made their football matchup an annual tradition, with the games played either in Tucson or Tempe.

Back in the Old Pueblo for the 100th meeting between Arizona and ASU, the Wildcats look to win their fourth Territorial Cup in five years, Arizona’s best run in the rivalry since the height of the Dick Tomey era in the 1990s.

The longest winning streak belongs to Arizona, which had an 11-game run from 1932-48, with a few years off due to World War II. Arizona beat ASU 67-0 in 1946, the largest margin of victory for the Wildcats in the rivalry. ASU returned the favor during a pandemic-influenced season and thumped the Wildcats by 63 points — 70-7 — which was the final straw in head coach Kevin Sumlin’s career in Tucson.

Careers were influenced by the result of this game. Seasons have been made because of this game. Sometimes winning the Territorial Cup, when you don’t make a bowl game, is a consolation prize. Some teams have played spoiler, like the 1986 Arizona team that beat ASU in Tucson and prevented the Sun Devils from playing in a national championship. That ‘86 Territorial Cup was highlighted by Chuck Cecil’s 106-yard pick-six, a play that’s considered the most iconic moment in UA football history.

It’s a rivalry that includes hijinx, like UA students painting the “A” red on the hill next to ASU’s stadium — and ASU students trekking down to Tucson to paint “A” Mountain yellow. Or UA students burning “No 200” on the field of Sun Devil Stadium in 1958 to protest Proposition 200, which renamed Arizona State College to Arizona State University. Or a billboard purchased by ASU fans between Tucson and Phoenix, teasing UA fans with the Sun Devils’ five-game winning streak from 2017-21, including the 70-7 drubbing in 2020.

The Territorial Cup has delivered the good, the bad and the ugly for both programs over the last 99 matchups. With the 100th Territorial Cup just over three months away, let’s revisit the previous 99. Every. Single. Day. We’re looking back on the previous 99 showdowns.