What do we consider a successful season?
Most expected 5 wins this year. We have 4. I had both BYU and Houston as losses. Any surprise there? Not really, except that we really should have won both. Our OC is in his second year as an OC and learning. Our HC is a play not to lose coach, which I do not like. Our D actually is not bad at all.
They are prone to the big play from time to time though. The biggest issue has been beating ourselves with mistakes.
I have us winning the next two to get to 6-3 and bowl eligible. I also have us winning at home against Baylor. That is 7.
If I could have guaranteed 7 wins preseason, I think most on here would have taken that with smiles on their faces. We can see some growing pains as well as some areas we lack talent. Recruiting is going well. I believe we are on an upward path.
There you have my thoughts on the season and why I thought we were a 7 win team. Now, can we steal another game somewhere? Maybe. Could we lose one of these three we should win? Yea! We are all looking for progress. Let's follow through the rest of the year now.
Bear Down!
After last year's debacle, 7 wins is a success.
Our coordinators proved that they can immediately impact a team that has significantly less talent than last year's roster.
Regardless of the last two games (which absolutely should have resulted in W's), Arizona is on the right track if they can become bowl eligible. Double bonus if they upset the tridents in the season finale.
Arizona had an over/under of 5.5 wins before the season started and expectations were generally low.
What we've seen from Arizona goes beyond just the record.
Here's why Arizona deserves credit, even in losses:
Competitiveness in Close Games
The recent narrow losses show they're not getting blown out — they're right there until the final moments. That says a lot about effort, preparation, and culture.
Clear Improvement
Compared to last season, there's a visible upgrade in execution, discipline, and situational football. Whether it's limiting turnovers, better third-down efficiency, or cleaner special teams play, Arizona looks sharper.
Coaching Impact
The coaching staff clearly has these players bought in. The staff is aggressive and giving the players opportunities to make plays on fourth down, the schemes look more creative, adjustments are being made, and the team is staying engaged for four full quarters — something many sub-.500 teams fail to do.
Bottom line, the most important game of the season is beating ASU.
Good post. As for our philosophy, playing not to lose can be great if we don't lose lol but if we're playing not to lose and it's increasing the odds of us losing, maybe we should just grow a spine and play to win.
Quote from: |ᴘ|ʀ|ʏ|ᴍ|ᴇ| on October 21, 2025, 02:51:22 PMGood post. As for our philosophy, playing not to lose can be great if we don't lose lol but if we're playing not to lose and it's increasing the odds of us losing, maybe we should just grow a spine and play to win.
Arizona football team has already attempted 15 fourth downs in the 2025 season, compared to 18 fourth-down attempts in the 2024 season.
I get that winning is the thing, but it's not for a lack of spine or test tickular fortitude.
Good post. That's the epitome of "playing to win".
Quote from: Little George on October 21, 2025, 06:47:53 AMIf I could have guaranteed 7 wins preseason, I think most on here would have taken that with smiles on their faces.
The thing here is when you get to the point of "how we lost", it becomes a "woulda, coulda, SHOULDA" season.
In the era of Auto Bids to the CFP, squandering becomes an absolute real measuring stick.
Coach Brennan aka Mark Harmon from "Summer School", the 80's film, it just simply not a Power4 Head Coach and our QB is not a Power4 level QB.
The rest of the team, arguably, has lived up to my expectations. Zigging, while the others zag. Learning to win is a process, but in this landscape, you can't just assume that talent will stick around.
I think 7 wins, and beating the scummies would take the heat off BB for another year at least.
Quote from: first2last on October 26, 2025, 05:03:55 PMI think 7 wins, and beating the scummies would take the heat off BB for another year at least.
Probably, but ASU has already imploded. Beating the great Levitt / Tyson tandem would be something though.
2 more wins is the ceiling for this team, and it won't be at CU. Maybe we get KU or Baylor.
We should beat Colorado and Kansas.
Cincinnati is looking very good.
We should beat Baylor.
ASU is a toss up.
7-5
Even Vegas has Arizona favored this week.
Bump
Quote from: arxpert on October 24, 2025, 08:24:22 PMQuote from: Little George on October 21, 2025, 06:47:53 AMIf I could have guaranteed 7 wins preseason, I think most on here would have taken that with smiles on their faces.
The thing here is when you get to the point of "how we lost", it becomes a "woulda, coulda, SHOULDA" season.
In the era of Auto Bids to the CFP, squandering becomes an absolute real measuring stick.
Coach Brennan aka Mark Harmon from "Summer School", the 80's film, it just simply not a Power4 Head Coach and our QB is not a Power4 level QB.
The rest of the team, arguably, has lived up to my expectations. Zigging, while the others zag. Learning to win is a process, but in this landscape, you can't just assume that talent will stick around.
Excellent Zigging today. This is essentially the Payoff of my point of Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda. Without the BYU and Houston Squanders, we would be playing for a whole lot more. I can live with @Iowa St as a "Momentum Killing Bye Week Let Down" (see Tommy's Scheduling Theory for Basketball).
However the Squanders are what is going to make this Program better ultimately if we can finish the fight against ASU
Arizona has definitely had a successful season, but it is not over. ASU looms large. Doesn't matter if Levitt/Tyson play. It is a Rivalry.
With a Win, we can likely secure a much stronger Bowl Appearance and I think it would be Excelsior to see "Arizona vs Texas" for example and see how we would do against "Arch Manning" if he doesn't Opt Out. (I can't see how he would be drafted for any reason other than his last name at the moment. He is not ready for the NFL)
Basically, a Failed CFP Powerhouse Hopeful vs Arizona would be a great thing for the Program. Possibly bringing in Higher level SEC/Big 10 Transfers who want to have a real shot at a ton of playing time and a shot at the CFP via a Wide Open Big12 every year.
Texas, USC, LSU, Miami perhaps. Someone in that vein.
I actually blame Tommy Lloyd for allowing the Big-12 to schedule a bye for Brennan.
Yes, the game means a lot to both teams. It's truly a matter of momentum for the fans, who will likely opt for more season tickets and believe in next year's team if we beat our rivals, which is significantly more important than a bowl win.
It would be amazing to beat another UT/OU team in the national spotlight.
The point of the thread is that we were ALL wrong and this team worked its way back into relevancy. I'm proud of Fifita, Brennan and the Cats.
I've been agreeing with George all year, most of us would have happily taken a 7 win guarantee at the beginning of the year. We'd have likely been in disbelief at the suggestion of an 8 win season. This team has outperformed most expectations and could still go down as one of the great Cat teams ever. The next 2 games should be fun.