PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Khalil Tate missed his first game of the season when the Wildcats faced UCLA two weeks ago, but he returned just in time for the team’s biggest win of the season. Tate used the week off to rest his injured ankle and, while he was not perfect against Oregon, was able to move the offense down the field and finish with three touchdown passes. Now he faces Colorado, which should bring back good memories. Tate broke onto the scene in a big way last season with 327 rushing yards — an FBS record for a quarterback — against the Buffs.
–RB JJ Taylor is second in the Pac-12 with 1,029 rushing yards after his showing against the Ducks, as he ran for 212 yards in the 44-15 win. His 1,579 all-purpose yards are more than 400 yards better than the next best conference player on the list, Oregon State’s Jemar Jefferson. Taylor’s season has been highlighted by a few offensive explosions; he has three games this year in which he has gone over 150 rushing yards.
–S Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles had one of the best games of his career Saturday in the Wildcats’ win over Oregon. While he only had one tackle, the senior defensive back came up with three pass breakups, all of which came on third-down plays. The Tucson native is playing the final games of his career with the Wildcats and he has been vocal about wanting to end his time at his hometown school with strong play and a bowl game.
–DL PJ Johnson has been an important addition to the Wildcats’ defense this year, and his impact has become even more clear as the season has gone on. Saturday against the Ducks he came up with a forced fumble to go along with two tackles. Johnson’s size and athleticism has allowed the coaching staff to play him at various spots along the line, where he has helped take on double teams, allowing other defensive players to make plays as well.
SERIES HISTORY: Colorado holds a 14-6 lead in the series, but Arizona won 45-42 last season when QB Khalil Tate ran for 327 yards and four touchdowns off the bench. The Buffaloes won the 2016 meeting while Arizona won the previous four prior to that.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “That’s for you guys (media). You guys can get your conjecture, grades and everything else. Y’all can do that. We watch tape. What happens week to week, as you’ve seen in this league and have seen all over the country, as a coach once told me you don’t need to be the best team you just need to be the best team for about three hours and 30 minutes. That’s what happens in college football.” — Coach Kevin Sumlin, on playing Colorado after the Buffs lost in overtime to Oregon State.
