Rich Rodriguez’s team was ranked for two weeks in September before losing at Oregon on Sept. 22. Photo by Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE
The media is smarter than the coaches.
The Arizona Wildcats, following their 39-36 victory over USC, climbed back into the AP poll on Sunday, ranked No. 24.
UA is the only three-loss team in the Top 25, but as I explained here in posting my ballot, that makes perfect sense given the strength of schedule and quality victories.
The USA Today coaches poll, on the other hand, puts the Cats a distant 33rd, not even getting as many votes as three teams they have defeated — USC, Oklahoma State and Toledo. And UA’s rout of Washington isn’t shabby, considering the Huskies have defeated Stanford and knocked off previously unbeaten Oregon State on Saturday night.
Arizona’s game this week at UCLA (7:30 p.m., Pac-12 Networks) will be a battle of ranked teams. The Bruins (6-2) moved into the AP poll at No. 25.
The Wildcats appeared on 26 of 60 AP ballots this week, with a high ranking of No. 15.