Editor’s note:ÌýThis continues the Star’s ongoing “Big 12 Blitz†series, where we introduce U of A fans to the on- and off-field need-to-know details surrounding each member of the 16-team Big 12 Conference. Today: a special double edition, touching on rivalry shared by ASU Sun Devils and the hometown U of A Wildcats.
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Those indelible moments of rivalry past are never too far from top of mind when it comes to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ State.
UA safety Chuck Cecil’s 106-yard interception return in 1986 over then-undefeated ASU is one. Another: the season-long crescendo Jerry Kindall’s UA baseball team needed after losing its first seven matchups against the Sun Devils during the 1976 season; on the eighth try — the second time the teams were meeting that year in the College World Series — ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ broke through, and one game later the UA was baseball’s national champion for the first time.
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But as the schools embarked together on a new adventure this year as new Big 12 Conference counterparts, the Territorial Cup rivalry across virtually all sports is hot as ever.
Here’s a look at where the Wildcats and Sun Devils stand all-time in some high profile duels in the desert, as well as some of the more recent standout moments of celebration for both sides of the rivalry.
Men’s Basketball
All-time matchups: 247; ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ leads 161-86 (65%-35%)
Current streak: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, three straight
Recent rivalry moment: Feb. 25, 2023 at McKale Center; No. 7 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ looked poised for its seventh straight win over the Sun Devils. But a prayer by ASU’s Desmond Cambridge Jr. from well across half court — he let it fly from the Lute Olson signature adorning the floor not far from the UA bench — fell through as the buzzer sounded to give ASU an 89-88 upset win of the most shocking proportion.
Softball
All-time matchups: 156; ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ leads 102-61-1 (66%-34%)
Current streak: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, four straight
Recent rivalry moment: April 21, 2024 at Hillenbrand Stadium; The most recent moment on the list came after ASU led the Wildcats 8-7 in the bottom of the last inning in the final game of the teams’ 2024 three-game set at Hillenbrand Stadium. On senior day, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ High School alum and Wildcat star senior Carlie Scupin hit a two-run walk-off single that flipped the game into a 9-8 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ victory. The win gave the Wildcats the weekend (and season) series sweep, and further solidified the UA’s NCAA Tournament positioning.
Football
All-time matchups: 98 matchups; ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ leads 51-46-1 (53%-47%)
Current streak: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, two straight
Recent rivalry moment(s): While there’s plenty of debate as to the legitimacy of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s all-time lead in the series — Sun Devil fans will argue that their team has the edge if counting games only since ASU was designated an equal-footing university, but we digress — recent years have seen both programs trade plenty of blowout paint. That includes ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s 59-23 drubbing in Tempe last November, as well as ASU’s infamous 70-7 explosion in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in 2020. For tight ones of late, though: Nov. 24, 2018, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium. That’s the day ASU scored 20 unanswered fourth-quarter points — back Eno Benjamin scored three times — to flip n 19-point UA final frame lead into a 41-40 shocker of a Sun Devil victory in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. That was the first matchup including both schools’ first-year head coaches — ASU’s Herm Edwards and the UA’s Kevin Sumlin.
Baseball
All-time matchups: 493; ASU leads 263-229-1 (53%-47%)
Current streak: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, one
Recent rivalry moment: April 19, 2023, Hi Corbett Field. Newcomer Cam Walty went seven innings, scattering five hits while striking out seven, to keep ASU scoreless. But ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ wasn’t playing for a close win in this one. The Wildcat offense erupted for 20 runs on 19 hits in the most lopsided game in the UA-ASU series since a 32-3 Sun Devil win at ASU’s old Packard Stadium on March 4, 2000. In the more recent blowout, though, Wildcats Mac Bingham went 5-for-5 at the plate; Chase Davis was 4-for-4 with five RBIs, and Tony Bullard hit two home runs.
Women’s basketball
All-time matchups: 107; ASU leads 66-41 (62%-38%)
Current streak: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, five straight
Recent rivalry moment: Feb. 28, 2021, Desert Financial Arena. Days after UA legend Aari McDonald said she did not plan to return to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ for another year and would declare for the WNBA draft, McDonald went for 30 points as the No. 9 Wildcats tried to stave off upstart ASU. But ASU, thanks to 19 points on five 3s from Taya Hanson, would prevail in overtime, 66-64, in front of cardboard cutouts instead of fans in Tempe in the wake of COVID-19’s impact on spectator sports. Coach Adia Barnes’ Wildcats would have the last laugh that year, though; the UA rolled into the NCAA Tournament and all the way through to the first Final Four (and NCAA title game) appearance in program history.