Arizona was ranked 21st in both preseason polls. That was the highest preseason ranking for Arizona since starting the 1999 season ranked fourth nationally. After a 22-10 win over Northern Arizona in week two, Arizona fell out of the polls. With losses in four of their last five games, Arizona has tumbled out of the national consciousness.
With hopes of making the College Football Playoff, the shift for Arizona is now to win three of its past four games and qualify for a bowl game. The precipitous collapse has been surprising. Consecutive blowout losses have caused Arizona to hit its lowest point since a four-game losing streak in 2022.
Four of those losses were to ranked teams. Only two of the four teams Arizona has lost to in 2024 are ranked. Arizona also had a win over then-10th-ranked Utah. Utah has a three-game losing streak that began with the loss to Arizona entering its week nine game at Houston on Saturday…