All fans can look at their teams’ schedules and identify the stretches that will likely determine whether the season will be a success.
That’s our objective as we examine the schedules of all Pac-12 teams and attempt to identify the toughest two-to-four-game stretches of 2016 for each club.
Up next: Arizona Wildcats
Toughest stretch: Oct. 15-Nov. 5
Arizona’s schedule is intriguing. The Wildcats' defensive redesign will be tested right off the bat against BYU -- the first of four games where Arizona doesn’t have to leave the state to start the season.
After the nonconference run of BYU, Grambling State and Hawaii, the Wildcats have games against Washington, at UCLA and at Utah. Those three games aren’t going to be easy by any means. And it’s very possible all three opponents could be ranked.
Depending on how the first three conference games play out, the next three will likely determine Arizona’s trajectory. First up are back-to-back games in Tucson against USC and Stanford. A lot of folks think those two teams will be meeting for the second straight year in the Pac-12 championship game. The good news is the Wildcats get a bye between those games.
The Trojans have squeaked out two in a row against the Wildcats, while Stanford laid down a 55-17 smack job on The Farm last season.
Wrapping up the three-game set is a visit to Washington State. The Wildcats played the Cougars tough last year but fell by a field goal. The bad news is Luke Falk, who threw for five touchdowns against Arizona last season, is back for the Cougars. The worse news is Gabe Marks is also back; he caught four of those five touchdowns.
The name of the game is defense for Arizona, which ranked 10th in the league last year after giving up an average of 35.8 points per game. The offense, even with missing pieces, is one of the most efficient in the league. And when all its pieces are in place, it’s one of the league’s best. How much the defense has improved will set the tone. And these three games present three very different styles of offense.
USC will come at the Wildcats with a balanced pro-style attack. The Trojans have multiple talented backs and an outstanding receiving corps. Stanford will maul, which is what Stanford does. And Washington State will air it out, which is what Washington State does. That’s three different philosophies in three consecutive weeks that will test the pliability of Arizona’s new(ish) defensive scheme.