Arizona football stats worth celebrating

Suddenly, things are looking up in the desert southwest as Arizona turned in an inspiring effort against Texas Tech.

There’s little doubt there was a difference in play from Arizona’s first two games of the season compared to last Saturday’s 28-14 win over visiting Texas Tech. Statistics aside, the team simply looked better. The offense played downhill and defensive reaction times were quicker. While special teams play remains a mystery at Arizona, the thought of an improved Wildcats defense and an offense that can run the football suddenly brings hope to a 2019 college football season that felt hopeless just a week ago.

Statistically, here are some things Arizona fans should celebrate during the bye week:

• Arizona is the FBS leader with 8 interceptions

• Arizona ranks No. 6 nationally and is tops in the Pac-12 in rushing offense, averaging 307 rush yards per game

• Arizona ranks No. 5 nationally and is tops in the Pac-12 in total offense, averaging 586 total yards per game

• The Wildcats are tied with Oregon at No. 7 nationally with a turnover margin of +1.67 (Colorado and Washington State are tied for 2 best at +2.33 and Utah is No. 15 at +1.33)

• Jace Whittaker and Colorado’s Mikial Onu lead all FBS players with 3 interceptions each (Wildcat Lorenzo Burns is tied for 5 with 2 picks this season – that’s 5 INTs from Arizona’s two starting cornerbacks)

• Khalil Tate became only the second quarterback in Pac-12 history to surpass 5,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards in a career, joining Oregon’s Marcus Mariota 

Notably, the 14 points allowed to Texas Tech were the fewest for an Arizona defense against a non-conference, Power 5 School since the Wildcats gave up just 9 points to Wisconsin in 2004. While nobody expects Arizona’s defense to only give up 14 points per game, the mere thought of improvement on the defensive side of the football suddenly elevates the team’s status in somewhat of a wide open Pac-12 South Division. Aside from Utah, which looks dominant thus far, every other school in Arizona’s conference sub-division has vulnerabilities.

As bad as things felt at times a season ago, Arizona was a blown victory against rival Arizona State from finishing in second place in the South, outright. This year, the margin between a high conference finish and bowl eligibility is equally thin. However, success seems more doable after a solid performance against a quality opponent where Arizona’s previously suspect and, at times, non-existent defense made the usually efficient Red Raiders offense struggle.

Texas Tech did have some big plays and although Arizona’s defense was bending here and there, it never broke. The Red Raiders had pass completions of 66, 39 and 19 yards. They also had two rushes that went for 23 and 19 yards, respectively. Still, the Wildcats only allowed 415 total yards and a 7-for-17 effort on third down conversions. Arizona also did not benefit from fluky happenings inside the red zone like a bounty of botched field goal attempts. Instead, Arizona’s defense forced a turnover inside the Red Zone to keep the Red Raiders off the scoreboard once in three trips.

While things are far from perfect in the Old Pueblo, the 28-14 victory brought renewed optimism that perhaps the program is indeed beginning to trend in the right direction under second year Head Coach Kevin Sumlin and embattled Defensive Coordinator Marcel Yates.

Up next: 

• Bye Week (Sep. 21)
• UCLA (Sep. 28)
• @ Colorado (Oct. 5)
• #22 Washington (Oct. 12