Predicting Arizona's Bowl Game Placement Following Win Over Baylor

Saturday was a cold, cloudy day in Tucson with a game between two great offensive units in Arizona (8-3, 5-3 Big 12) and Baylor that are averaging over 30-plus points per game this season.

Despite the two blazing offensive units, the weather set the tone with both defenses playing solid ball and Arizona’s making the plays when the team needed it the most.

Cornerback Treydan Stukes came up with an interception in the red zone with the Wildcats leading 21-17 at the start of the fourth quarter to help the Bears stay out of the end zone.

Nov 22, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita (1) celebrates a touchdown against the Baylor Bears in the second half at Casino Del Sol Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Arizona went on to score on the falling drive that led to a 41-17 victory over Baylor (5-6, 3-5) to capture the eighth win of the season.

Arizona now sits at 8-3 after going 4-8 a season ago and will head up to Tempe to take on in-state rival Arizona State in the Territorial Cup.

After going 4-3 through the first seven games, the Wildcats have won four-straight games, shocking the fan base, media and the nation.

With the game in the books, we at Arizona Wildcats On SI took a look at the national landscape of bowl projections and where the Wildcats stack up against the rest of the country.

National Bowl Projections

CBS Sports: LA Bowl | Arizona vs. San Diego State (Dec. 13)

College Football News: LA Bowl | Arizona vs. San Diego State (Dec. 13)

ESPN No. 1: Sun Bowl | Arizona vs. Wake Forest (Dec. 31)

ESPN No. 2: Sun Bowl | Arizona vs. Clemson (Dec. 31)

Sports Illustrated: Sun Bowl | Arizona vs. Clemson (Dec. 31)

USA Today: LA Bowl | Arizona vs. San Diego State (Dec. 13)

The win over Baylor and ASU beating Colorado sets up a battle of two 8-3 teams in the Territorial Cup with both teams potentially being in the latest College Football Playoffs rankings.

It would be the first time since the 2014 season that Arizona and Arizona State faced off ranked in the CFP when then-No. 11 UA beat then-No. 13 ASU 42-35 to clinch a Pac-12 South Title.

Nov 28, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Mike Bercovici (2) is tackled by Arizona Wildcats linebacker Scooby Wright III (33) in the fourth quarter during the 88th annual territorial cup at Arizona Stadium. The Wildcats defeated the Sun Devils 42-35 to win the Pac-12 south title. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

There will be conference title, or division title on the line this time in the Duel in the Desert but the magnitude of both programs moving in the right direction and the impact it has on the rivalry game can not be understated.

Ahead of the game, we at Arizona Wildcats On SI have put together our bowl prediction for Arizona with just one game remaining.

Bowl Prediction

Arizona Wildcats On SI: Sun Bowl | Arizona vs. Miami (Dec. 31)

Reason

Nov 22, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats running back Kedrick Reescano (3) scores a touchdown against the Baylor Bears in the second half at Casino Del Sol Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

When you look at the Wildcats as a whole, Arizona has improved drastically from the first year under Brennan but still has room to grow on both sides of the ball. Now, getting out to the fast 3-0 start, which went a long way to help the Wildcats clinch a bowl berth against the Jayhawks a few weeks back.

At the beginning of the season, we predicted Arizona winning seven games going 7-5 during the regular season. Now, Arizona is sitting at 8-3 and has a realistic shot at winning nine games this season and exceeding our expectations.

Please be sure to share your thoughts with us on our bowl prediction and where we have the Wildcats going. To do so, follow us on our X account by clicking on the link.