Before we get started here you might be surprised to find out that getting rid of a losing coach in college football can be very profitable, for the coach that is. Take Kevin Sumlin for example, former head coach of Arizona who before that was former head coach of Texas A&M. When the Aggies fired Sumlin in late 2017 they owed him a $10.4 million buyout under the terms of his contract which had to be paid within 60 days and could not be reduced if he took another coaching job. He did take another coaching job, with Arizona, and if you are in doubt as to whether this rivalry game between the Sun Devils and the Wildcats is important, Sumlin got fired a day after losing the December 2020 Duel in the Desert 70-7. The 70 points they allowed marked the most ever surrendered in Territorial Cup series history, dating all the way back to 1899. Just as a side note Arizona athletic director Dave Heeke said the school would honor the terms of Sumlin’s existing deal, including a $7.5 million buyout. More on this stuff later but this is one of those rivalry games that winning or losing it can have a direct impact on whether you get to keep your job, even in a losing season. Although money-wise what’s the incentive?
With two interceptions and three lost fumbles I don’t think the Sun Devils could have possibly helped the Wildcats anymore than they did on Friday, a 38-35 loss in a game they could have won. Beween giving up 21 points in the 3rd Qtr or by trailing by just three points with over half of the last quarter remaining and then fumbling away their first opportunity and then throwing an interception at mid-field on the second with 1:16 left. For Arizona, it was their blistering ground game that won the day led by Michael Wiley who rushed just 12 times for an amazing 214 yards and 3 TD’s which was the second most rushing yards since the rivalry started in 1899. Freshman RB Jonah Coleman and Senior DJ Williams kicked in another 65 yards on 10 attempts as well as a score each to give the Wildcats 5 rushing TD’s on the day. Those plus a perfect outing from Place Kicker Tyer Loop with five exra points and a 29 yard field goal were all the points the Wildcats needed.
For Arizona State, Junior QB Trenton Bourguet–minus two interceptions–was on fire connecting on 75% of his passes for 376 yards and 3 TD’s. Add to that another great day by Senior RB Xazavian Valladay, who rushed 24 times for 97 of the Sun Devil’s 161 yards and 2 TD’s. Arizona State had 21 more 1st Downs, 39-18, led in Total Yards, Passing Yards, were more efficient on third downs, were perfect on 4th downs, and had he ball 15 more minutes. How the hell could they have lost this game—fumbles and interceptions. That said, big props to the Wildcat defense who was very aggressive and disruptive all game long recording 59 more tackles than their opponent, twice as many sacks, and four times as many tackles for loss which had to play a role in all those mistakes.
Both teams are done for the year. After a 1-11 season in 2021 and a loss to the Sun Devils last year, Jedd Fisch–with a record of 5-7 and this ever so important to Arizonians win against Arizona State along with the PAC-12’s top recruiting class this year—has his team on the rise. With key components like QB Jayden de-Laura, RB Michael Wiley and WR’s Cowing and McMillan coming back and continued great recruiting Fisch looks likely to pull off an Oregon State like rebuild. For Arizona State, after the firing of Herm Edwards earlier in the year they’ll be looking for a new head coach and it won’t be Shaun Aguano, the running backs coach who took over as Interim