Tucson and Tempe basically don't agree on anything. Seriously. Whether it’s the best spot for a Sonoran hot dog or which stretch of the I-10 is the most soul-crushing, the divide is real. But once a year, all that low-simmering resentment boils over into something much louder. We’re talking about Arizona vs ASU football, the annual "Duel in the Desert" that determines who gets to keep a quirky, 120-plus-year-old silver trophy called the Territorial Cup.
You’ve probably heard people call it the oldest rivalry trophy in college football. That’s not just hyperbole; the NCAA actually certified it. This thing dates back to 1899, which is nearly 13 years before Arizona even became a state. Think about that. People were losing their minds over this game before the land was even officially a part of the Union.
The night the Wildcats took it back
If you caught the most recent matchup on November 28, 2025, you saw exactly why this rivalry is so chaotic. Arizona came into Tempe as the No. 25 team in the country, facing a No. 20 ranked Sun Devils squad. On paper, it was supposed to be a toss-up. In reality? It was a defensive masterclass by the Wildcats.
Arizona walked away with a 23-7 victory, and honestly, the score doesn't even tell the whole story. They forced five turnovers. Five! Sun Devils quarterback Jeff Sims had a rough night, tossing three picks and losing two fumbles. Arizona's Noah Fifita, who ended up winning the Bob Moran MVP award, threw for 286 yards and just looked like the coolest guy in the stadium.
It was a complete reversal of the 2024 disaster where ASU absolutely dismantled Arizona 49-7. That’s the thing about this rivalry—the momentum swings are violent. You can be on top of the world one year and getting laughed out of your own stadium the next.
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Why this isn't just "another game"
Most college rivalries have a "feeling," but the Arizona vs ASU football vibe is uniquely bitter. A lot of it stems from the 1950s. Back then, Arizona State was just a "college," and they wanted to become a "university." The folks down in Tucson at the University of Arizona fought that name change tooth and nail. They didn't want the competition.
In 1958, the state put it to a vote with Proposition 200. Right before the big game, some UA fans actually snuck onto the field in Tempe and burned "No on 200" into the grass. Talk about petty. ASU responded by winning that game 47-0, and the proposition passed in a landslide.
Ever since then, it hasn’t been about "good sportsmanship." It’s about dominance.
- The 1946 Blowout: Arizona still holds the record for the biggest margin of victory, a 67-0 shellacking.
- The Kush Era: ASU's legendary coach Frank Kush once went on a run where they won 13 out of 15 games between 1965 and 1979.
- The Vacated Win: You might remember ASU winning in 2021, but the NCAA actually vacated that win in 2024 because of recruiting violations. Arizona fans will never let them forget it.
The Big 12 era changes everything
For decades, these schools were the "Pacific" outliers. Now, they're both in the Big 12, and the stakes have shifted. It’s not just about bragging rights in the desert anymore; it’s about survival in a conference that feels like a weekly meat grinder.
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Honestly, the move to the Big 12 has made the Arizona vs ASU football game even more important for recruiting. If you’re a high school star in Phoenix or Scottsdale, you’re watching this game to see which program is actually on the rise. Right now, Arizona holds the trophy, but Kenny Dillingham has been building something interesting up in Tempe.
What the stats tell us (and what they don't)
If you look at the all-time record, Arizona leads the series 52-45-1. It's close. Real close. But stats don't capture the noise in Mountain America Stadium or the heat radiating off the turf in Tucson.
The "home field advantage" is a weird thing in this series. Arizona has a 32-23 record at home, but they’ve actually been quite good on the road lately, winning the 2025 and 2023 games in Tempe. It’s like the road team feeds off the hostility of the crowd.
Making sense of the Territorial Cup
The actual trophy disappeared for decades. No joke. It was eventually found in the basement of the ASU Alumni Association in 1980. For years, the schools used different trophies like the "Saguaro Trophy" or the "Big Game Trophy," but nothing beats the original silver cup.
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Winning the cup means everything for the off-season. It’s the difference between a winter of "we'll get 'em next year" and a winter of "we own this state."
If you're planning on attending the 2026 game in Tucson, here is what you need to know:
- Check the standings early: In the Big 12, this game often has massive bowl game implications.
- Wear the right colors: If you're in the wrong section wearing maroon and gold in Tucson (or blue and red in Tempe), you're going to hear about it.
- Watch the turnovers: As we saw in 2025, the team that protects the ball almost always walks away with the cup.
Keep an eye on the transfer portal this spring. Both programs are aggressive in looking for talent, and a single quarterback transfer can flip the script for the next Territorial Cup. Arizona currently has the bragging rights, but in this rivalry, peace never lasts long.
Plan your travel for the 2026 showdown in Tucson at Casino Del Sol Stadium early, as hotels fill up months in advance for this specific weekend. Monitor the Big 12 conference schedule for the official kickoff time, which is usually finalized only 12 days before the game.