June 24, 2013
The Pac-12 and Big Ten on Monday revealed two new bowl game
partnerships, and both could impact Arizona's schools over the next few
seasons.
While the Holiday Bowl remains the Pac-12's No. 3 bowl
behind the Rose Bowl/College Football Playoff and Alamo Bowl, the Kraft
Fight Hunger Bowl moves up to the No. 4 spot when the new deals begin in
2014.
ASU played in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl last season when it was the conference's No. 6 bowl game.
Should
ASU continue on an upward trajectory, it could find itself in the game
again but due to a better finish. The Holiday Bowl, where ASU played in
2007, could also be in play for the Sun Devils, though their aspirations
are certainly higher.
The same could be said of UA under Rich
Rodriguez. The Wildcats finished 8-5 last season and played in the New
Mexico Bowl. While many prognosticators believe the Wildcats could take a
step back next season due to the loss of quarterback Matt Scott, the
program is widely seen as one on the rise under Rodriguez's direction.
The
Big Ten tie-ins could mean some fresh matchups for both schools, both
of which have solid connections with the Big Ten over the past decade.
In
the past 10 seasons, the Sun Devils have played eight games with Big
Ten opponents, including Illinois (2011, 2012), Wisconsin (2010),
Northwestern (2004, 2005), Iowa (2003, 2004) and Purdue (2004 Sun Bowl).
ASU went 5-3 in those games and is set to play Wisconsin again this
season.
UA has gone 1-4 against Big Ten opponents in the same
span, including games against Wisconsin (2004), Purdue (2003, 2005) and
Iowa (2009, 2010). UA lost to Nebraska in the 2009 Holiday Bowl, but the
Cornhuskers were part of the Big 12 Conference at that time.
Of
the current Big Ten schools, Indiana is the only program ASU has never
played. The Sun Devils have not played Minnesota since 1969 and haven't
met Ohio State or Penn State since 1977.
UA has played every
team currently in the Big Ten but has not met Minnesota since 1939,
Michigan State since 1949 and Indiana since 1974.
The Big Ten is
also set to add Rutgers and Maryland in 2014. ASU has played Rutgers
twice (1978, 2005) but never played Maryland. Arizona has never played
either team.
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