No. 23 Arizona is taking huge strides in its third season under Jedd Fisch
Arizona coach Jedd Fisch stands on the sideline during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Washington State, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Pullman, Wash.
UCLA defensive lineman Gabriel Murphy (11) pressures Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) catches a touchdown pass in front of UCLA defensive back John Humphrey during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Tucson, Ariz.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) â Jedd Fisch had the toughest sales job in college football, trying to convince recruits and assistant coaches to join what was at the time one of the nationâs worst programs.
Amid what would become the longest losing streak in Arizona history, Fisch had to paint a picture of promise and lay out a plan for a better future.
The former NFL coach sealed the deal more often than not, setting the foundation for a massive turnaround in a short timeframe.
âItâs been a crazy process of knowing that it was going be long and hard, and really proud that our guys are where they are right now,â Fisch said.
Arizona went from a one-win first season under Fisch to five last year. The upward trend has continued this year.
The Wildcats (6-3, 4-2 Pac-12) had one of the most difficult stretches in college football this season, playing five straight AP Top 25 teams â and handled it well.
With Saturdayâs 27-10 win over then-No. 20 UCLA, Arizona has beaten ranked opponents in three consecutive games for the first time in the history of a program that started in 1899.
The Wildcats are already bowl eligible for the first time in six years and were No. 23 in this weekâs AP Top 25, their first ranking since hitting No. 23 in 2017.
Arizonaâs offense has continued to flourish despite injuries to starting quarterback Jayden de Laura and Michael Wiley, racking up 429 yards against UCLA, one of the nationâs best defensive teams.
The defense, among the FBSâs worst in recent years, has taken huge strides this season.
Arizona is 16th nationally in rush defense after ranking 124th last season and is 36th in total defense after finishing 126th a year ago.
âWe know that we can do it,â running back Jonah Coleman said. âThe mindset is every time we step on the field we expect to win. Itâs not âoh I hope.â Nah, we expect to win. We know weâre the better team. Physically, mentally, anything.â
Fischâs hiring in 2020 raised a few eyebrows, even in Tucson. A longtime assistant coach, his only head coaching experience was a two-game stint as UCLAâs interim coach after Jim Mora Jr. was fired in 2017.
Fisch quickly made believers of the naysayers, first with his enthusiasm, then recruiting, then results.
Arizona extended its losing to a record 20 games in his first season and finished 1-11, yet Fisch pulled in the nationâs No. 22 recruiting class, according to the 247 Ăć±±œû”Ű composite.
That first recruiting class became the foundation for the Wildcatsâ rebuild, providing talent and depth that had been missing the previous few seasons.
Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, the programâs highest-rated recruit at No. 37 nationally, has developed into one of the nationâs toughest covers. He leads Arizona with 52 catches for 752 yards and seven touchdowns this season after catching 39 passes for 702 yards and eight scores a year ago.
Quarterback Noah Fifita played so well when de Laura got hurt in late September, he kept the job when both were healthy. Fifita tied the Pac-12 record by being named the conferenceâs freshman of the week a fourth time this week, and has thrown for 1,521 yards and 14 touchdowns while completing 76% of his passes.
Jacob Cowing has become one of the Pac-12âs best receivers after transferring from UTEP. Coleman has been Arizonaâs go-to running back as Wiley has struggled with an ankle injury.
Linebacker Jacob Manu is Arizonaâs leading tackler, Ephesians Prysock and Tacario Davis have anchored the secondary, and Taâitaâi Uiagalelei has been a key to the Wildcatsâ much-improved pass rush.
âTo get that class of â22 to come here â and Iâll continue to brag on that class forever â when you see all those guys,â Fisch said. âI mean, I think 15 of them are starting right now or 14 of them from that recruiting class alone and theyâre only redshirt freshmen or sophomores.â
The Wildcats have made a quick ascension back to respectability. They have the pieces in place to keep it moving upward.
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football