The 2000 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona as a member of the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 2000 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by Dick Tomey in his 14th and final season as head coach, the Wildcats compiled an overall record of 5–6 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for fifth in the Pac-10. The team played home games at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona.
After starting the season at 5–1, Arizona was in the running for a conference title and a berth in the Rose Bowl, but the Wildcats lost their final five games due to offensive mistakes and a poor defense, which prevented them from reaching a bowl game and leading to Tomey's resignation.
Schedule
Rankings
Before the season After Arizona ended the 1999 season with a 6–6 record and no bowl appearance, many fans believed that the Wildcats didn't live up to expectations after a 12-win 1998 season. The Wildcats had entered 1999 with Rose Bowl and national title aspirations before losing the opener to Penn State and the rest of the season went down with it.
The team had to rebuild by entering the 2000 season by replacing several talented players on offense, as running back Trung Canidate, wide receiver Dennis Northcutt, and quarterback Keith Smith all graduated and/or went to the NFL, though quarterback Ortege Jenkins and receiver Bobby Wade returned and hoped to turn the Wildcats back to their winning ways.
In the summer, Arizona upgraded its uniforms. Though the uniforms were the same, the only difference was that the players’ names and numbers changed into a futuristic font, as 2000 was a turn of new hope for the program.
By the preseason, Arizona went unranked in the polls and Tomey was put on the hot seat, as the Wildcats needed to win to save his job after underachieving in 1999. Tomey believed that the team would recover and contend for a bowl.
Game summaries at Utah
Statistics ARIZUTAH First downs 9 21 Total yards 146 370 Rushes–yards 39–135 39–60 Passing yards 11 310 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 3–15–0 21–51–2 Time of possession 25:23 34:37 Team Category Player Statistics Arizona Passing Ortege Jenkins3/15, 11 yards RushingLeo Mills Jr.16 carries, 74 yards Receiving Brandon Marshall1 reception, 14 yards Utah Passing T.D. Croshaw10/29, 159 yards Rushing D'Shaun Crockett 17 carries, 41 yards Receiving Cliff Russell 10 receptions, 141 yards
vs No. 18 Ohio State
Statistics OSUARIZ First downs 12 11 Total yards 341 194 Rushes–yards 40–101 39–57 Passing yards 240 137 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–20–1 11–23–0 Time of possession 27:13 32:47 Team Category Player Statistics Ohio State Passing Steve Bellisari12/20, 240 yards, 2 TD, INT RushingDerek Combs13 carries, 53 yards Receiving Chad Cacchio1 reception, 60 yards, TD Arizona Passing Ortege Jenkins11/23, 137 yards, TD Rushing Larry Croom 10 carries, 32 yards Receiving Bobby Wade 4 receptions, 93 yards, TD
After defeating Utah on the road to start the season, the Wildcats hosted Ohio State in the home opener. After outplaying the Buckeyes in the first half to lead 17–10 at halftime, Arizona would struggle as Ohio State took control and shut out the Wildcats in the second half and Arizona’s record evened at 1-1. To date, this is Ohio State’s first and only trip to Tucson and it remains the most recent meeting between the two teams.
vs San Diego State
Statistics SDSUARIZ First downs 14 19 Total yards 196 385 Rushes–yards 37–72 36–185 Passing yards 124 200 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–29–1 19–31–1 Time of possession 31:47 28:13 Team Category Player Statistics San Diego State Passing Lon Sheriff15/29, 124 yards, INT RushingLarry Ned29 carries, 85 yards Receiving J. R. Tolver5 receptions, 38 yards Arizona Passing Ortege Jenkins19/29, 200 yards, TD, INT Rushing Clarence Farmer 13 carries, 95 yards Receiving Andrae Thurman 6 receptions, 82 yards
at Stanford
Statistics ARIZSTAN First downs 17 13 Total yards 390 245 Rushes–yards 46–192 30–68 Passing yards 198 177 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–23–1 14–32–2 Time of possession 34:33 25:27 Team Category Player Statistics Arizona Passing Ortege Jenkins12/22, 198 yards, TD, INT RushingClarence Farmer18 carries, 116 yards, TD Receiving Bobby Wade5 receptions, 74 yards Stanford Passing Chris Lewis14/32, 177 yards, 2 INT Rushing Kerry Carter 9 carries, 37 yards Receiving DeRonnie Pitts 5 receptions, 52 yards
at No. 22 USC
Statistics ARIZUSC First downs 10 18 Total yards 253 331 Rushing yards 44–117 27–10 Passing yards 136 321 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 7–13–1 26–50–3 Time of possession 29:39 30:21 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Ortege Jenkins6/12, 110 yards, TD, INT Rushing Clarence Farmer 22 carries, 134 yards, TD Receiving Bobby Wade 4 receptions, 102 yards, TDUSC Passing Carson Palmer 26/50, 321 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Sultan McCullough 13 carries, 32 yards Receiving Keary Colbert6 receptions, 113 yards
Arizona visited the Coliseum to face 22nd-ranked USC. In the opening minute, the Wildcats struck first on a 75-yard pass from Jenkins to Wade. They would add another long score later in the quarter to break it open. Arizona’s defense would shut down the Trojans’ elite offense and blocked two extra points after USC scored its touchdowns, and earned a victory over USC for the second consecutive season.
vs Washington State
Statistics WSUARIZ First downs 19 22 Total yards 490 490 Rushes–yards 34–112 57–254 Passing yards 378 236 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–37–2 15–31–2 Time of possession 26:05 33:55 Team Category Player Statistics Washington State Passing Jason Gesser19/36, 348 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT RushingDave Minnich12 carries, 101 yards Receiving Nakoa McElrath5 receptions, 106 yards. 3 TD Arizona Passing Ortege Jenkins15/30, 236 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Leo Mills Jr. 19 carries, 129 yards, 2 TD Receiving Bobby Wade 6 receptions, 112 yards, TD
The Wildcats, now back in the rankings (22nd), hosted Washington State in their next game. They would battle the Cougars back and forth for most of the game as they would trade scores all night. With the game tied at 33 late in the fourth quarter, Arizona had a chance at the win, but would miss a field goal that hit the goal post and the game went to overtime.
After both teams traded touchdowns in the first two overtime periods, the Wildcats scored in the third frame to regain the lead. However, they would fail on a two-point try, leaving Washington State with a chance to win with a touchdown and the two-point conversion. On the Cougars’ first play, the Wildcats would intercept a pass to end the game and gave Arizona a wild victory. The win put the Wildcats in first place in the Pac-10 and moved them a step closer for a potential chance at the Rose Bowl.
at No. 7 Oregon
Statistics ARIZORE First downs 11 14 Total yards 217 260 Rushes–yards 32–17 45–137 Passing yards 200 123 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–32–1 9–22–1 Time of possession 27:27 32:33 Team Category Player Statistics Arizona Passing Ortege Jenkins15/31, 200 yards, TD, INT RushingClarence Farmer9 carries, 20 yards Receiving Brad Brennan6 receptions, 90 yards Oregon Passing Joey Harrington9/22, 123 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Maurice Morris 34 carries, 114 yards Receiving Marshaun Tucker 3 receptions, 59 yards, 2 TD
After their wild win over Washington State, the Wildcats traveled to Oregon to take on the seventh-ranked Ducks in a place where Arizona had not won since 1986, and became a difficult test for them in the quest for their goal. Oregon seemed to have the upper hand early, leading 14-0 before halftime. The Wildcats got back in it in the second half with ten unanswered points and had a chance to take the lead and possibly win it late for the upset, but would come up short as the Ducks held on for the win.
vs UCLA
Statistics UCLAARIZ First downs 17 15 Total yards 284 316 Rushes–yards 39–54 45–211 Passing yards 230 105 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–35–2 7–18–4 Time of possession 31:52 28:08 Team Category Player Statistics UCLA Passing Cory Paus19/35, 230 yards, TD, 2 INT RushingDeShaun Foster29 carries, 78 yards, TD Receiving Freddie Mitchell7 receptions, 94 yards Arizona Passing Ortege Jenkins7/18, 105 yards, 4 INT Rushing Clarence Farmer 33 carries, 107 yards. 2 TD Receiving Brad Brennan 1 reception, 41 yards
Arizona returned home to host UCLA. In the Bruins’ previous visit to Tucson (1998), they took down the Wildcats that kept Arizona out of the Rose Bowl/national title picture. Arizona would play tough and led late in the fourth quarter before UCLA drove down the field and scored with less than a minute remaining to grab the victory. The Wildcats were also hurt by turnovers, as Jenkins would throw four interceptions that led to the loss.
at No. 8 Washington
Statistics ARIZWASH First downs 26 18 Total yards 471 407 Rushes–yards 34–263 34–211 Passing yards 208 196 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–34–0 17–34–1 Time of possession 35:17 24:43 Team Category Player Statistics Arizona Passing Ortege Jenkins13/33, 208 yards RushingLeo Mills Jr.29 carries, 185 yards, 2 TD Receiving Bobby Wade7 receptions, 76 yards Washington Passing Marques Tuiasosopo17/34, 196 yards, INT Rushing Willie Hurst 8 carries, 116 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jerramy Stevens 8 receptions, 93 yards
Looking to get back to the win column, the Wildcats traveled to Seattle to play Washington in another tough road test, as the Huskies were ranked eighth and in the hunt for the conference title. Arizona would outplay Washington in the early part of the game, and led 22–10 in the third quarter on Wade’s punt return for a touchdown and an upset was within the Wildcats’ reach. However, the Huskies showed why they were contending for the Rose Bowl, as they would storm back by the fourth quarter with a 22–7 run and took the lead with a touchdown with over a minute to play. Arizona had a final chance to possibly tie it, but Washington would block a field goal attempt as time expired to give the Wildcats yet another devastating defeat and ended their Rose Bowl hopes for good. The Huskies’ win turned out to be revenge for their loss to Jenkins and the Wildcats in the teams’ previous game in Seattle in 1998 when Arizona won on Jenkins’ wild touchdown despite Washington winning in Tucson in 1999.
vs No. 10 Oregon State
Statistics OSUARIZ First downs 22 9 Total yards 304 158 Rushes–yards 41–73 31–69 Passing yards 231 89 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–31–1 9–22–1 Time of possession 32:38 27:22 Team Category Player Statistics Oregon State Passing Jonathan Smith17/31, 231 yards, TD, INT RushingKen Simonton19 carries, 73 yards, TD Receiving Chad Johnson7 receptions, 109 yards, TD Arizona Passing Ortege Jenkins6/17, 66 yards, INT Rushing Clarence Farmer 9 carries, 61 yards Receiving Bobby Wade 3 receptions, 38 yards
For homecoming weekend, as well as Veteran’s Day (November 11), the Wildcats hosted tenth-ranked Oregon State while continuing to look for a win after three consecutive heartbreaking losses. However, in another difficult test, Arizona would be no match for the Beavers, and only scored on three field goals for the whole game. Fans, angered by yet another loss, chanted for Tomey to be fired as the final minutes ran down. The defeat put the Wildcats in danger of missing a bowl game with a 5–5 record, and needed a win against their rivals in the finale to extend the season.
vs Arizona State
Statistics ASUARIZ First downs 15 21 Total yards 264 371 Rushes–yards 31–75 50–195 Passing yards 189 176 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–35–0 16–31–1 Time of possession 27:46 32:14 Team Category Player Statistics Arizona State Passing Jeff Krohn15/35, 189 yards RushingTom Pace16 carries, 31 yards, TD Receiving Richard Williams4 receptions, 61 yards Arizona Passing Ortege Jenkins16/31, 176 yards, TD, INT Rushing Clarence Farmer 11 carries, 82 yards Receiving Brad Brennan 4 receptions, 72 yards