Arizona has an extra week to prepare for in-state rival Arizona State. That extra week might allow the Wildcats to build up more animosity for the Sun Devils.
Immediately following last weekend's loss to No. 2 USC, the talk in the locker room moved from the team's performance against the Trojans to the season finale with Arizona State.
"We still have one big game to play," interim head coach Mike Hankwitz said. "If we can win that game, it will be a tremendous finish because of the significance of the game, and it's a great rivalry."
The Wildcats travel to Tempe to play ASU on Friday, Nov. 28.
Both teams lie at the bottom of the Pacific 10 Conference standings, meaning the loser of next week's game will finish last.
"It's going to be good. It's an in-state rivalry and we always want to finish on top of them," sophomore running back Mike Bell said.
At the beginning of the season, the Wildcats were picked by both the coaches and media to finish last in the Pac-10, but the Sun Devils had much higher expectations.
Many people believed ASU would contend with USC for the Pac-10 title, but the Sun Devils have fallen on tough times, losing six of their last seven conference games and falling to ninth in the Pac-10 standings.
"It really doesn't matter what your record is in this game because it is unpredictable," sophomore safety Darrell Brooks said. "The rivalry is so deep in passion that there is no telling what is going to happen."
Bell's hot streak ended by USC's stingy "Wild Bunch II"
After running for 604 yards in his last four games, Bell was held to 14 yards on 14 carries against the Pac-10's No. 1 defense.
The USC defense lived up to expectations, holding the Wildcats to under 200 yards of total offense, recording one sack, causing three fumbles and intercepting three passes.
The Trojan defensive line, which has been tabbed the "Wild Bunch II," kept pressure on the UA quarterbacks all game.
USC recorded its second shutout of the season, while the Wildcats were shut out for the first time since losing to Washington in 1991.
Trojans win game but fall in BCS rankings
Despite Saturday's rout, Ohio State jumped past USC in the Bowl Championship Series and USC now sits at No. 3 and on the outside looking in at a possible national championship matchup in the Sugar Bowl.
Although the Trojans beat Arizona, 45-0, Ohio State beat a much tougher opponent in then-No. 11 Purdue, moving .19 points ahead of USC in the BCS poll.
Hankwitz gives players time to rest during bye week
Arizona gets a little extra time off this week due to its bye week before the ASU game.
The Wildcats have had Sunday and yesterday off this week, and Hankwitz said the team would probably go light in practice today, if there is a practice at all.