1985 Arizona Wildcats football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1985 Arizona Wildcats football Pacific-10 Conference Pac-10 8–3–1 5–2 Larry Smith 6th Moe Ankney 6th Arizona Stadium Sun Bowl T Tied 13–13 vs. Georgia The 1985 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their sixth season under head coach Larry Smith, the Wildcats compiled an 8–3–1 record (5–2 against Pac-10 opponents), finished in a tie for second place in the Pac-10, tied with Georgia in the 1985 Sun Bowl, and outscored their opponents, 252 to 146. The defense gave up an average of 12.2 points per game, the sixth best average in Division I-A.1985 Arizona Wildcats Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football September 3, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/arizona/1985-schedule.htmlArizona Football 2016 Media Guide University of Arizona September 3, 2016 108 2016 http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/arizona.sidearmsports.com/documents/2016/8/24/2016_Arizona_FB_Media_Guide.pdf September 21, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160921192006/http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/arizona.sidearmsports.com/documents/2016/8/24/2016_Arizona_FB_Media_Guide.pdf dead The team played its home games in Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. Arizona was eligible for a bowl game this season, as their postseason ban was lifted following NCAA sanctions that were received in 1983 as a result of recruiting violations. However, they were still on probation and were barred from having games aired live on television.Wildcats' live TV ban still in effect Arizona Daily Star June 5, 1985 Major highlights of the season included an upset victory over SMU, who was ranked third at the time, and a road win at rival Arizona State. The Wildcats ultimately appeared in a bowl game, tying Georgia in the Sun Bowl. The team's statistical leaders included Alfred Jenkins with 1,767 passing yards, David Adams with 511 rushing yards, and Jon Horton with 685 receiving yards.1985 Arizona Wildcats Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football September 3, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/arizona/1985.html Linebacker Byron Evans led the team with 196 total tackles.2016 Media Guide, p. 86. Before the season The Wildcats concluded the 1984 season with a 7–4 record (5–2 in Pac-10). Due to NCAA violations, the team was ineligible for a bowl game (as was in 1983) and got banned from both playing on live television and being in the rankings. The bowl ban was lifted prior to the 1985 season, though the TV ban continued as well as the ban from the rankings, regardless of how many games Arizona would win during the year. The Wildcats entered the season with hope that they would finish with a winning record.Smith believes Wildcats will win more games in '85 Arizona Daily Wildcat April 10, 1985 Schedule 1985 AP September 7 7:00 p.m. w y Toledo Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 23–10 44,691 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-ua-rushes-by-toledo/170553862/ The Arizona Republic UA rushes by Toledo September 8, 1985 April 17, 2025 Newspapers.com September 14 7:00 p.m. w Washington State Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 12–7 46,437 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tri-city-herald-arizona-edges-wsu/170553963/ Tri-City Herald Arizona edges WSU September 15, 1985 April 17, 2025 Newspapers.com September 21 1:00 p.m. w y California California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA 23–17 39,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-maria-times-all-is-not-golden-for/170554105/ Santa Maria Times All is not golden for Cal Bears; lose to Arizona, 23–17 September 22, 1985 April 17, 2025 Newspapers.com September 28 7:00 p.m. l y Colorado Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 13–14 45,503 https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-buffaloes-rush-past-w/170554265/ The Arizona Daily Star Buffaloes rush past Wildcats, 14–13 September 29, 1985 April 17, 2025 Newspapers.com October 5 7:00 p.m. w y SMU 3 Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 28–6 52,114 https://www.newspapers.com/article/waco-tribune-herald-arizona-stuns-no-3/170266233/ Waco Tribune-Herald Arizona stuns No. 3-ranked SMU, 28–6 October 6, 1985 April 17, 2025 Newspapers.com October 19 7:00 p.m. w y San Jose State Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 41–0 45,361 https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-wildcats-romp-past-sa/170323645/ The Arizona Daily Star Wildcats romp past San Jose State, 41–0 October 20, 1985 April 17, 2025 Newspapers.com October 26 7:30 p.m. l y Stanford Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA 17–28 40,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-stanford-shoc/170554421/ The San Francisco Examiner Stanford shocks Arizona October 27, 1985 April 17, 2025 Newspapers.com November 2 1:30 p.m. w y Oregon State Parker Stadium Corvallis, OR 27–6 21,384 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bulletin-arizonas-defense-rips-oreg/170554614/ The Bulletin Arizona's defense rips Oregon State November 3, 1985 April 17, 2025 Newspapers.com November 9 6:00 p.m. l y UCLA 14 Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 19–24 57,779 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-ucla-escapes-tucso/170552998/ The Los Angeles Times UCLA escapes Tucson with 24–19 victory November 10, 1985 April 17, 2025 Newspapers.com November 16 4:00 p.m. w Oregon Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 20–8 35,292 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian-cats-top-ducks-nurse-bow/170554769/ The Columbian 'Cats top Ducks, nurse bowl hopes November 17, 1985 April 17, 2025 Newspapers.com November 23 7:30 p.m. w y Arizona State Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ rivalry 16–13 66,849 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-arizona-still/170554964/ The San Francisco Examiner Arizona still ASU nemesis November 24, 1985 April 17, 2025 Newspapers.com December 28 12:00 p.m. t y y Georgia Sun Bowl El Paso, TX Sun Bowl CBS 13–13 52,203 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-10-point-fourth-quarte/134629875/ The Roanoke Times 10-point fourth quarter enables 'Dogs to tie Arizona in Sun Bowl December 29, 1985 November 4, 2023 Newspapers.com Game summaries Toledo In their home opener against Toledo, Arizona started where they left from the previous season by winning in front of their home crowd.Wildcats take care of business against Toledo in opener Tucson Citizen September 9, 1985 It was the first-ever meeting between the Wildcats and Rockets. SMU 1985 SMU Mustangs football team At home against third-ranked SMU, the Wildcats dominated the Mustangs in an upset that shocked the college football world in front of a packed Arizona Stadium crowd.UA 'flawless' in upset victory over Mustangs Arizona Daily Star October 6, 1985 Two years later, SMU would be punished with death penalty in the wake of a massive slush fund scandal that would damage their program.UA football reacts to SMU death penalty announcement Arizona Daily Star February 26, 1987 It was the first time since 1938 that Arizona and SMU met on the field (the Mustangs won the 1938 meeting). UCLA On homecoming weekend, the Wildcats hosted UCLA. The Bruins started hot early and led most of the game until Arizona rallied back to get within a score. The Wildcats threatened to take the lead in the final minute. However, the Bruins forced a turnover on downs to seal the win.UCLA survives rally to defeat UA, 24-19 Arizona Daily Star November 10, 1985Wildcats' late rally falls short against Bruins Tucson Citizen November 11, 1985 Arizona State Arizona-Arizona State football rivalry The Wildcats went on the road to face Arizona State in the annual rivalry game.Wildcats seek fourth straight win over ASU Arizona Daily Wildcat November 20, 1985 Arizona seemed to run out of luck when the Sun Devils led 13–3 at one point before the Wildcats stormed back. ASU fumbled during a punt return that Arizona recovered for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Max Zendejas kicked a school-record tying 57-yard field goal with 5:29 left to tie the game and then kicked a 32-yard field goal with 1:43 left to give Arizona the lead. ASU had a final chance, but the Wildcats forced an interception and Arizona escaped with the win and their fourth consecutive over the Devils.UA wins to send ASU on Holiday Arizona Daily Star November 24, 1985Cats stomp on Devils' roses: Zendejas' 3 FGs keys UA victory The Arizona Republic November 24, 1985Mad Max Beyond Devil-dome: Late kicks lift 'Cats over ASU for fourth straight year Tucson Citizen November 25, 1985The Kick III: Zendejas' late FG, defense lead Wildcats to fourth consecutive win over ASU Arizona Daily Wildcat November 25, 1985 This was the second time in four seasons that the Wildcats denied Arizona State a shot at the Rose Bowl, with the first occurring in 1982 (ASU had to defeat or tie Arizona to clinch a spot in the bowl). Georgia (Sun Bowl) 1985 Sun Bowl 1985 Georgia Bulldogs football team Arizona, now bowl-eligible, played in the Sun Bowl, and faced Georgia in the teams’ first meeting against each other. Both the Wildcats and Bulldogs were tied 13–13 when both teams missed field goals in the fourth quarter, with Zendejas’ potential winning kick sailing wide in the final seconds, which led to the game ending in a tie.Missed kick seals Sun Bowl tie: Zendejas muffs bid to give U of A victory The Arizona Republic December 29, 1985 This was the Wildcats first and only tie in their bowl game history, as none of their future bowl games played between 1986 and 1994 ended in ties (the NCAA eliminated ties for overtime periods that began with the 1995 bowl season). Season notes Arizona's win total increased yet again under Smith, with eight victories. This was the first known season in which a midfield logo was used on the Arizona Stadium field. The logo featured a red and blue swirl and referenced the university's centennial anniversary (Arizona was founded in 1885).Arizona Stadium to add midfield logo for UA's 100th anniversary Arizona Daily Star August 30, 1985 The Wildcats played Toledo for the first time. They would play them again the future (2008, 2010, and 2012, with the latter two being season openers). The win over SMU was their first win over them and the last matchup to date, with the SMU scandal likely prevented any future meetings. Arizona's loss to UCLA may have cost the Wildcats a potential shot at the Rose Bowl. The Bruins went on to finish first in the Pac-10 and punched their ticket to the bowl game. The win over Arizona State was the Wildcats’ fourth straight over them, which was the longest winning streak for Arizona over ASU since they won eleven in a row from 1932 to 1948. Also, Smith referred to the victory as one of the biggest as Arizona coach.Smith calls fourth win in row over ASU 'greatest victory' The Arizona Republic November 24, 1985 The Sun Bowl was the only Arizona game of the season that was broadcast live on television, as the TV ban was limited to the regular season. Arizona had its home games (and the road game against ASU) aired on a tape delay during the season as a result of the ban.Wildcats' Sun Bowl matchup with Georgia will be broadcast live as TV ban expires Tucson Citizen December 17, 1985 In addition, the Sun Bowl was the first Arizona game that broadcast live for the first time since 1983. The tie against Georgia in the Sun Bowl was Arizona's first tie in a bowl game in school history, and will forever be the only one as ties were outlawed after the 1995 regular season (see above). Despite missing the potential winning field goal that led the Sun Bowl to end in a tie, Zendenjas ended a remarkable college career, as he made memorable field goals that won games, including those against Notre Dame in 1982 and ASU in 1983 and this season. Many ASU fans referred to him as “ASU’s top villain” and the “most hated man in Tempe” after his winning kicks led to heartbreaking losses for the Sun Devils, and Zendejas was known to Wildcat fans as “Mad Max” and the “Sun Devil killer” and the best kicker in team history.Zendejas: Hero in Tucson, villain in Tempe Tucson Citizen November 26, 1985 Also, he was the first known Arizona kicker in the modern era to finish a perfect 4–0 against Arizona State.Mad Max leaves Tucson: Wildcat kicker was the best Arizona Daily Star December 31, 1985 After the season Arizona’s finish to the 1985 season would continue to lead to an improvement for the Wildcats and set the stage for a remarkable 1986 season which would see Arizona in contention for the Pac-10 title.Back to the Cats' future: '86 will be a bright one Arizona Daily Star December 30, 1985 The team would ultimately finish with yet another winning record and a victory in the postseason for the first time in school history.'86 season a successful one for UA football Arizona Daily Star December 31, 1986 Smith would depart as the Wildcats’ coach after the season. Personnel 1985 Arizona Wildcats y 1 Jr Alfred Jenkins QB y Alfred Jenkins (quarterback) 2 Jr David Adams RB y David Adams (gridiron football) 20 Jr Chris McLemore RB y 82 Fr Derek Hill WR y Derek Hill (gridiron football) 6 So Chuck Cecil S y 27 Jr Martin Rudolph CB 37 Fr Dana Wells DL y 48 Jr Byron Evans LB y 97 So George Hinkle DT y 8 Jr Ruben Rodriguez Ruben Rodriguez (American football) P y 13 Sr Max Zendejas K y Larry Smith Tom Roggeman References Arizona Category:Arizona Wildcats football seasons Arizona Wildcats football