Top five teams UCLA Football fans will miss playing
By Ryan Kay
No. 3: Arizona
In football, not basketball, UCLA and Arizona have a lengthy history together, dating back to their first meeting in 1927. There have been 47 meetings between the two teams overall, with UCLA holding a 27-19-2 record overall.
At the beginning of the series between these two former Pac-12 schools, the Bruins would go on to dominate Arizona, winning nine of the next 11 meetings between the two universities after Arizona's victory over UCLA in their first meeting. Arizona has, nevertheless, experienced winning streaks against UCLA, notably a run of five straight victories against the Bruins from 2007 to 2011.
One of the most memorable recent games between the two universities occurred in 2019 when UCLA lost to Arizona on the road after missing a 39-yard field goal that would have tied the game. The Wildcats won 20–17 in the end.
UCLA has won eight of the last 11 meetings between the two universities to reassert its dominance in the series. But Arizona has recently defeated UCLA in some noteworthy games, such as a 34-28 triumph in 2022 an unexpected 20-17 victory in 2019, and most recently a convincing 27-10 win for the Wildcats last season.
In Summary
In the last ten meetings, UCLA has prevailed six times over Arizona in that span of time.
Arizona has defeated UCLA in three of the previous five meetings in this rivalry.
Arguably the most memorable recent meeting between these two universities was in 2022, when, with just over a minute remaining, Arizona kicker Lucas Havrisik connected on a 34-yard field goal to give the Wildcats the lead and a 34-28 victory.
One year longer than Arizona State, they have played one another each season for the past 22 years. The last time they didn't play one another in a season was back in 2001. They also played each other every year from 2000 to 1985.
Also because of the basketball rivalry between these two schools, this football rivalry will be missed, and whether UCLA football fans want to admit it or not, the Bruins not playing the Wildcats this upcoming season will be another reason why conference realignment is not always good in terms of keeping rivalries in tack.