Well, so much for that.
Sunday night, Arizona head coach Kevin Sumlin fired defensive coordinator Marcel Yates and linebackers coach John Rushing. Six days later, in its first game since the twin axings, Arizona gave up a season-high 56 points in an 18-point loss to Oregon State.
The Wildcats (4-5 overall, 2-4 in the Pac-12) actually trailed just 7-6 at the end of the first quarter before a 28-point second quarter staked the Wildcats to a 35-19 halftime lead and, ultimately, a 56-38 win.
Arizona came into the game giving up an average of 35 points per game, 118th in the country and dead-last in the Pac-12. They have now allowed 41 or more points in four straight games and six times in nine outings overall this season.
Arguably the biggest storyline coming out of the game, though, is OSU’s Pac-12 mini-rise in its second season under Jonathan Smith.
The previous three seasons, the Beavers won a combined four games in conference play, including one the past two years. This season, OSU (4-4 overall) sits at 3-2 in the league and all alone in second place in the North Division, with only in-state rival Oregon (5-0) ahead of them.
Greatly aiding the Beavers cause once again was quarterback Jake Luton, who passed for 328 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-26 passing (221 passer rating). This was Luton’s fifth career 30--yard game and second this season.