[4] Although despite having an average record, Arizona’s season featured a major upset win over top-ranked Washington in early November with a dominant defense, and was known as the program’s biggest victory and the defense’s performance began an era known to fans as the “Desert Swarm”.

The Wildcats would show the Aggies why their defense was one of the best in the nation by holding them scoreless in a shutout victory.

Arizona counted on their dominant defense and slowed down the Huskies’ high-powered offense all game long.

Late in the fourth quarter, Arizona scored the game’s only touchdown to break it open and pulled off the huge upset which stunned the college football world.

[13][14] Wildcat fans rushed the field as time expired and tore down the goal posts and set off wild celebrations across Tucson that lasted into the evening.

Washington, however, went on to share the Pac-10 title with Stanford and went to the Rose Bowl due to their head-to-head win over the Cardinal.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Trojans drove into Arizona territory and scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion to take a 14–7 lead.

The Wildcats tried to respond, but came up empty and USC held on for the victory and snapped Arizona’s winning streak at five.

Arizona was invited to play in the John Hancock Bowl against Baylor in El Paso.

Baylor would stop Arizona on their final drive to win it and the Wildcats ended the season with three straight losses.