Led by head coach Dick Tomey in his thirteenth season, the Wildcats finished with a 6–6 record (3–5 against Pac-10 opponents) and missed out on a bowl game.

[1] After entering the year with high expectations after a dominant 1998 season, the Wildcats were outplayed and blown out by Penn State in the opener and never fully recovered.

They were 5–2 and 6–3 at different points during the year, but would lose out, including a rivalry loss to Arizona State to end the season, which knocked them out of the postseason picture.

[11] at Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TX After being destroyed at Penn State, the Wildcats stayed on the road for their next game at TCU in another first-meeting matchup.

However, in the fourth quarter, the Cardinal broke the game open to give the Wildcats their second loss of the season and jeopardizing their Rose Bowl hopes.

Quarterback Keith Smith threw a Hail Mary pass that was caught in the end zone by receiver Bobby Wade as time expired to give Arizona the wild victory.

However, the Trojans scored in the final minute to cut Arizona's lead to seven, but an onside kick attempt would go out of bounds, and the Wildcats held on for the win.

Arizona would compete with the Ducks all game long, with both teams trading scores, with Northcutt keeping the Wildcats in it with a pair of touchdowns.

[16] The Wildcats' kicker, Mark McDonald, who missed the field goal, received insults and death threats by fans, and would ultimately leave the team.

Keel became the full-time kicker after McDonald decided to leave the program after missing a late game-tying field goal in the loss to Oregon and being threatened by fans.

Northcutt led the receiving corps and Arizona avenged their loss to the Bruins from the 1997-98 seasons and gave them their sixth win of the year.

at Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZ On homecoming day (and the home finale), the Wildcats hosted Washington, looking for a chance to clinch a bowl berth with a seventh victory.