TUCSON, Ariz. -- Following two straight weeks on the road at Utah and UCLA, the Arizona Wildcats are set to return home this weekend to host No. 19 Oregon for Homecoming. 

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., on ESPN. 

Below is a full preview: 
Some Game Themes: The Wildcats are back in town in fitting fashion as its Homecoming week on the campus of the University of Arizona … A pair of road losses has left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Wildcats, who welcome the Ducks to Tucson for the first time since a stunning upset on a soggy November day in 2013 … Oregon is also smarting from a road setback of its own where it saw a second-half rally come up short against surging Washington State … The loss sets the Ducks back one game from what is otherwise a three-way tie for first place in the Pac-12 North Division … In the South, Arizona sits at 2-3 in league action, but a four-way cluster of two-loss teams shares first place … While many are counting the Cats out the rest of the way, don't discredit their scrappy effort and the fact they finish the season with three of four games at home, plus have a bye week before heading to their lone remaining road contest in Pullman … It has been an up and down ride during Kevin Sumlin's first season in Tucson due in large part to a youthful roster and injuries to some key upperclassmen on both sides of the ball … What every first-year head coach strives for is a breakout victory in Year 1, and a win against Oregon would be just that … The Ducks bring with them a No. 19 ranking in the AP Top 25, UA's first shot at a ranked foe this year. It's last win over a ranked team happened to be last Oct. 28, a Homecoming upset of No. 15 Washington State … Surely storylines this week will center around the quarterback position. Oregon's Justin Herbert is one of the nation's best and he enjoyed a remarkable return-from-injury performance in the Ducks' win over UA last November … For Arizona, it's standout junior quarterback Khalil Tate has been hampered by ankle injuries all season and finally sat out last week to hopefully get it healthy once and for all … In his absence, sophomore Rhett Rodriguez withstood some early struggles and rallied the Cats in the second half at UCLA. The comeback bid came up just short short, howevever, as UA's defense just wasn't able to get a late stop to give the offense a shot a game-winning drive … A 31-30 defeat marked the third loss of five points or fewer this season for the Wildcats, so the "shoulda-woulda-coulda" game is always a fun one to think about … But what's truly fun to think about is the Saturday night lights at Arizona Stadium, where the Wildcats hope to put an exclamation mark on a festive week in the Old Pueblo. It won't be easy, but if the home side can put together it's first complete effort of the year for 60 minutes in all three phases, it's certainly possible … A national TV audience tunes in from afar on ESPN … We'll see you there.

Against the AP Top 25: Kevin Sumlin gets his first crack at an AP Top 25 opponent as the head coach of the Wildcats … Sumlin carries an all-time record of 15-17 against ranked teams in 10 previous seasons as head coach at Houston and Texas A&M … Arizona is 46-121-1 all-time against AP top 25 teams, with its last win coming on Homecoming last Oct. 15 over. No. 15 Washington State (58-37)… Of the 46 victories over ranked foes, most have come at Arizona Stadium where UA is 29-54 against AP Top 25 teams … The Wildcats have knocked off at least one ranked team in 12 of the past 14 seasons … Historically, the Wildcats are 2-3 against teams ranked No. 19 (Oregon's rank this week) and 5-14 when playing a ranked Ducks' squad.

J.J. Taylor Leads Power 5 Players: Running back J.J. Taylor leads all Power 5 conference players in all-purpose yardage, collecting 1,315 combined yards on rushing (817), receiving (87) and kick return (411) plays. The sophomore's 164.4 all-purpose average is third nationally among all FBS players, including best in the Pac-12 and second among Power 5 conference players (Rondale Moore, Purdue – 179.9 ypg). The average per game is also the best mark for a UA player since Ka'Deem Carey, who turned in consecutive seasons with 172.9 and 171.5 all-purpose yards per game averages in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

FBS Top 5 Individual All-Purpose Leaders (Total Yards)
Player                                   School                  GP          Yards             Yds/Game
1. Darrell Henderson      Memphis             8              1470               183.8
2. J.J. Taylor                        Arizona                 8              1315               164.4
3. Rondale Moore            Purdue                 7              1259               179.9
4. Austin Walter                Rice                        8              1247               7.9  155.9
5. Jonathan Taylor           Wisconsin            7              1131               161.6

Arizona's Top All-Purpose Threats Since 2000 (min. average 150 yards per game)
Player                                   Total AP Yards   AP Avg./Game
1. Ka'Deem Carey            2,248                     172.9
2. Ka'Deem Carey            2,058                     171.5
4. J.J. Taylor                       1,315                     164.4*
5. Bobby Wade                 1,949                     162.4
6. Mike Thomas                1,826                     152.2
* Through 8 games

Explosive Plays: Arizona's offense has been inconsistent at times, but it is always a threat to pick up yards in bunches with explosive plays. In fact, the Wildcats are tied for sixth nationally among all FBS teams with 26 offensive plays of at least 30 yards. The breakdown for the Cats is 20 plays through the air and six on the ground, two of which came last week at UCLA. The total tally (26) is five more than any other Pac-12 Conference team has this season, and 17 of the 26 plays have come in the last five outings against league opponents.
Scrimmage Plays of 30+ Yards (FBS leaders)
Team                                     GP                          30+ Yard Plays
1. Mississippi                     8                              41          
2. Alabama                         8                              31          
3. Memphis                        8                              30          
4. Oklahoma                      7                              29          
5. Purdue                            7                              28          
6. Arizona                            8                              26          
    Houston                          7                              26          
   Oklahoma State             7                              26          

Negativity Not Allowed: As young, inexperienced and shuffled around as Arizona's offensive line has been this season, one thing the unit has done very well is prevent negative yardage plays. In fact, the Wildcats are third nationally and lead the Pac-12 for fewest negative yardage plays. UA has surrendered just 27.0 tackles for loss this season, checking out to only 3.38 per game. That clip is on pace to easily be the program's best of the last decade, which is impressive considering the Cats' have only one senior (LT Layth Frekh) that factors into the equation. Last week's starting lineup included a true freshman left tackle (Donovan Laie), a sophomore left guard (Michael Eletise), a walk-on sophomore center (Josh McCauley), a sophomore right guard (Bryson Cain) and a junior right tackle (Cody Creason). Additionally, UA's top tight ends (Bryce Wolma and Jamie Nunley) are both sophomores, as is the running back duo of J.J. Taylor and Gary Brightwell.

Arizona Tackles-for-Loss Allowed Last 10 Seasons (Per Game)

2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009
3.38	5.08	6.08	5.92	5.79	4.39	5.31	5.92	6.08	3.92

Push 'Em Back: An emerging strength of the Arizona defense has been its ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage, something lacking early in the season, especially when it came to pressuring the quarterback. Through five Pac-12 Conference games, UA has recorded 36.0 tackles-for-loss, which is second-most in league play. The Wildcats registered only two sacks in non-conference play (none in first two games of season), but have racked up 13 in five conference games (also second-most by Pac-12 team in conference-only games).

Tackles-For-Loss Leaders (Pac-12 games only)
Name                    TFL         TFL/G
1. USC                   38.0        7.6
2. Arizona            36.0        7.2
3. Utah                 32.0        6.4

Defensive Sack Leaders (Pac-12 games only)
Name                    Sacks     Sacks/G
1. Utah                 14.0        2.8
2. Arizona            13.0        2.6
    Stanford          12.0        3.0

Not So Mellow Yellow: Arizona leads the nation in opponent penalty yards due in large part to the last four games in which foes have racked up piles of laundry. Incredibly, three of UA's last four opponents (USC, Cal and UCLA) have topped 100 yards in penalties, while Utah came oh-so-close two weeks ago in Salt Lake City (94 yards). Adding up the four games, it's 52 penalties for 481 total yards or an average of 13 penalties for 120.3 yards per game. With the Trojans and Bears each topping the century mark in penalty yards, it was the first time since 2014 that UA's opponents had consecutive games with 100 or more yards of penalties. That stretch included three straight games in which happened for UCLA (11-118), Colorado (10-103) and Washington (13-111).

Most Opponent Penalty Yards (All FBS teams)
Team     Pen.       Yards     Pen/G   Yds/G
1. Arizona            81           773         10.1        96.6
2. Ohio 63           605         9.0          86.4
3. Eastern Michigan         72           663         9.0          82.9
4. Buffalo            66           662         8.3          82.8
5. Northwestern              60           575         8.6          82.1

Turnover Turnaround: The Wildcats opened the season by creating just one turnover in the first four games. Since, Arizona's defense has forced nine turnovers in the last four contests. The recent surge has vaulted UA to the top of the league for most turnovers gained in conference games. The Cats cashed in two of their turnovers for touchdowns in a victory over California on Oct. 6, the only two defensive scores of the season. Here's a look at the Pac-12 leaders for turnovers forced in conference contests:

Team     (Turnovers gained in Pac-12 Games)
1. Arizona            9
    UCLA 9
    Stanford          9                             
4. Oregon            8             
    Utah  8

Homecoming Hits: Saturday marks Arizona's 101st Homecoming football game as the festive weekend is the 104th anniversary of the school's first Homecoming (yes, a few years did not have football in the first half of the 20^th Century) … The Wildcats are 58-37-5 all-time playing in their Homecoming game … Last season, UA snapped a two-year losing streak with a 58-37 upset of then-No. 15 Washington State on Oct. 28. The victory improved the Cats to 8-5 in Homecoming games since 2005 … The last time Oregon visited Tucson for Homecoming was Nov. 11, 1995, which resulted in a 17-13 road victory for the Ducks. That marked just the third time Oregon was UA's Homecoming opponent (also 1993 and 1955) … Homecoming has traditionally been a nighttime affair for Arizona, and this year will be no exception with the 7:30 p.m. start. Of the previous 42 Homecoming games, 30 have been played at night … Only 25 prior Homecoming games have been played in October. The last to be contest on Oct. 27 was a 38-14 win over Pacific on Oct. 27, 1989.

Homecoming Hits Part II: The University of Arizona's first Homecoming — the fifth in the nation — was in 1914. Since then, various traditions have been added, altered or expanded as the UA has changed with the times and grown from an institution of 308 students to one with more than 40,000. The University of Arizona was almost 30 years old when it hosted its inaugural Homecoming game on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, 1914. The "monster crowd" consisted of 1,500 fans to root the Cats to a 7-6 victory of Pomona College. At that time, student enrollment was 308, there were 47 faculty members, UA buildings numbered 18, and total UA land was a mere 40 acres. Fast-forward a century and today's Homecoming events attract well over 100,000 exuberant participants and supporters. Student enrollment is more than 40,000 while the number of faculty exceeds 1,500. The number of UA buildings is 180 on close to 400 acres, on campus and beyond. A full guide to this week's festivities celebrating the 104th anniversary (101st football game) of the first UA homecoming can be viewed at arizonaalumni.com/homecoming.
• The University of Arizona defeated Pomona College, 7-6, on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, 1914, at the first Homecoming game.
• The first Homecoming game to be played in Arizona Stadium was the stadium dedication game on Oct. 12, 1929. Arizona defeated Cal Tech, 35-0, before a crowd of some 6,000, including Gov. J.C. Phillips, who gave the dedication address.
• The first Homecoming Parade, featuring student-built floats driven around the new stadium track, also was held in 1929.
• The first Homecoming night game was played in 1931, a 32-0 loss to Rice, which was only the second UA loss in 17 Homecoming contests.
• Following that 1931 game under the lights, night games became the norm for Homecoming, with 19 of the next 24 games (through 1957).
• Homecoming games from 1958 through 1975 were daytime affairs, but night games predominated again for the next 20 years, with only one day game (1980) played between 1976 and 1994.
• Only world war has caused the University to suspend Homecoming festivities, with no games in 1918 or 1943-45.
• The 1942 game, a 20-6 victory over Oklahoma State, was designated at Arizona's 28th Homecoming game, but no formal events were held on campus due to wartime travel restrictions.
• Following World War II, one of Homecoming's most popular traditions began in 1947 with the election by the student body of the first Homecoming queen, Tucson sophomore Ruth Tackett.
• In 1988, the tradition was begun of crowning the Homecoming king and queen on Friday night at a bonfire and pep rally on the Mall near Old Main.
• In conjunction with the UA's Centennial celebrations in 1985, the west end of the Mall between Cherry and Campbell Avenues became the scene of Saturday's "Tents on the Mall".
• Since that first game in 1914, Arizona has posted an overall winning record at Homecoming of 58-37-5 (.605).
• In the Dick Tomey (the school's winningest coach) era, the Cats were 8-5-1, highlighted by 1992's 16-3 victory over No. 1-ranked Washington before a record Homecoming game crowd of 58,510.
• The highest scoring Homecoming football game in the modern era was the 1980 shootout between Arizona and University of the Pacific, in which the Wildcats prevailed 65-35, setting a number of school and stadium offensive records that still stand. Arizona also beat New Mexico State 73-0 in 1916, and recorded an 110-0 victory over an outmanned New Mexico Military Institute junior college squad in 1921.

School-er Zone: A consensus Freshman All-America selection last season, Colin Schooler has been a man on a mission the first seven weeks of his sophomore season. He leads Arizona with 81 tackles through five games. Schooler has 14 1/2 tackles-for-loss, which leads the Pac-12 and is third-most in the country. Schooler has had at least ½ tackle-for-loss in seven of eight games this season. In the team's most recent game, Schooler led the Wildcats with 10 tackles and three more tackles-for-loss. Schooler had five tackles against Utah, marking the first time this season he didn't finish the game as Arizona's leading or second-leading tackler. The linebacker had Arizona's first 16-tackle game in four seasons in the opener versus BYU. He then had nine tackles apiece against Houston and Southern Utah over the next two weeks, before hitting 10 against Oregon State. Schooler led the Wildcats with 13 stops against USC. He has 28 career TFLs to his credit in just 21 career games and 18 career starts. Schooler is averaging 1.55 TFLs per start in his career. He's had at least three TFLs in a game five times over his last 12 games dating back to last season. Also dating back to last season, Schooler has either been the team's leading tackler or second leading tackler in 12 of Arizona's last 14 games.

16+ Tackle Games by an Arizona Defender Since 2000

Name	Year	Opponent	Tackles
Scooby Wright	2014	UCLA	19
Scooby Wright	2014	California	18
Spencer Larson	2007	USC	17
Spencer Larson	2005	Oregon State	17
Colin Schooler	2018	BYU	16
Marquis Flowers	2011	Stanford	16
Lance Briggs	2000	Utah	16
Spencer Larson	2007	Oregon	16
Jarvie Worcester	2001	Stanford	16

 
Pac-12 Leading Tacklers Through 8 Games

Player	School	Total Tackles
Ben Burr-Kirven	Washington	108
Jordan Kunaszyk	California	86
Colin Schooler	Arizona	81
Adarius Pickett	UCLA	77

 
More on his TFLs: Schooler's 14 1/2 tackles-for-loss are the second-most through eight games by any Arizona defensive player since Scooby Wright collected 17 ½ through the Wildcats' first games of the 2014 season. Wright is the only player who has collected more TFLs in the first eight games of a season than Schooler since 1997. In 1997, Mike Szlauko had 13 TFLs through eight games after compiling six in the sixth game of that season against Stanford. Szlauko didn't play after that game and finished with 13 on the season. Wright finished with 29 TFLs in 2014 with Arizona playing 14 total games that season. Schooler's 14 ½ tackles-for-loss this season are the most by any player in a Power 5 Conference this season.
Most TFLS Through 8 Games by an Arizona Defensive Player Since 1997

Player	Season	TFLs Through 8 Games
Scooby Wright	2014	17.5
Colin Schooler	2018	14.5
Mike Szlauko	1997	13
Joe Salave'a	1997	10

 
National Leaders in TFLs

Player	School	TFLs
Nate Harvey	East Carolina	17.5
E.J. Ejiya	North Texas	15
Colin Schooler	Arizona	14.5
Chase Hansen	Utah	14
Ed Oliver	Houston	13.5

 
Shun Does a Ton: A member of the Paul Hornung Award List for the country's most versatile player, Shun Brown does a little bit of everything for Arizona. A dynamic punt returner, Brown's primary responsibility for the Wildcats is as the team's leading receiver. Brown has led the team in catches in three of the team's last four games. For his career, Brown has 112 catches. He is 16 career catches away from entering Arizona's Top 12 all-time in receptions. He would need to average four catches per game over Arizona's final five regular season games to get to that point. Brown has also entered Arizona's Top 14 all-time in receiving touchdowns with 12. He's two away from tying Cayleb Jones for 13^th all-time. Brown led Arizona with 43 receptions last year and finished with 573 yards, which was second most on the team behind Tony Ellison. This season, Brown has a Pro Football Focus "threat rate" of 32.9 percent, which is the highest on the team, meaning he is the team's most targeted receiver. Brown's completion percentage of 65.5 is also the highest on the team and means that 65.5 percent of the passes thrown Brown's way are completions. Brown's 377 snaps played this year are the second-most on the team to Shawn Poindexter.
 
Most Career Receiving Touchdowns in School History
1. Juron Criner; 32
2. Theopolis Bell, 30
3. Dennis Northcutt, 24
------------------------
14. Shun Brown, 12
14. Samajie Grant, 12
14. Rodney Williams, 12
 
All over the Field(s): Sophomore linebacker Tony Fields has been a tackling machine since making his debut last season. Fields led Arizona with 104 stops last season, and currently sits second on the team with 57 stops and is 17th in the league through eight games with 7.1 tackles per game. In his 21 career games, Fields has 161 total tackles, which is now the second-most by any Arizona player through 21 career games. His teammate, Colin Schooler has 15 more tackles than Fields through their first 21. Fields has started every game of his career and has proven to be a stalwart for coach Marcel Yates' defense. The combination of Fields and Schooler at linebacker has been a lethal one-two punch. In fact, the two teammates have combined for 138 total tackles through two games, which is the most of any conference teammates this season. The two combined for 199 last season with 21 tackles-for-loss and nine sacks. Fields collected his first tackle-for-loss of the season last month at Oregon State.
 

Teammates	Team	Total Tackles
Jordan Kunaszyk/Evan Weaver	California	161
Ben Burr-Kirven/Tevis Bartlett	Washington	157
Colin Schooler/Tony Fields	Arizona	138