Key losses: WR Todd Watkins, RB Naufahu Tahi, LB Justin Luettgerodt

Key returners: QB John Beck (No. 12; senior; 3,709 yards, 27 TDs, 13 INTs); RB Curtis Brown (No. 6; senior; 210 carries, 1,123 yards, 14 TDs); TE Jonny Harline (No. 13; senior; 63 receptions, 853 yards, five TDs)

Mendenhall said: “”I like our defensive depth. Teams that are healthier tend to do better at the start of the season.”” – www.byucougars.com

Last meeting: BYU 34, Arizona 14 (Provo, Utah; Oct. 29, 1977)

Key losses: RB Joseph Addai, WR Skyler Green, DE Melvin Oliver

Key returners: QB JaMarcus Russell (class; number; stats in 2005); RB Alley Broussard (class; number; stats in 2005); WR Dwayne Bowe (No. 80; senior; 41 receptions, 710 yards, nine TDs); RB Justin Vincent (No. 25; senior; 121 carries, 488 yards, five TDs)

Miles said: “”We certainly will miss Skyler Green. But we’ll have Dwayne Bowe, Early Doucet and Buster Davis. And Brandon LaFell for that matter, a guy who redshirted. … I think we will be fine at receiver, and we’ll continue to do some of the same of things we’ve done.”” – Shreveport Times

Last meeting: LSU 59, Arizona 13 (Arizona Stadium, Sept. 6, 2003)

Key losses: QB Zeke Dixon, WR Dennis Chance, S Ryan Luedecke

Key returners: RB Louie Runnels (No. 31; junior; 168 carries, 779 yards, four TDs in 2005); QB Danny Southall (No. 7; junior; 704 yards, five TDs, two INTs); CB Keldrick Holman (No. 27; senior; 82 tackles, six INTs)

McFarland said: “”Of all the positions, running back is the deepest on this football team. I feel comfortable with all four running backs.””

Last meeting: none

Key losses: QB Matt Leinart, RB Reggie Bush, OT Winston Justice

Key returners: WR Dwayne Jarrett (No. 8; junior; 91 receptions, 1,274 yards, 16 TDs in 2005); DE Lawrence Jackson (No. 96; senior; 10 sacks); WR Steve Smith (No. 2; senior; 60 receptions, 957 yards, five TDs)

Carroll said: “”This is an opportunity to show that we have some staying power (even with the personnel losses). It’s been the approach in our minds that we (will) play at a high level.””

Opponent said: “”Are they in rebuilding mode? They look pretty good to me.”” – Washington State head coach Bill Doba

Last meeting: USC 42-21 (Los Angeles; Oct. 8)

Key losses: LB Evan Benjamin, OT Joe Toledo, WR Craig Chambers, C Brad Vanneman

Key returners: QB Isaiah Stanback (No. 4; senior; 2,136 yards, nine TDs, six INTs in 2005); DE Grayson Gunheim (No. 7; junior; five sacks, 11 tackles for loss); SS C.J. Wallace (No. 1; senior; 86 tackles)

Willingham said: “”We have a strong running game, but the thing we need to be able to do is run or pass as we see fit.””

Opponent said: “”Washington might be a ways away yet, but Stanback’s a lot better, and he’s a very athletic quarterback.”” – ASU head coach Dirk Koetter

Last meeting: Washington 38, Arizona 14 (Arizona Stadium; Nov. 12)

Key losses: QB Drew Olson, RB Maurice Drew, LB Spencer Havner

Key returners: QB Ben Olson (No. 7; sophomore; 2-of-4, 11 yards in 2005); WR Joe Cowan (35 receptions, 469 yards, three TDs); DT Kevin Brown (missed 2005 with ankle injury)

Dorrell said: “”This team grew so much last year because of winning. They understand what it is now to be a winner.””

Opponent said: “”I don’t think you win 10 games with just a few guys. A lot of players contribute to winning like that.”” – Stanford head coach Walt Harris on the Bruins losing their three best offensive players to the NFL Draft.

Last meeting: Arizona 52, UCLA 14 (Arizona Stadium; Nov. 5)

Key losses: DE Julian Jenkins, LB Jon Alston, LB Kevin Schimmelmann

Key returners: QB Trent Edwards (No. 5; senior; 1,934 yards, 17 TDs, seven INTs in 2005); WR Mark Bradford (No. 4; senior; 37 receptions, 609 yards, six TDs); WR Evan Moore (No. 8; senior; three receptions, 66 yards; dislocated right hip in season opener)

Harris said: “”We have a lot of exciting things going on here at Stanford. Hopefully, the football team is one of them.””

Opponent said: “”Stanford kicked our butt so bad last year, even though the score ended up being close (45-35). The best thing about that game is that it wasn’t on TV, so not that many people got to see it.”” – Koetter

Last meeting: Stanford 20, Arizona 16 (Arizona Stadium; Oct. 15)

Key losses: WR Mike Hass, LB Trent Bray, LB Keith Ellison

Key returners: QB Matt Moore (No. 8; senior; 2,711 yards, 11 TDs, 19 INTs in 2005); RB Yvenson Bernard (No. 26; junior; 1,321 yards, 13 TDs, 4.4 yards per carry); WR Anthony Wheat-Brown (No. 17; junior; 40 receptions, 400 yards, three TDs)

Riley said: “”We lost two really good players … but like I tell people all the time, I think Oregon State is Linebacker U. We have a great group of guys to put in there.””

Opponent said: “”I have a lot of respect for Mike Riley as a coach. He’s always put a good defensive team on the field.”” – Koetter

Last meeting: Arizona 29, OSU 27 (Corvallis; Oct. 29)

Key losses: RB Jerome Harrison, TE Troy Bienemann, CB Alex Teems

Key returners: QB Alex Brink (No. 10; junior; 2,891 yards, 24 TDs, 13 INTs in 2005); WR Jason Hill (No. 83; senior; 1,097 yards, 13 TDs); DE Mkristo Bruce (No. 94; senior; 10 sacks)

Doba says: “”Last year, we competed but didn’t finish. I just emphasize that we finish the task and finish strong.””

Opponent says: “”Washington State, I think, was the most snake-bit team in the league last year.”” – Koetter

Last meeting: WSU 20, Arizona 19 (Arizona Stadium; Sept. 25, 2004)

Key losses: OT Ryan O’Callaghan (first-team All-Pac-10 in 2005); G Aaron Merz (second-team All-Pac-10); C Marvin Philip (first-team All-Pac-10)

Key returners: RB Marshawn Lynch (No. 10; junior; 1,246 yards, 10 TDs, 6.4 yards per carry in 2005); RB Justin Forsett (No. 20; junior; 999 yards, six TDs, 7.6 yards per carry); WR DeSean Jackson (No. 1; sophomore; 38 receptions, 601 yards, seven TDs)

Tedford said: “”(The addition of the spread offense) is really just an added dimension. It’s not like we’re changing our concepts or anything.””

Opponent said: “”He’s not going to do anything that won’t give them a chance to win at the highest level. There’s no question he’s a great offensive mind.”” – Arizona head coach Mike Stoops of Tedford

Last meeting: Cal 28, Arizona 0 (Berkeley; Oct. 1)

Key losses: DT Haloti Ngata, QB Kellen Clemens, RB Terrence Whitehead

Key returners: QB Dennis Dixon (777 yards, six TDs, three INTs in 2005); RB Jonathan Stewart (53 carries, 188 yards, six TDs; two kick-return TDs); S Patrick Chung (91 tackles)

Bellotti said: “”The thing that will pay dividends for us this year is that both (quarterbacks) Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf got significant time this last year, both in the Pac-10 and in the (Holiday Bowl).””

Opponent said: “”Oregon has played very well consistently over a long period of time. It’s a tough place to play (at).”” – Stoops

Last meeting: Oregon 28, Arizona 21 (Arizona Stadium; Oct. 22)

Key losses: WR Derek Hagan, LB Dale Robinson, LB Jamar Williams

Key returners: QB Sam Keller (No. 2; senior; 2,165 yards, 20 TDs, 9 INTs in 2005); QB Rudy Carpenter (No. 12; sophomore; 2,273 yards, 17 TDs, two INTs); WR Rudy Burgess (No. 3; junior; 145 carries, 644 yards, six TDs; 59 receptions, 655 yards, four TDs)

Koetter said: “”I do believe a two-QB system could work, depending on the system you have. I don’t think that system would work with Sam and Rudy.””

Opponent said: “”Arizona State is very effective in the way they move the football#&133;There are a lot of teams (in the Pac-10) making improvement.”” – Stoops

Last meeting: Arizona State 23, Arizona 20 (Tempe; Nov. 25)

– Compiled by Tom Knauer