Arizona’s football season is practically over. That’s the mindset for every Arizona fan right now.

With Arizona sitting at 5-3 heading into Saturday’s Halloween Pac-12 after dark matchup with Washington, all the Wildcats had to do was be victorious in the Emerald City and a bowl game was certainly in sight.

Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez is under pressure considering he’s never missed a bowl game in his tenure at Arizona. Halloween night was the perfect time for Arizona to showcase that they are still contending, but instead they wore an FCS costume.

Can Arizona be surprised about the outcome of a season that was supposed to be the Pac-12 South repeat? Red flags should’ve been waived when UTSA came for the season opener and only loss by 10. The red flags should’ve been extra high in the sky after the two game skid to open the conference.

What exactly is going wrong with Arizona this season? The quarterback situation is unbearable to follow, because regardless Arizona looks shady overall on offense.

Anu Solomon has proven time and time again that his return from the concussion was the worst mistake he could ever make. Saturday was Solomon’s worst performance thus far in his sophomore campaign. He threw 18-for-31 for 160 yards and two interceptions.

Where was the relief pitcher in Jerrard Randall when Solomon was struggling? Randall hit the lucky 7/11 for 43 yards and one interception. His feet? They ran for 46 yards and they never crossed the end zone.

So with Arizona’s offense struggling to find their groove and identity, it’s up to the defense to emphasize on hard edge football and give the offense confidence.

Arizona’s previous matchup with a Pac-12 North school didn’t go according to plan on homecoming as the Washington State. quarterback Luke Falk threw for 514 yards and five touchdowns. Washington’s quarterback Jake Browning had 263 yards with four touchdowns.

So obviously the blame can be put on the defense considering they are the No. 114 ranked overall defense in the country. Arizona is giving up 452 yards and 32.4 per game.

Teams that are in the same boat with Arizona are Massachusetts, Western Kentucky, Rice and East Carolina. None of those teams are a power five conference team yet Arizona’s defense is neck and neck with them.

Arizona has three games left to earn a bowl birth and the light at the end of the tunnel is getting smaller and smaller. The Wildcats travel to Los Angeles to battle with an inspired USC team who’s knocked off two top-25 teams. Plus, the following week will be the final home game of the season against the frontrunners of the Pac-12 South in Utah.

Then of course the matchup with Arizona State will be a rivalry game for the ages, but in Sun Devil territory could cost the Wildcats.

Arizona is desperate and it’s time for them to start playing like it. Only time will tell the fate of Arizona and it’s looking murky.