I think Arizona’s move up in the latest AP poll is deserved, and not just because poll voters enjoy rewarding a team that keeps winning. The Wildcats have earned the bump the old-fashioned way: by stacking results, not by asking anyone to admire the process.

Arizona is up to No. 22 after its 39-3 win over Iowa State on Saturday. That’s the kind of score that tends to make a poll look less like a debate club and more like a scoreboard. The Wildcats are 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big 12 play, and they’ve now won five straight games. Even better for the folks in Tucson who like their autumn with a little less stress, three of those wins have come in consecutive Big 12 matchups after the loss to BYU last month.

There’s also the small matter of bowl eligibility, which Arizona clinched with the win. That makes this more than a nice little ranking story. It’s a sign that the season has crossed from promising to legitimate, which is usually when the conversation gets louder and the excuses get thinner.

What stands out to me is how quickly the Wildcats have gone from being a newcomer in the AP Top 25 to moving up in it. Last week, Arizona appeared in the poll for the first time in 2026 at No. 25. Now it’s sitting at No. 22. That’s not a giant leap, but it is a meaningful one, especially in a conference where the standings are already getting crowded.

Arizona is tied for second in the Big 12 with BYU and Texas Tech, both at 6-1 and 3-1 in conference play. Both of those teams took their first losses of the season on Saturday, which shuffled the top of the league and made the race look a little less tidy. Utah is now the only undefeated team in the Big 12 and sits on top of the standings at 7-0 and 4-0.

The Wildcats’ next test is Texas Tech on Oct. 31 in Lubbock, Texas. That’s the kind of game that can either confirm a rise or remind everyone that rankings are just a snapshot, not a trophy.

For now, Arizona has done the part that matters most: win, move up, repeat. In college football, that’s about as close to a luxury as anyone gets. As for the rest of the poll, it can keep its opinions; Arizona brought the receipts.

— Bill Farr