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The Arizona Wildcats have played plenty of relevant late-season games since coach Mike Stoops took over the program four years ago.

But nothing like this.

Most of the national focus for tonight's game will fall on an Oregon State team looking to make its first Rose Bowl in 44 years. Arizona, as well, is in an equally strange position.

After a decade of struggles, the Wildcats (6-4, 4-3) are finally more than just late-season spoilers. They're contenders, they're 2 1/2-point favorites — and they know what's at stake.

"A win would be a great win for our team and our program," Stoops said. "That's what we're going to focus on with this week's game: What it means for us, and not what it means for them."

Arizona will likely know more about its bowl destination after tonight's game.

The UA is tied with Cal for fourth place in the Pac-10. The Wildcats can move into third place by winning their final two games and hoping Oregon defeats Oregon State next weekend in their Civil War game.

Lose today, however, and Arizona runs the risk of falling into fifth place heading into the Dec. 6 rivalry game against Arizona State. Lose the final two games, and the Wildcats will finish the regular season with an overall .500 mark — and could end up tied with perhaps Stanford, UCLA or Arizona State.

"I'll say it again: This is a must-win," safety Nate Ness said.

Oregon State (7-3, 6-1) has been one of the nation's hottest teams since upsetting USC in Week 4. The Beavers have won five straight games, including last week's 34-21 victory over Cal.

OSU boosts the conference's leading rusher in freshman star Jacquizz Rodgers, a prolific quarterback in Lyle Moevao (whose status will be a game-time decision because of a sore shoulder) and one of the conference's top receivers in Sammie Stroughter.

But it's defense that makes the Beavers special. Oregon State is ranked second in the conference in rushing defense, points allowed and total defense. The Beavers allow just 179 passing yards per game, a figure that's third in the conference and 22nd nationally. OSU's success comes despite replacing its entire front-seven from the 2007 season.

"They play very aggressive up front, but it's a controlled and smart aggression," Stoops said. "They understand what they're doing very well, and they play hard."

Arizona will counter by testing the Beavers' secondary. Quarterback Willie Tuitama nearly orchestrated a second-half comeback against Oregon last week because he dared to throw downfield. The result was a career day for tight end Rob Gronkowski and wider running lanes for tailback Keola Antolin, who came off the bench to tie a program record with four touchdown runs.

The UA can turn tonight's game in its favor by starting strong.

The Wildcats came out flat in the 55-45 loss last week, and paid for it. A near-historic comeback wasn't enough to dig them out.

"It's a Catch-22," guard Joe Longacre said. "At least we're tough enough to fight out of a corner, but the fact we're in a corner means we're doing something wrong."

The Wildcats can do more than redeem themselves with an upset — they can continue a tradition as season-ruiners.

Arizona has upset at least one ranked team at Arizona Stadium each year since Stoops took over before the 2004 season. The coach's most important victories — a 2004 upset of Arizona State, a 2005 blowout of UCLA, a 2006 win over Cal and last year's nationally televised defeat of Oregon — all came at home, against ranked teams and late in the season.

The Cats will either continue that trend or help the Beavers end their Rose Bowl drought.

"It's important for us to understand this is about us. It's not about anyone else," Stoops said. "It's about our program continuing to make progress."