By ANDREW BAGNATO
AP College Football Writer

TUCSON, Ariz.(AP) -- The schedule says Arizona visits California
on Saturday.

In reality, it could turn out to be a virtual bye week for the
18th-ranked Wildcats.

Oregon's loss at Stanford last weekend gave the Wildcats some
wiggle room as they head into a brutal stretch run. Arizona can
lose to Cal - or Arizona State - and still earn its first Rose
Bowl berth.

Just don't tell the Wildcats (6-2, 4-1 Pac-10). They're
operating under the assumption that every game matters.

"It doesn't change what we have to do to win a championship or
play in the Rose Bowl - we have to win out," coach Mike Stoops
said at his weekly campus news conference on Monday. "Our
mission really hasn't changed a whole lot."

After Cal, the Wildcats play host to No. 14 Oregon. The Wildcats
close with two tough road games - at rival Arizona State on Nov.
28 and at No. 11 USC on Dec. 5.

A sweep would give Arizona, which joined the league in 1978, its
first outright Pac-10 title.

But Arizona can afford a loss to Cal or ASU and still make it to
Pasadena.

Here's how: if the Wildcats beat the Ducks and Trojans, they
could finish with two league losses and still own the tiebreaker
against every other team.

Stoops said he hasn't outlined the various scenarios with his
players.

"All's they know is we're in a good position," he said. "That
would be childish to explain that to them. They understand
exactly what's at stake. They can count very well, and they
understand what wins and losses do for you."

But some losses can be more costly than others.

A loss to Oregon or USC would likely consign the Wildcats to a
minor bowl.

A loss at Berkeley - where Arizona has been outscored by 115-41
on its last three visits - would force the Wildcats to win their
final three games to claim the conference title.

Nose tackle Donald Horton said he hasn't broken down all the
scenarios involving his team. "That's too confusing right now,"
he said.

But Horton said it's "kind of natural" for players to look down
the road, even as they're listening to their coach's
one-game-at-a-time mantra.

"If you're honest with yourself, we're on this little winning
streak now, you kind of feel like, man, if we can just knock off
Oregon and SC, we can really be in a good spot," Horton said.

This is uncharted territory for the Wildcats. A year ago, they
were thrilled to draw a bowl invitation for the first time since
1998.

Having achieved bowl eligibility with a month to go, the
Wildcats have far grander goals.

"This will define our season, these four games," quarterback
Nick Foles said. "Every game is going to be really tough. This
will show what kind of team we really are."

Stoops said his team won't be daunted by the stretch run.

"Everybody thinks about, well, you've got to play this
schedule," Stoops said. "They've got to play us too."

Against Cal, the Wildcats may once again be without starting
tailback Nic Grigsby, who missed last weekend's 48-7 victory
over Washington State with a sprained right shoulder.

Backup tailback Greg Nwoko, who also has a shoulder sprain, will
practice this week and might play against the Golden Bears,
Stoops said.

Meanwhile, Stoops said defensive end Brooks Reed, who missed
three games with a high ankle sprain, will likely start at Cal.
Reed had a sack in Arizona's 48-7 victory over Washington State
last weekend.