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The Arizona Wildcats have plenty to be excited about heading into the final two games of the regular season.

But there is a hint of sadness, too.

A handful of Wildcats expressed regret Monday that the team has not made a bigger splash in the Pac-10 Conference race this year, especially because the championship was there for the taking.

Arizona (6-4 overall, 4-3 Pac-10) missed an opportunity Saturday to finish near the top of the conference by losing 55-45 to Oregon in Eugene. The UA can now finish no higher than third place in the Pac-10, behind USC and the Ducks.

To avoid finishing fourth, the Wildcats must defeat conference-leading Oregon State on Saturday and hope the Beavers lose to Oregon in their regular-season finale. The Cats also have to beat ASU on Dec. 6.

"I'm disappointed, to be honest with you," guard Joe Longacre said. "It hasn't matched my expectations by any means. I'm not overly disappointed, but I expected better.

"We still have our chances, though, and that's what I can still be happy about."

Safety Nate Ness said, "I really thought we could finish 9-3."

Coach Mike Stoops bristled when asked if he would have taken this spot — 6-4 overall with two games left — at the beginning of the season.

"No. No. No," he said.

But Stoops' misgivings over losses to New Mexico and Stanford will not diminish his optimism heading into the final two games, with a chance to improve their bowl standing.

"It's about us continuing to make progress," Stoops said. "I look at the entirety of this year, and what we've accomplished. And I'm very pleased with a lot of it. There's a lot of good in it.

"Is it over? No. By no stretch of the imagination. This game will be another defining moment in the season, and how we respond to it is really important to us as a program."

Starting Saturday, the Zona Zoo will herd its students differently in hopes of creating a smoother entry into Arizona Stadium.

UA athletic director Jim Livengood, Zona Zoo executive director David Roost and ASUA president Tommy Bruce announced Monday that students will now gather in a funnel-shaped holding area before being allowed into games.

Gate attendants will track the number of students admitted with electronic scanners and hand-controlled clickers, capping Zona Zoo capacity at 10,000 students. The Zona Zoo will also employ an "eye in the sky" who will monitor the section from the press box.

The UA denied dozens of fans entry to the Cats' Oct. 25 game against USC because of capacity concerns.

Also Monday, UA officials announced that 8,000 tickets remain for Saturday's game with Oregon State. Most of the open seats are in the upper deck.

Defensive tackle Kaniela Tuipulotu and linebacker Sterling Lewis were held out of the Wildcats' loss to Oregon because of injuries but should be cleared to play against the Beavers.

Tuipulotu has turf toe; Lewis is dealing with an ankle sprain.

● Keola Antolin posted a team-high 87 yards and tied a school record with four touchdowns against Oregon but will continue to split carries with Nicolas Grigsby. Stoops said he'll "still use both of them" against Oregon State but declined to say who would start.

"I don't think it's relevant," he said. "Both of them did some good things Saturday."

● Backup quarterback Matt Scott could see a larger role in the offense in the final two weeks of the season, Stoops said. Scott, a true freshman, rushed four times for 36 yards against Oregon. "I think I showed Coach something," Scott said. "Hopefully I can play more Saturday."

● Stoops had praise for former Wildcat Spencer Larsen, who started on both offense and defense for the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Larsen finished with seven tackles in a 24-20 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

"I'm glad Denver recognized what he brings to any good football team," Stoops said. "He's done an awful lot with the tools he's been given. He plays with the right attitude. He's a great team player."

Larsen led the Pac-10 with 131 tackles as a senior in 2007.