WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Cal’s offensive line is a shell of its season-opening group with only two players still playing at the same position where they started the year (C Addison Ooms and RT Jake Curhan). After losing senior LT Patrick Mekari for the season to a leg injury, the Bears averaged just 2.5 yards per rush last week.

Defensive line play has not been robust for Stanford. Its linemen have combined for just 10 of the team’s 31 sacks. They have just six QB hurries, no forced fumbles and just one fumble recovery.

In need of a jolt on offense, Cal has moved QB Brandon McIlwain to a “slash” role in practice the past couple of weeks. The Bears ran two plays with McIlwain in jet sweep motion out of the slot against Colorado, including throwing him a screen pass for a 4-yard loss.

Stanford starting CB Alijah Holder will miss the first half as a result of a targeting penalty last week against UCLA.

Preparing for Stanford’s stable of pass-catching tight ends and jump-ball king JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Cal deployed 6-foot-5, 235pound freshman McCallan Castles on scout team this week. He was so impressive that he might get red zone chances in the Big Game.

Cal ILBs Jordan Kunaszyk and Evan Weaver lead all FBS duos in solo tackles per game (13.7) and have been especially dominant in the past five games. During the stretch, the Bears have allowed only 14.2 points per game.

Injuries have limited Stanford’s reserve ILBs to senior Ryan Beecher and freshmen Jacob Mangum-Farrar and Ricky Miezan. If either Bobby Okereke or Sean Barton is hurt, it could be a big problem.

Patrick Laird needs 184 rushing yards to become the third player in Cal history to reach the 1,000-yard milestone in multiple seasons.

Cal’s Ashtyn Davis in second in the Pac-12 in kickoff returns (26.5), but Stanford’s Jake Bailey is a touchback machine. Only four kickoffs have been returned against the Cardinal, though UCLA’s Darnay Holmes broke loose for a 93-yard TD.