123RD BIG GAME: STANFORD AT CAL
Records: Stanford 0-2, 0-2 in Pac-12; Cal 0-2, 0-2 in Pac-12
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. today at Memorial Stadium, Berkeley
TV: Fox
Radio: KGO (810 AM) & KNBR/KTCT (1050 AM)
Series history: Stanford leads 64-47-11. Cal won 24-20 at Stanford Stadium last season to break a nine-year win streak by the Cardinal.
Stanford storylines: Cardinal QB Davis Mills finally had a normal week of preparation heading into the Big Game. Mills was pulled from the opener because of a positive coronavirus test, and then was in isolation until right before the Colorado game. The test turned out to be a false positive. ... Antioch native Austin Jones ran for 100yards and two TDs in his first game as the Cardinal’s lead back, but the sophomore was held to nine yards on nine carries vs. Colorado.
Cal storylines: The Bears, who had aspirations of challenging for the Pac-12 North title, will try to get off the mat after losses at UCLA and Oregon State to open the schedule. This is the Bears’ home opener, their first game at Memorial Stadium in 377 days. They were supposed to open the schedule Nov. 7 at home vs. Washington, but the game was canceled when the Bears had no available defensive linemen due to COVID-19 protocols. ... The Bears again expect to play with an inexperienced offensive line after three starters were placed in quarantine a week ago after a positive COVID-19 test. ... Junior quarterback Chase Garbers, who passed for 315 yards and three touchdowns last week at Oregon State, was the hero of the Bears’ 2019 Big Game victory, scrambling 16 yards for the winning touchdown with 1:19 left.
Stanford roster updates: After an unexpected off week, Stanford is mostly healthy. Sophomore right guard Branson Bragg will likely be in a rotation with sophomore Jake Hornibrook after suffering an injury two weeks ago.
Cal roster updates: Starting tackles Jake Curhan and Will Craig and guard Valentino Daltoso are not expected to be released from COVID isolation to play. Center Michael Saffell is questionable after injuring his leg at Oregon State. Likewise, the status of running back Christopher Brown Jr., tight end Collin Moore and outside linebacker Braxten Croteau — all starters who missed the OSU game — also is unknown.
Stanford matchup to watch: Cal QB Chase Garbers vs. Stanford linebackers. Garbers got free for critical scrambles last year, including the winning 16-yard touchdown with 1:19 to play. The Cardinal has struggled with mobile QBs in its first two games, and can’t afford to allow Garbers to break containment again.
Cal matchup to watch: Cal’s secondary vs. Stanford’s receivers. Led by seniors defensive backs Camryn Bynum and Elijah Hicks, the Bears rank second in the Pac-12 in pass defense, allowing just 175.5 yards per game. But Michael Wilson and Connor Wedington are both honors candidates with a combined carer total of 179 receptions.
Stanford stats that matter: Kicker Jet Toner missed all four field goal attempts against Oregon, and then made all three attempts against Colorado. … The Cardinal have allowed just one sack and haven’t turned the ball over. ... Stanford’s last win was on Oct. 26, 2019, with six straight losses for the first time since 2006.
Cal stats that matter: Wide receiver Nikko Remigio, who had nine catches for 157 yards and a touchdown in last year’s Big Game, has just two receptions for seven yards in two games this season . . . Cal ranks last in the Pac-12 in rushing offense (89.0 yards) and total offense (307.5) and 11th in scoring (18.5 points).