Impressive running game could give Cal QB Garbers a boost

The Hotline was not surprised by Cal’s upset of 14th-ranked Washington last weekend. In fact, we picked the Bears to win in our preseason predictions.

But we’re a tad surprised how the Bears won.

I would not have expected 20 points total and 17 in the second half.

I would not have expected 303 yards of total offense and no turnovers.

And I certainly would not have expected 192 yards rushing and 5.1 yards per carry from Christopher Brown and Marcel Dancy. (They’re a nice combination, with Brown’s power and Dancy’s slippery style.)

If the Bears produce an effective running game week after week, it would take enormous pressure off Chase Garbers and open space downfield for the receivers.

It would make the granite defense that much fresher — and better — because of the impact on time-of-possession and field position.

And it would be highly problematic for the rest of the Pac-12 North.

IS STANFORD DONE? >> The Hotline has watched every Stanford-USC game since I-can’t-remember-when, but I can remember the last time there was a disparity in personnel to the degree we witnessed Saturday night:

In 2008, before Andrew Luck’s first season and Stanford’s ascent ... back when USC’s dynasty was alive (albeit fading).

We’ll exclude the quarterback position from this assessment, because of K.J. Costello’s injury. But the talent gap at the other 21 spots is significant.

Stanford no longer has an advantage on the offensive line; it doesn’t have an elite tailback; and the defense is devoid of difference-makers on the front seven.

Meanwhile, USC’s defensive front is loaded and the number of playmakers at running back and receiver is simply endless.

Without Costello to help balance the scale — and without left tackle Walker Little to protect the pocket — it was a mismatch.

But the issue for Stanford isn’t what went wrong. It’s what comes next.

Bruised and battered from a physical game against USC, the Cardinal returned to campus early Sunday, then heads back on the road Thursday for a cross-country trip to Orlando, where UCF awaits.

Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. Eastern, which is better for Stanford’s body clock than 12:30 p.m. Eastern, but it’s also worse for Stanford’s body temperature — the forecast calls for 90 degrees and (of course) humidity.

After that? Stanford flies home to get ready for a visit from Oregon, which should be rested and

healthy after smacking Nevada for 77 and what should be an easy win over Montana in Week Three.

Yes, Stanford’s non-conference schedule is brutal, and that’s by its choosing — the schools control the who, when and where for those three games. But the conference did the Cardinal no favors by slotting Oregon into Week Four. USC MAKING NEWS >> Lynn Swann, who was never really in, is out as USC’s athletic director.

He resigned Monday, just when the decision to retain coach Clay Helton wasn’t looking like the worst development of Swann’s tenure. (There have been many bad developments.)

The Trojans were dominant against Stanford. Down 10 early, the Trojans scored 35 unanswered point. It appears the simplification of the defense by Clancy Pendergast and the installation of the spread offense by Graham Harrell just might bring out the best in the Trojans’ considerable talent.

Oh, and freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis appears plenty capable of running the offense. He was calm in the pocket, precise with his ball placement (28 of 33, 377 yards) and smart with his decisions (no turnovers).

As long as Slovis plays reasonably well — and Helton doesn’t get in the way — the Trojans should contend for the division and conference titles.

And that’s good for the Pac-12.

Utah winning the South by two or three games won’t generate nearly the level of buzz (media attention, TV ratings, fan interest) as Utah and USC dueling for the title deep into November.

Utah, Washington, Washington State and Oregon ranked in the AP poll most of the season won’t generate nearly the buzz for the conference as USC joining that quartet in the top 25.

For a conference that desperately needs its brand programs to regain relevance in football and men’s basketball, signs of life from USC will only benefit the collective. UCLA IS DONE >> Not sure where to begin with the Bruins …

That they’re 0-4 against Group of Five opponents under Chip Kelly.

Or that they’re 0-6 in September under Chip Kelly.

Or that they’re coached by Chip Kelly, because they look nothing like what we expected through 14 games under Chip Kelly.

The 23-14 loss to San Diego State was similar to the 24-14 loss at Cincinnati. The central problem: The running game is barely there (62 net yards in each game) and it vanished when needed most on Saturday.

UP NEXT

• Stanford at No. 17 Central Florida, Saturday, 12:30 p.m., ESPN

• North Texas at Cal, Saturday, 1:15 p.m., Pac-12