The Big Game
Who: Cal ( 6- 4, 3- 4 Pac- 12) at No. 15 Stanford ( 8- 2, 7- 1) When: 7: 30 p. m. Saturday TV/ Radio: ESPN/ 810, 1050 Story line: Fresh off earning bowl eligibility for the first time since 2011 with a rout of Oregon State, the Bears are looking to snap a five- game skid in this series. That is a daunting task. The Cardinal should have plenty of motivation to return to form after their loss to Oregon last Saturday effectively dashed their College Football Playoff hopes.
Injuries: Cal — WR Kenny Lawler ( buttocks), S Damariay Drew ( knee) and RB Daniel Lasco ( ankle) are questionable. WR Trevor Davis ( ankle) and RB Khalfani Muhammad ( foot) are probable. Stanford — CB Ronnie Harris ( ankle) is out.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Cal’s game plan will revolve around limiting Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey. The 6- foot, 201- pound sophomore leads the FBS with 241.8 all- purpose yards per game. He is second in the Pac- 12 with 135.4 rushing yards per game and first with a kick- return average of 28.9 yards. It will be particularly key for Cal’s linebackers and defensive ends, who have struggled against elite running backs this season, to swarm McCaffrey quickly.
The Cardinal will have a very young secondary trying to stop one of the Pac- 12’ s best receiving corps. Redshirt freshman Alameen Murphy replaces Harris. The other cornerback is redshirt freshman Alijah Holder, and the nickelback is freshman Quenton Meeks. Neither of the starting safeties, Dallas Lloyd and Kodi Whitfield, had started a game until this year. The main backup safety is freshman Justin Reid.
With Lasco questionable and Muhammad still limited by a foot injury, the Bears will lean on sophomore running backs Vic Enwere and Tre Watson. They both produced career- high rushing totals against Oregon State last Saturday, but Stanford is giving up only 134.3 rushing yards per game.
Cal’s offensive line has been up- and- down. Against OSU, it dominated at the line of scrimmage, but the Bears’ front five has wilted against physical defensive lines. Stanford, which excels at holding blocks, represents Cal’s toughest test in the trenches this season.
Stanford running back Remound Wright, who scored four touchdowns against Cal last year, has been mainly a short- yardage specialist this year. In 32 short- yardage plays, he picked up the first down or a touchdown on 28 of them ( including nine TDs). After three of his four misses, he picked up the yardage on his next try.