California quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) shouts instructions to California running back Jaydn Ott (1) at the line of scrimmage in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser)
Records: Cal 3-1, 0-1 in the ACC; No. 8 Miami 5-0, 1-0 in the ACC
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium, Berkeley
TV: ESPN
Radio: 810 AM The Spread (KGO)
Series history: 2-2. Cal won the most recent meeting, 24-17, at the 2008 Emerald Bowl in San Francisco. This is the first meeting in Berkeley since 1990, when Russell White returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown the first time he touched the ball at Memorial Stadium but the defending national champion Hurricanes went on to a 52-24 victory
Cal storylines: The Bears play their first ACC home game after a 14-9 loss at Florida State two weeks ago in their debut in a new conference. Cal had 410 yards of offense vs. the Seminoles but was held without a touchdown for the first time in 33 games . . . The Bears are hoping the bye week gave RB Jaydn Ott, a preseason All-ACC pick, the chance to get fully healthy. He rushed for a season-high 73 yards at FSU after sitting out the previous game with an ankle sprain . . . Guard Sioape Vatikani, who suffered a scary head or neck injury at Florida State, is probable to face Miami. Also expected back after missing three games due to injury is starting nickelback Matthew Littlejohn.
Miami storylines: The Hurricanes are coming off their first close call of the season after rallying past Virginia Tech 38-34 last Friday . . . Junior quarterback Cam Ward, a transfer from Washington State, leads the nation with 18 touchdown passes and is second with 1,782 passing yards. But he turned the ball over three times last week and did the same a year ago at Cal, enabling the Bears to score two defensive TDs in a 42-39 victory . . . Miami, tied for third nationally with 3.6 sacks per game, expects the return of defensive end Rueben Bain Jr., the reigning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, who was injured on the first series of the season opener.
Stats that matter: Miami is second nationally in scoring at 49.4 points per game while Cal is 12th nationally (and first in the ACC) in scoring defense, allowing 12.8. The Bears have held four straight opponents to 14 points or fewer for the first time since 1979 . . . Cal ranks 130th nationally in sacks allowed at 4.0 per game, including 13 the past two outings.
— JEFF FARAUDO
Originally published at Jeff Faraudo