CAL vs. SYRACUSE
Records: Cal (5-4, 1-4 ACC); Syracuse (6-3, 3-3 ACC)
Kickoff: Noon Saturday at Memorial Stadium, Berkeley
TV: The CW Network
Radio: 810 AM The Spread (KGO)
Series history: 1-1 (Cal intercepted six passes and won 43-0 in the most recent meeting at Berkeley in 1968)
Cal storylines: Winners of two in a row, the Bears need one victory in their final three games to become bowl eligible for the second year in a row. With two more wins, they would secure their first winning season since 2019 . . . Sophomore ILB Cade Uluave, who aggravated a leg injury last week against Wake Forest, is questionable to play Saturday . . . RB Jaydn Ott, who rushed for more than 1,300 yards last year but has dealt with a nagging ankle injury this fall, has just 169 yards on 2.4 yards per attempt and does not have a run longer than 23 yards . . . Cornerback Nohl Williams’ seven interceptions lead the country and are three more than any ACC player has . . . Punter Lachlan Wilson’s 45.9-yard average is on pace to break the single-season program record.
Syracuse storylines: The Orange, coming off a 37-31 loss to Boston College, have struggled to stop the run the past two games, allowing 562 rushing yards and six touchdowns against Virginia Tech and BC. Syracuse is giving up nearly 39 points per game the past three outings . . . QB Kyle McCord, who leads the nation in passing yards, threw for a career-high 392 yards against BC and is on pace to eclipse the school’s single-season record . . . For the first time this century, Syracuse is bowl eligible for a third straight season.
Stats that matter: Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza has completed 72.5 percent of his passes for 1,303 yards with five touchdowns and just one interception over the past four games . . . The Bears have scored on 34 of 40 red-zone opportunities this season but have settled for field goals on 13 of those. Syracuse has converted 35 of 42 chances inside the 20, all but six of them for touchdowns.
— JEFF FARAUDO
