Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
5 Things To Watch: Cal
11/04/23 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
The No. 6 Ducks will host California on Saturday (2:40 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
EUGENE, Ore. — The No. 6 Oregon football team kicks off November at home Saturday, when the Ducks host California in Autzen Stadium at 2:40 p.m.
Oregon is 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Pac-12, while Cal is 3-5 overall and 1-4 in conference play. The two teams have a pair of common opponents — each has a loss to Washington, while Utah lost to Oregon but beat Cal.
The Ducks lead the all-time series between the two programs, 42-41-2, including 19-6 in Eugene. Oregon has won eight of the last 10; the Ducks have only lost to the Golden Bears in regulation once since 2008, in Berkeley in 2020.
The Pac-12 Network will televise Saturday's game, with Ted Robinson on play by play and Yogi Roth providing analysis.
Some storylines to watch come kickoff …
1. Oregon was the top one-loss team in the initial College Football Playoff rankings of the season, released Tuesday. That reflects how impressive the Ducks have looked the last two weeks, momentum they'll look to sustain against the Golden Bears.
A year removed from two November losses that spoiled a season in which Oregon similarly was in contention for the Pac-12 title and a playoff berth, the Ducks want to avoid the same fate this season. Their dominant win at Utah set the stage for a fantastic November, and now comes the chance to capitalize.
"I told our players I think this is what we're capable of," UO coach Dan Lanning said. "Since the summer, we've talked about the process of 'good to great.' We're a good team right now. What you do in November, that's going to determine if we're a great team. We want to play our best football at the end of the season."
2. Of course, California wants to do the same. The Golden Bears are looking to end a three-game losing streak Saturday, and they'll challenge Oregon in a different way than what the Ducks are used to seeing from Cal.
"They're not remotely the same team we've played in the past," Lanning said. "These guys are scoring a lot of points. They're extremely efficient. I think they're playing some of their best ball, especially offensively, here towards this point of a season."
Two of Cal's October losses were by scores of 52-40, to Oregon State, and 50-49, last week against USC. Traditionally the Golden Bears have been stout defensively under head coach and former UO defensive back Justin Wilcox, but their offense has been a difference-maker in 2023.
"The biggest thing is probably the tempo," Lanning said. "I think they've run more plays than any team in our conference right now."
3. Last week against USC, redshirt freshman quarterback Fernando Mendoza became the first Cal quarterback since all-time great Aaron Rodgers to have multiple passing touchdowns and multiple rushing touchdowns in the same game.
That production reflects the variance in Cal's offense given its use of run-pass option plays. Whatever look the opposing front seven presents "in the box" near the line of scrimmages, the Golden Bears have a response.
"This offense is really built off of, (against a) loaded box, we're going to be able to throw it over your head, and (against a) light box, we're going to be able to run it," Lanning said. "They've run the ball really effectively. I think a lot of that comes down to the decision-making of the quarterback, because a lot of those are tied to RPOs. He's done a great job with that. He's able to throw it into really tight windows. He throws a bullet pass. I mean, it gets on them."
4. Oregon is a heavy favorite to win Saturday. But what's the biggest thing that can fuel an upset bid? Turnovers.
So far, the Ducks have been elite at taking care of the ball. Bo Nix has thrown only one interception, against 21 touchdown pass, and Oregon didn't lose a fumble this season until last week at Utah. That kind of ball security will be key to not letting Cal get momentum going Saturday.
"We work it every single week, but I think every team in the nation works it every week," Lanning said. "Some of it's probably good fortune. And some of it's about us continuing to focus on it and making it a big detail. When you don't turn the ball over, you have a chance to win, and that's something we want to continue to emphasize."
5. One of Oregon's pillars in terms of team culture is "connection." The deep relationships between the staff and players, and among the players themselves, have paid tremendous dividends this season.
One way that shows is through selflessness on defense. Last week at Utah, senior Keyon Ware-Hudson played less than 20 snaps, but he also took advantage of his opportunities by making a career-high five tackles. Depth is only a factor if depth players embrace their roles, and the Ducks have done that up and down the roster.
"It's beneficial," Lanning said. "The more guys you can play, the fresher they can be when they're on the field, the higher level of play that they can emphasize and execute, is really important."
Who will be the next guy to step up when his name is called Saturday?
Oregon is 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Pac-12, while Cal is 3-5 overall and 1-4 in conference play. The two teams have a pair of common opponents — each has a loss to Washington, while Utah lost to Oregon but beat Cal.
The Ducks lead the all-time series between the two programs, 42-41-2, including 19-6 in Eugene. Oregon has won eight of the last 10; the Ducks have only lost to the Golden Bears in regulation once since 2008, in Berkeley in 2020.
The Pac-12 Network will televise Saturday's game, with Ted Robinson on play by play and Yogi Roth providing analysis.
Some storylines to watch come kickoff …
1. Oregon was the top one-loss team in the initial College Football Playoff rankings of the season, released Tuesday. That reflects how impressive the Ducks have looked the last two weeks, momentum they'll look to sustain against the Golden Bears.
A year removed from two November losses that spoiled a season in which Oregon similarly was in contention for the Pac-12 title and a playoff berth, the Ducks want to avoid the same fate this season. Their dominant win at Utah set the stage for a fantastic November, and now comes the chance to capitalize.
"I told our players I think this is what we're capable of," UO coach Dan Lanning said. "Since the summer, we've talked about the process of 'good to great.' We're a good team right now. What you do in November, that's going to determine if we're a great team. We want to play our best football at the end of the season."
2. Of course, California wants to do the same. The Golden Bears are looking to end a three-game losing streak Saturday, and they'll challenge Oregon in a different way than what the Ducks are used to seeing from Cal.
"They're not remotely the same team we've played in the past," Lanning said. "These guys are scoring a lot of points. They're extremely efficient. I think they're playing some of their best ball, especially offensively, here towards this point of a season."
Two of Cal's October losses were by scores of 52-40, to Oregon State, and 50-49, last week against USC. Traditionally the Golden Bears have been stout defensively under head coach and former UO defensive back Justin Wilcox, but their offense has been a difference-maker in 2023.
"The biggest thing is probably the tempo," Lanning said. "I think they've run more plays than any team in our conference right now."
3. Last week against USC, redshirt freshman quarterback Fernando Mendoza became the first Cal quarterback since all-time great Aaron Rodgers to have multiple passing touchdowns and multiple rushing touchdowns in the same game.
That production reflects the variance in Cal's offense given its use of run-pass option plays. Whatever look the opposing front seven presents "in the box" near the line of scrimmages, the Golden Bears have a response.
"This offense is really built off of, (against a) loaded box, we're going to be able to throw it over your head, and (against a) light box, we're going to be able to run it," Lanning said. "They've run the ball really effectively. I think a lot of that comes down to the decision-making of the quarterback, because a lot of those are tied to RPOs. He's done a great job with that. He's able to throw it into really tight windows. He throws a bullet pass. I mean, it gets on them."
4. Oregon is a heavy favorite to win Saturday. But what's the biggest thing that can fuel an upset bid? Turnovers.
So far, the Ducks have been elite at taking care of the ball. Bo Nix has thrown only one interception, against 21 touchdown pass, and Oregon didn't lose a fumble this season until last week at Utah. That kind of ball security will be key to not letting Cal get momentum going Saturday.
"We work it every single week, but I think every team in the nation works it every week," Lanning said. "Some of it's probably good fortune. And some of it's about us continuing to focus on it and making it a big detail. When you don't turn the ball over, you have a chance to win, and that's something we want to continue to emphasize."
5. One of Oregon's pillars in terms of team culture is "connection." The deep relationships between the staff and players, and among the players themselves, have paid tremendous dividends this season.
One way that shows is through selflessness on defense. Last week at Utah, senior Keyon Ware-Hudson played less than 20 snaps, but he also took advantage of his opportunities by making a career-high five tackles. Depth is only a factor if depth players embrace their roles, and the Ducks have done that up and down the roster.
"It's beneficial," Lanning said. "The more guys you can play, the fresher they can be when they're on the field, the higher level of play that they can emphasize and execute, is really important."
Who will be the next guy to step up when his name is called Saturday?
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