In a matchup that seemed unlikely a year ago, the 3-0 California Golden Bears are heading to Tallahassee, Florida, this Saturday to make their ACC debut against the 0-3 Florida State Seminoles in their first-ever meeting.
The Bears are looking to gain national recognition in the Deep South at the 79,560-seat Doak Campbell Stadium during the Seminoles’ Family Weekend. Despite FSU’s struggles this season, having finished last year undefeated at 13-0 and as the 2023 ACC champions, Cal is approaching the game with humility.
“I think Florida State is a very talented football team,” said Cal head coach Justin Wilcox. “We understand how narrow the margins can be. They have great talent and coaching, and they take pride in their program. We’ll need to play our best game, and our players expect that.”
Cal has outscored its opponents—UC Davis, Auburn, and San Diego State—by a combined 83-37 in their three victories.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza is confidently completing 70.1% of his passes, while a group of skilled players, including Jaivian Thomas and Nyziah Hunter, have stepped up in the absence of star running back Jaydn Ott and transfer wide receivers Kyion Grayes and Tobias Merriweather.
“It reflects the high standards we set for our offense and how we execute,” said Mendoza, who hails from Florida.
In contrast, Florida State’s offense has struggled significantly.
The Seminoles have a -26 point differential after losses to Georgia Tech, Boston College, and most recently Memphis. Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei has faced criticism for his conference-low 56.6 completion percentage and has thrown two interceptions against just one touchdown. The FSU offense ranks last in the ACC with only four touchdowns and averages just 2.2 rushing yards per play, relying heavily on short passes due to Uiagalelei’s inconsistency.
“The explosive plays are there; they just haven’t hit their stride yet,” said Cal defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon regarding FSU’s faltering offense.
Last year, Uiagalelei threw five touchdowns in a win over Cal while averaging 11 yards per completion. Since then, he has gone 3-6 as a starter this season with an average of just 6.7 yards per completion. Backup quarterback Brock Glenn may see significant playing time.
Ultimately, Saturday’s game will likely hinge on Cal’s offensive performance.
Florida State’s defense allows an average of 24 points per game but is hampered by an offense that ranks 119th among FBS teams in time of possession at just 25:03. In contrast, Cal ranks 13th with an average of 34:00 minutes.
“FSU’s defense is really talented,” noted Cal offensive coordinator Mike Bloesch. “They have one of the most athletic front lines we’ve encountered since I’ve been here.”
Cal’s strategy for success is straightforward: maintain their current performance level.
The Bears have balanced their rushing and passing attacks effectively at 44.5% and 55.5%, respectively. Wilcox mentioned that everyone except Grayes, Merriweather, and defensive back Matthew Littlejohn is likely to play, suggesting that Ott and key offensive linemen Sioape Vatikani and Will McDonald could return.
Cal’s defense leads the nation with nine interceptions, with defensive backs Nohl Williams and Marcus Harris excelling behind strong linebacker play from Cade Uluave and Teddye Buchanan. David Reese’s anticipated return should bolster the efforts of Xavier Carlton and Aidan Keanaaina on the line.
There’s a renewed excitement around Cal football that hasn’t been felt in years.
“People are excited about the Bears on campus,” Mendoza remarked. “Everyone—on the team and outside—feels it. None of this 3-0 record matters if we don’t win this next game.”
Cal hasn’t started a season 4-0 since 2019 and could potentially enter the rankings with a victory.
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