Cal enters the game 6-7 overall and 2-6 in conference play, seeking the program's first winning season since 2019. Oregon State is 5-7 overall and 1-0 in Pac-12 play and will host at Reser Stadium. Cal faces heightened expectations from Chancellor Rich Lyons and new general manager Ron Rivera, and freshman left-handed QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele will make his debut. Multiple offensive line transfers will start for Cal, including Jordan Spasojevic-Moko and Tyson Ruffins. Oregon State is led by transfer QB Maalik Murphy and returns leading rusher Anthony Hankerson and receiver Trent Walker. Coach Trent Bray has added defensive coordinator duties to his head coaching role. Cal's defense had 22 takeaways last season but lost several interception-producing defensive backs.
Cal storylines: The Bears face pressure to assemble their first winning season since 2019. Cal played in bowl games each of the past two seasons, but finished 6-7 each time. Chancellor Rich Lyons has said that a .500 season is not acceptable and new general manager Ron Rivera, who is working with coach Justin Wilcox but reports directly to Lyons, described a successful season as eight or nine wins . . .
The Beavers are led by 6-foot-5, 234-pound redshirt junior quarterback Maalik Murphy, a transfer from Duke, who passed for 2,933 yards and a program-record 26 touchdowns last season. After spending the two previous seasons at Texas, Murphy directed the Blue Devils to a 9-3 record as a starter . . . For the first time since 2019, OSU returns both its leading rusher and receiver. Senior Anthony Hankerson rushed for 1,082 yards and 15 TDs and senior Trent Walker caught 81 passes for 901 yards . . .
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