What to know before Cal kicks off at San Diego State

"Cal storylines: The Bears close out non-conference play, seeking their first 4-0 start since 2019, when they had their most recent winning campaign at 8-5. Cal has won three straight games by double-digit margins for the first time since the start of the 2009 season. Freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele won ACC Rookie of the Year honors for the second time in three weeks after passing for a season-high 279 yards with three touchdowns in the Bears' 27-14 win over Minnesota. Senior cornerback Hezekiah Masses is one of five players nationally with three interceptions. Fourteen Cal receivers have at least one catch and six different players have caught touchdowns."

"San Diego State storylines: The Aztecs, coming off a bye last week, opened their season with a 42-0 home victory over FCS-level Stony Brook, then lost 36-13 at Washington State a week later. SDSU joins the new-look Pac-12 next season, along with Boise State, Fresno State and Colorado State. Junior quarterback Jayden Denegal has thrown for 340 yards and two touchdowns in two games without an interception. He is a 6-foot-5, 230-pound transfer from Michigan, who was the backup QB on the Wolverines' 2023 national championship team. Junior edge Trey White, a first-team All-Mountain West pick last season when he had 18.5 tackles for loss, including 12.5 sacks, was named 2025 preseason MWC defensive player of the year. Second-year head coach Sean Lewis, who served as offensive coordinator at Colorado under Deion Sanders in 2023, was 3-9 last season in his debut season. He previously was 24-31 in five seasons (2018-22) as head coach at Kent State."

Cal is 3-0 overall and closes non-conference play seeking a first 4-0 start since 2019. Cal's defense ranks 19th nationally, allowing 10.7 points per game, and the team has won three straight games by double digits for the first time since 2009. Freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele recently passed for a season-high 279 yards and three touchdowns. Senior cornerback Hezekiah Masses has three interceptions. San Diego State is 1-1, opened with a 42-0 win over Stony Brook, then lost at Washington State. Junior QB Jayden Denegal has 340 passing yards and two touchdowns without an interception through two games.

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