The Cal Golden Bears (3-4) will be at home for the second straight week to take on their old Pac-12 football rivals, the Oregon State Beavers (4-3). Playing against the Beavers feels like a little bit of a return to normalcy – but under different circumstances.
These two schools have played against each other a total of 76 times, with Cal winning 39 games to Oregon State’s 37. However, the Beavers got the best of the Bears last season in a high-scoring affair. The game will take place at California Memorial Stadium with kickoff at 1 p.m. PST.
Key Players – Cal Golden Bears
We all know about Cal’s offensive struggles this season, but it seems like help is on the way. Wide receiver Tobias Merriweather is finally practicing this week with the hope of playing on Saturday.
Merriweather, a transfer from Notre Dame, was supposed to be one of the starting receivers for the Bears offense this season, but a lower-body injury has kept him sidelined up until this point. He has the size and speed that this offense has been lacking to take the top off. If he gets the chance to play this weekend, things should open up more for this offense, particularly in the red zone.
The defense has carried this team for the most part this season, and it’s being led by linebacker Teddye Buchanan.
Last week, Buchanan had one of the more impressive games that Cal has seen from a linebacker in quite some time. He finished Week 8 with a game-high 15 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a pass deflection.
The Beavers have a top-50 offense and have given Cal fits as of late. This is a big chance for Buchanan and his defense to shut them down early at home and help Cal get back in the win column.
Key Players – Oregon State Beavers
It’s another game for the Bears in which they will play a team with a good running back. Anthony Hankerson has been elite this season, averaging around 100 yards per game on the ground. He has 700 yards rushing already with a total of 13 touchdowns.
The Beavers rely on Hankerson to help carry the offense down the field, and he has done that this season. Oregon State does use multiple running backs, but Hankerson is their workhorse. The Cal defense will need to focus on stopping him early in this football game.
On defense, Oregon State hasn’t had much success this season putting pressure on the quarterback. Yet one player who has had some success, and accounts for almost half of their sacks, is outside linebacker Nikko Taylor.
The senior pass rusher has been a force on the Beavers’ defense. He also leads the team in tackles for loss with six. With Cal offensive tackle TJ Session likely out this week, Taylor and the rest of the Beaver defensive line are going to have their ears pinned back in this game.
Keys to the Football Game for Cal
This is a game that the Beavers have had circled on their calendar ever since realignment saw Cal go to the ACC and the Beavers left behind in the Pac-12. Oregon State probably feels like they deserved a bid into another conference, and they’re likely upset about it. They will more than likely open up the playbook with trick plays and specialized runs or passing plays.
With Cal losing four straight games, they have to find a way to be prepared for anything and everything to stop the bleeding. This is a game where both teams are very familiar with one another and involves some bad blood. If Cal can win this game, this puts them right back at .500 with some very beatable opponents to finish out the year.
Cody Henderson
I root for teams that only let me down. Talking all things Las Vegas Raiders and Cal Bears football. Follow me on X where I post my dramatic takes.