SMU at CAL
Records: Cal 6-5 overall, 3-4 in ACC; No. 21 SMU 8-3, 6- in ACC
Kickoff: 5 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium
TV: ESPN2
Radio: 810-AM
Series history: SMU leads 2-0. The Mustangs won 38-6 last year in Dallas. This is their first visit to Berkeley since 1957, when they beat Cal 13-7.
Cal storylines: The Bears take the field without nine-year coach Justin Wilcox, who was fired last Sunday following the Bears’ 31-10 collapse in the Big Game at Stanford. Interim head coach Nick Rolovich, who is among at least 14 names on general manager Ron Rivera’s list of potential replacements, indicated Tuesday he likely would be open to remaining on the staff even if someone else is chosen as coach. Rolovich served most of this season as senior offensive analyst . . . Freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, with 2,787 passing yards, needs 117 more yards to move ahead of Aaron Rodgers into the No. 10 spot on Cal’s single-season list . . . Senior defensive lineman Aidan Keanaaina, one of the team’s most underrated players, has 49 tackles, the most by a Cal D-lineman since Luc Bequette in 209.
SMU storylines: At No. 21 in the College Football Playoff rankings and 25th in the AP Top-25, SMU clinches a spot in the ACC championship game with a win at Cal. If the Mustangs lose, there are three complicated (and unlikely) tiebreaker formulas that still can land them a bid . . . SMU has won six of its past seven games, coinciding with 10 new starters joining the lineup after a 35-24 loss at TCU led the Mustangs at 2-2 . . . Quarterback Kevin Jennings, who has passed for 3,113 yards with 24 touchdowns, threw for 225 yards and two TDs i SMU’s win over Cal last season . . . Rhett Lashlee whose team is 14-1 in ACC regular-season games in two seasons, signed a contract extension a month ago through 2032 that reportedly makes him one of the 10 highest-paid coaches in the country.
Stats that matter: Cal wide receiver Jacob De Jesus, with 53 catches over the past five games, leads the ACC and is third nationally with 87 receptions. He needs 14 over the final two games to break Dameane Douglas’ 1998 single-season program record of 100 receptions . . . Cornerback Hezekiah Masses leads the nation with 17 passes defended, including five interceptions that are tied for the most in FBS . . . SMU is the only team in the country ranking in the top-5 nationally in both interceptions (17) and fumble recoveries (10). That adds up to the Mustangs leading the nation with 27 takeaways.
— JEFF FARAUDO