Records: Cal 3-1, 0-1 within the ACC; No. 8 Miami 5-0, 1-0 within the ACC
Start: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium, Berkeley
TV: ESPN
Radio: 810 AM The Spread (KGO)
Series history: 2-2. Cal won their last meeting 24-17 on the 2008 Emerald Bowl in San Francisco. This shall be the primary meeting in Berkeley since 1990, when Russell White returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown on his first touch of the ball at Memorial Stadium because the defending champion Hurricanes cruised to a 52-24 victory
Cal storylines: The Bears are playing their first ACC home game since a 14-9 loss at Florida State two weeks ago of their latest conference debut. Cal had 410 yards of offense against the Seminoles but went and not using a touchdown for the primary time in 33 games. . . The Bears hope the bye week gives RB Jaydn Ott, a preseason All-ACC pick, a probability to get fully healthy. He rushed for a season-high 73 yards at FSU after sitting out the previous game with a sprained ankle. . . Guard Sioape Vatikani, who suffered a horrific head or neck injury at Florida State, will likely play against Miami. Starting player Matthew Littlejohn can also be expected back after three absences as a consequence of injury.
Miami storylines: The Hurricanes are coming off a detailed win for the primary time this season after defeating Virginia Tech 38-34 last Friday. . . Junior quarterback Cam Ward, a transfer from Washington State, leads the nation with 18 touchdown passes and is second with 1,782 passing yards. But he turned the ball over 3 times last week and did the identical thing a yr ago at Cal, allowing the Bears to attain two defensive touchdowns in a 42-39 win. . . Miami, ranked third nationally with 3.6 sacks per game, awaits the return of defensive end Rueben Bain Jr., the reigning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, who was injured on the primary series of the season opener.
Key stats: Miami ranks second nationally in scoring at 49.4 points per game, while Cal ranks twelfth nationally (and within the ACC) in defense at 12.8 points. The Bears have held 4 straight opponents to 14 points or fewer for the primary time since 1979. . . Cal ranks one hundred and thirtieth nationally in sacks allowed with 4.0 per game, including 13 within the last two games.
– JEFF FARAUDO
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