Cal makes its first appearance in the postseason since 2019 on Saturday night at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana, and the Bears will see a lot that is familiar in their opponent.
Cal and Texas Tech have a lot in common, starting with their unspectacular 6-6 records.
The Bears and Red Raiders are meeting for just the second time ever, and the first one came in a bowl game that felt like a consolation prize for Cal. It was 2004 at the Holiday Bowl, and the Bears were still smarting over being leapfrogged by Texas for a berth in the Rose Bowl.
Even with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, Cal lost to Texas Tech 45-31 that night in San Diego.
The Bears should be much more motivated for the rematch, having won their final three regular-season games to become bowl eligible. The Red Raiders won three in a row to earn their spot in the postseason before ending their schedule with a 57-7 beatdown by Texas.
As it stands now. this will be Cal’s final game as a member of the Pac-12 Conference. The Bears move to the Atlantic Coast Conference beginning next fall.
The Red Raiders of the Big 12 Conference are listed as 2 1/2-point favorites.
We’ll find out Saturday what actually separates these teams, but there is a lot that appears similar:
Running back: Both teams lean on a productive back. Texas Tech senior Tahj Brooks has rushed for 1,443 yards and Cal sophomore Jaydn Ott has gained 1,260. Brooks is fourth nationally at 120.2 yards per game, Ott seventh at 114.5.
Ott carried the ball 84 times for 413 yards and scored four touchdowns during the Bears’ three must-win games to close the season. Three weeks off has him recharged. “I just feel like I’m back at the beginning of the season,” Ott said. “My body’s not as beat up anymore.”
Quarterback: Both teams shuffled through three QBs before settling on a starter. Cal tried Sam Jackson V and Ben Finley before handing the reins to redshirt freshman Fernando Mendoza, whose only other offer out of high school came from the Ivy League. Mendoza has thrown multiple touchdown passes in six of his seven starts, success that prompted both Jackson and Finley to enter the transfer portal.
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For the second straight season, sophomore Behren Morton became Tech’s starter when one-time Oregon quarterback Tyler Shough was injured. One of the Red Raiders’ most heralded recruits, Morton has dealt with a shoulder injury of his own but in nine games has thrown for 1,498 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Freshmen stars at inside linebacker: Cal freshman Cade Uluave was on the scout team when fall camp began and was even moved briefly to running back when the Bears began mounting injuries there. But after All-Pac-12 senior Jackson Sirmon tore a biceps muscle and was lost for the season, Uluave got his chance and made big play after big play, finishing with 58 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries, including one he returned 51 yards for a touchdown against Washington State.
Uluave was voted Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, and Ott believes he will help the Bears defuse star running back Brooks. “Cade Uluave is going to be all over him,” Ott said.
Texas Tech redshirt freshman Ben Roberts, a low-profile recruit, was moved into the starting lineup in Week 2 after a foot injury to Jacob Rodriguez. Roberts has gone on to make 100 tackles, tops on the team, earning him co-Defensive Freshman of the Year honors in the Big 12.
Roster connections: Three members of the Texas Tech coaching staff previously worked under Justin Wilcox at Cal, including Tim DeRuyter, who served as defensive coordinator for the Bears and does so for the Red Raiders.
Starting safeties Patrick McMorris (77 tackles, 1 interception) of Cal and C.J. Baskerville (73 tackles, 1 interception) of Texas Tech were teammates at San Diego State last season.
