I know there are mixed feelings about what PFF offers, but it is a good tool to have to at least shed some light on things that could have been missed in the previous game. Each week my plan is to go through the grades and relay any pertinent information that I find when perusing through the various analytics and grades from the service. If there's anything of particular interest to any of you let me know and I can seek out that info from PFF.

Without further ado, here is this week's breakdown of the PFF numbers after Cal's season-opening win over UC Davis.

OFFENSE

Top 5 overall grades

1. WR Nyziah Hunter - 77.6 (28 snaps)
2. RB Jaydn Ott - 73.7 (37 snaps)
3. QB Fernando Mendoza - 72.9 (47 snaps)
4. OL Bastian Swinney - 70.5 (67 snaps)
5. WR Mikey Matthews - 69.6 (18 snaps)

Top 5 individual grades

1. OL Bastian Swinney - 84.9 (pass blocking)
2. OL Matthew Wykoff - 82.5 (pass blocking)
3. OL T.J. Session - 79.7 (pass blocking)
4. WR Mikey Matthews - 78.2 (run blocking)
5. WR Nyziah Hunter - 77.0 (passing game)

Snaps played

1. OL Rush Reimer - 67
2. OL T.J. Session - 67
3. OL Bastian Swinney - 67
4. OL Nick Morrow - 64
5. OL Matthew Wykoff - 64
6. QB Fernando Mendoza - 47
7. WR Mavin Anderson - 46
8. WR Trond Grizzell - 41
9. TE Jack Endries - 38
10. RB Jaydn Ott - 37
11. WR Jonathan Brady - 34
12. TE Corey Dyches - 34
13. WR Nyziah Hunter - 28
14. QB Chandler Rogers - 20
15. WR Mikey Matthews - 18
16. RB Jaivian Thomas - 18
17. WR Mason Starling - 17
18. RB Byron Cardwell - 11
19. TE J.T. Byrne - 9
20. WR Jordan King - 3
21. OL Trent Ramsey - 3
22. OL Victor Stoffel - 3
23. RB Kadarius Calloway - 1

DEFENSE

Top 5 overall grades

1. ILB Cade Uluave - 89.7 (74 snaps)
2. OLB Ryan McCulloch - 84.8 (44 snaps)
3. OLB Myles Williams - 83.5 (21 snaps)
4. DL Aidan Keanaaina - 83.3 (33 snaps)
5. CB Marcus Harris - 82.8 (69 snaps)

Top 5 individual grades

1. ILB Cade Uluave - 84.7 (coverage)
2. DL Aidan Keanaaina - 83.2 (run defense)
3. CB Marcus Harris - 83.1 (coverage)
4. OLB Ryan McCulloch - 81.8 (pass rush)
5. DB Craig Woodson - 81. 2 (tackling)

Snaps played

1. ILB Teddye Buchanan - 74
2. ILB Cade Uluave - 74
3. CB Nohl Williams - 70
4. CB Marcus Harris - 69
5. OLB Xavier Carlton - 50
6. DB Miles Williams - 48
7. OLB Ryan McCulloch - 44
8. DB Matthew Littlejohn - 40
9. DB Craig Woodson - 37
10. DL Nate Burrell - 36
11. DL Aidan Keanaaina - 33
12. DB Lu-Magia Hearns - 31
13. DL TJ Bollers - 29
14. DB Isaiah Crosby - 26
15. DL Ricky Correia - 25
16. OLB Cheikh Fall - 24
17. OLB Myles Williams - 21
18. DB Ryan Yaites - 20
19. DB Cam Sidney - 17
20. DL Derek Wilkins - 10
21. OLB David Reese - 9
22. DL Stanley Saole-McKenzie - 8
23. OLB Serigne Tounkara - 8
24. DB Ja'ir Smith - 5
25. CB Collin Gamble - 4
26. ILB Hunter Barth - 2

NOTES

• As a team, Cal's 89.7 was good enough for the 19th-best grade in Week 1. It's defensive grade was even better with the Bears securing a spot at No. 5 among all FBS teams with a 90.6 grade on that side of the ball. Their coverage grade of 90.0 was also good enough for fifth nationally. Cal also received a high mark in the run defense category with an 88.0, which was 15th among all FBS teams in Week 1.
• The Bears scored low in the tackling, receiving and pass protection categories overall. Total, PFF credited three players with at least two missed tackles and the team had eight missed tackles overall.
• On the positive side, the defensive line applied 16 total pressures and hit the quarterback five times and had two batted passes.
• The rushing breakdown was: 8 runs to the left, 11 up the middle and 12 to the right side with the most success (5.3 yards per attempt) coming when running off the left guard.

Will be bringing this to you every week after Cal plays, but it will be a deeper dive into what I noticed in the game. It will start with three things that stood out and we learned after the game, two surprises and one prediction. Check it out and let me know what you think.

9-4 last week for 11-4 for the year. 1-0 for my lock of the week for 2-0 for the year. https://cal.forums.rivals.com/threads/lets-pick-the-acc-week-1-games.32906/

Home team in Italics

SMU by 10.5 over BYU - BYU?

Northwestern by 2.5 over Duke - Going with Duke. Northwestern is garbage.

Georgia Tech by 3.5 over Syracuse - Line is suspiciously low. Georgia Tech?

North Carolina by 22.5 over Charlotte - North Carolina?

Auburn by 13.5 over Cal - Was not impressed at all by our lines, but 13.5 smells like an overreaction. Cal covers in wilcox moral victory fashion.

Louisville by 28.5 over Jacksonville State - Jacksonville State?

Virginia Tech by 19.5 over Marshall - Virginia Tech?

Wake Forest by 2.5 over Virginia - I have Virginia.

Tennessee by 7.5 over NC State - Another suspiciously low line, but I'll take Tenn.



Non conference lock of the week: Oregon by 18.5 over Boise State - Not sold on Boise necessarily, but absolutely convinced Oregon is overrated. Boise covers.

Who's rolling thru to Auburn? My son and I are going, my friend is bringing his two sons. 3 others are in our group but gonna attend the Official Cal Tailgate. Anyone else hosting a tailgate? We'd be happy to contribute to beer/food

Looking forward to this trip!

Go Bears!

What a shithole SF is.

Pearsall is tough AF but this does not help the depth chart much

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Looking like a Sonny dykes team so far

Game info

Who: Cal (0-0) vs. UC Davis (0-0)
When: 2:00 p.m.
Where: California Memorial Stadium | Berkeley, Calif.
TV and/or streaming: ACC Network Extra (ESPN+)
Radio: 810 AM | SiriusXM: 113 or 202
All-time series: Cal leads 11-0
Odds: Cal (-20.5), O/U (54)

Cal is set to open the season this afternoon and the Bears are heading into their matchup with UC Davis as a heavy favorite. There have been some lingering questions throughout camp that will begin to be answered Saturday when the team takes the field for its eighth season under Justin Wilcox. I will be at California Memorial Stadium to bring you full coverage of the matchup from start to finish, so stay locked in as I'll post updates before the game during and after.

As always, I invite you to join the conversation throughout the day. It's game day!

Pregame notes

- In case you missed it, Fernando Mendoza is expected to get the start at quarterback today while Chandler Rogers is also expected to see the field in the opener. I'll pass along any other pregame notes when I arrive in the press box.

- Here are the captains for today's game, and it seems positive that Craig Woodson is one of them. He missed nearly all of training camp with an injury but would certainly be a welcome addition when the Bears hit the field.

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- Today's uniform combo

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- The timeline of events for Game 1

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Same format (mostly) with weekly and season-long contests.

WEEKLY

The math is simple. It's the number of points off you are for each side. So if you guess Cal 31, UC Davis 14 and it's Cal 42-10 then you were off 11 on Cal and 4 on Davis. That equals 15, which is your score for the week.

Every year I get asked to add in a penalty for picking the wrong winner, and I'm finally going to acquiesce. If you pick the wrong winner it's an additional 5 tacked on.

The lowest score each week wins and gets 2 free months added on to subscription. Hit the score exactly and get a $50 Amazon gift card (max 3 winners per any week, based on order of picks submitted).

SEASON-LONG

The season-long contest is the average of your weekly scores. If you play every week, you get to drop your two worst scores and they won't count toward your average. Or you can miss up to two weeks and still be eligible. You can miss one week and drop one bad score. Etc. Either way, the final tally will be the average of everyone's 11 best weekly scores, including potential bowl game (or 10 if no bowl game).

We will post the standings each week. After four games, we'll apply the dropped weeks, so the standings will shift at that point. I wouldn't pay much attention to them until then.

Prizes:

1st -- $150 Amazon gift card

2nd -- $100 Amazon gift card

3rd -- $50 Amazon gift card

4th -- 3 comped months

5th -- 3 comped months

Any questions? Fire away.

Otherwise, get those picks in! Thread will lock at kickoff.

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A bit of a poorly kept secret at this stage, but Cal is expected to start Fernando Mendoza this afternoon in the season opener against UC Davis. Mendoza battled with North Texas transfer Chandler Rogers throughout the offseason, and the staff had a difficult time arriving at any kind of decision so the plan right now is to get both in the game today.

This is in line with how things played out during training camp and led to Justin Wilcox not naming a starter publicly this week. I'd expect that you see pretty even reps today even if one guy is playing better than the other (assuming Cal has control in the contest) and I don't think it's out of the question that you see CJ Harris get his feet wet a little bit as well.

Next week is when a true decision has to be made, so today's game will be an audition of sorts for Mendoza and Rogers. The staff has to see what each guy can offer in a game.

"I feel really good about the quarterback room," Wilcox said this week. "It's been very competitive in there, and really looking forward to watching that position compete."

McCall looks like ass...nerves? They're also not doing shit at the line of scrimmage, getting out-rushed in the first half?

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We have a podcast! Ryan and I took some time to chat ahead of Cal's season opener against UC Davis. We offer up an extensive review of what I saw during camp and highlight some of the notable topics for the Bears heading into Week 1. Check it out and we're open to name suggestions as well!

Here are the recruits we're expecting to be at Cal's opener tomorrow:

2025s
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2026s
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OT Terrence Johnson, Valley Christian HS

And maybe another notable name for 2025, but not confirmed yet. I'll wait and see what happens tomorrow.

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A change for this season as Cal moves to the ACC is that there are no more restrictions on student sections being situated behind the visiting sideline. Coincidentally, the Bears have now formally announced that the home sideline will now be on the west side of California Memorial Stadium. That'll put the Bears in the shade on the press box side for any afternoon games. The students are going to remain in place on the east sideline meaning they will be directly behind the visiting bench. Could be a nice little home-field advantage for Cal.

The Pac-12 did not allow its teams to have students behind the visiting benches.

Cal's Week 1 depth chart has been released this afternoon. If you read my camp reports and previous depth chart projections, then you shouldn't see many (if any) surprises. Justin Wilcox did say yesterday that there are some game-time decisions regarding injuries, but as I specified in my last depth chart projection, I anticipated those players still being listed (which I also did). So, don't expect that everyone that you see on this list will play this weekend or potentially even in the coming weeks specifically at receiver.

- Fernando Mendoza is listed atop the quarterback list with an "or" separating he and Chandler Rogers with CJ Harris listed third. At this point, I expect Mendoza to get the start based on tenure within the program, but would also expect that you see both he and Rogers against Davis.

- The running back spot has played out in a similar fashion behind Jaydn Ott. Jaivian Thomas, who probably had the most consistent camp, is listed as the backup to Ott with an "or" separating all three players among that group. Thomas, Kardarius Calloway and Byron Cardwell will all get their opportunities and each worked with the second group at different points in camp.

- The receiver position is going to be a bit of a mix for a bit. Jonathan Brady spent a lot of time with the first unit at the end of camp, so don't be surprised if he ends up getting the start on Saturday. I'd suspect that Mavin Anderson gets the start in the slot but the several "ors" at the position is not a huge shock with Trond Grizzell getting plenty of time at the position throughout camp as well. Mikey Matthews and Josiah Martin missed most of camp, so we'll see what happens with them in the opener.

- Matthews did come on as a backup holder late in camp, and he is second on the depth chart behind Lachlan Wilson for that job on the depth chart. There's also a secret long snapper that you could see at some point this season too 🧐

- The offensive line played out exactly as it did for most of camp. There were a couple moves at different points earlier in camp, but the unit remained intact for the second half of the month. So, it is not a shock to see it look like it does. If Sioape Vatikani is not able to play, then you will see Bastian Swinney move into that right guard spot. The only thing that is a little surprising is Victor Stoffel and Nick Morrow being separated with an "or" at left tackle. Morrow had that job locked up for most of camp, and the staff has referred to him as the starter at the position. Stoffel has left some things to be desired with his play through the fall, but he does have experience on his side. My guess is they both play Saturday with Morrow getting the start.

- Cam Sidney being slotted as the third man at boundary safety is a little surprising as well considering he ran almost exclusively with the first unit as Craig Woodson worked his way back from injury in camp. Woodson will start if healthy but Ryan Yaites has certainly made a move behind closed doors based on the depth chart. He did start to shine more as camp went on.

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As we know cal football is where hope goes to die. I don't think this is very scientific but interesting at least.


other teams we play:

NC State 100%
Syracuse 98% (ok)
Florida State 96% (I'm going to guess this was before last sat)
SMU 93% (same as FSU)
Miami 86%
Auburn 84%
Oregon State 56%
Wake Forest 50%
Furd 42%
Pitt 28% (wow)

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We just got off our zoom media session with Justin Wilcox, and there is no news to report regarding the quarterback competition. Justin Wilcox says he didn't see a benefit to naming one today, so the process moves ahead. He again left open the possibility of playing more than one in the opener.

Offensive coordinator Mike Bloesch mentioned all three quarterbacks as having made strides up to this point with CJ Harris being part of that group with Fernando Mendoza and Chandler Rogers.

Here is the full transcript of everything Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said during his first weekly press conference of the season Monday. Wilcox provided an update on the last few days of practice plus his overview for what to expect from the Bears as they prepare to open the season Saturday against UC Davis. I've also included the full video of Monday's press conference plus the media sessions with coordinators Mike Bloesch and Peter Sirmon plus tight end Jack Endries and inside linebacker Cade Uluave.

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2-0 last week for 2-0 for the year 1-0 last week for my lock of the week for 1-0 for the year. https://cal.forums.rivals.com/threads/lets-pick-the-acc-week-0-games.32903/

Home team in Italics

NC State by 34.5 over North Carolina A&T - No idea. North Carolina A&T?

North Carolina by 1.5 over Minnesota - Apparently lots of turmoil at Minnesota. North Carolina covers.

Duke by 23.5 over Elon - No idea. Just know Duke isn't supposed to be good. Elon?

TCU by 9.5 over Furd - Seems like a lot of points for a Sonny Dykes team. Furd covers.

Georgia by 13.5 over Clemson - Georgia rolls.

Virginia Tech by 13.5 over Vanderbilt - Not fully buying the Virginia Tech hype but this isnt' a lot of points. Virginia Tech covers.

Pittsburg by 24.5 over Kent State - Kent State covers.

Miami by 2.5 over Florida - Also not buying the Miami hype, but I still think they beat florida. Miami covers.

Syracuse by 17.5 over Ohio - Ohio

Cal by 20.5 over UC Davis - Seems about right. I don't see the offense going crazy. UC Davis covers?

Georgia Tech by 21.5 over Georgia State - Letdown. Georgia State.

SMU by 44.5 over Houston Christian - Never heard of Houston Christian, but they cover.

Florida State by 17.5 over Boston College - BC isn't good, but I guess they cover.



Non conference lock of the week: Memphis by 48.5 over North Alabama - North Alabama covers.

Anybody watch this movie? It was just released on Netflix and is about the sign stealing scandal at Michigan last year. It goes in depth on Connor Stalions story. Interesting parts include:

• accusations that all the other programs do this & there's a network a sign stealers that trade
• Stalions was hacked and he/his attorneys believe the hackers were connected to Ohio State; interesting twist towards the end when the NCAA questions Stalions
• obvious parts where Stalions is lying, though playfully; it made me question whether to believe anything he said, especially as it comes to advanced scouting;
• how much Stalions was willing to jump on the grenade for Michigan, only to be hung out to dry
• Harbaugh and others leaving Michigan as NCAA mulls over punishment
• Stalions lawyer and his position on how evil and corrupt the NCAA is

It's a 1.5 movie and goes by pretty quickly.

It reminded me a bit of Tosh and the whole fiasco with Oregon and the purple cards. It also made me wonder how much this went on in the P12. It also comes back to a thread I posted a few days ago on big time programs who have a ton of "analysts" on staff.

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Cal hosted three-star running back Nate Sheppard over the weekend on his first trip to the Bay Area. Running backs coach Aristotle Thompson has done a good job of selling the Louisiana native on the chance to play early with the Bears, but Sheppard wanted to get a feel for the school and area on its own as well.

Duke hosted him a few weeks ago and he'll visit Northwestern this week then come to a decision. The Bears are right in the mix, and left him with a positive impression over the weekend.

"Obviously, it's different from the South, so that's something that was new for me. I haven't been that far up in California before, so that was the first time. I was really surprised by their facilities and their campus. I knew it was a nice high-academic school, but I didn't know their facilities were so nice and how nice their campus is. Then, the coaching staff. Coach AT is so running back sound, and his coaching style is so unique to him."

Read my full update with the 2025 recruit at the link above.

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Sept. 13-15 is shaping up to be a key weekend for the basketball program and its recruiting efforts. One of the visitors expected to make the trek out to Berkeley that weekend is four-star power forward Toni Bryant from North Tampa Christian in Florida. The top-50 recruit played in front of the Bears' coaches with his high school team at the Section 7 event in Arizona back in June, and he has been on the radar now for a bit. His game is a nice fit for what Mark Madsen is looking for and he has a good frame to build on over the next couple years.

Unlike on the football side, basketball recruits are allowed to take official visits as soon as their junior year begins giving Bryant an opportunity to get a paid trip out to the Bay Area.

He's also set an official visit for Ole Miss next month as well.

He's No. 14 in the clips below

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Sorry for not being around as much today, but the Sacramento trip did a number on me. First my camera broke AND THEN my check engine light came on while heading back down from the trip, so I have been dealing with some other things today.

However, Justin Wilcox will speak with the media tomorrow. It has been scheduled and should mostly be a catchup session about the last few days since he hasn't chatted with us since Saturday. It would be a surprise if there is any kind of QB announcement during the session at this stage.

I'll relay any important notes afterward regardless.

Well this should be easy this year. . .

Home team in Italics

Florida State over Georgia Tech by 10.5 - These ireland games tend to be close for at least a half. Georgia Tech covers.

SMU by 26 over Nevada - Nevada was bad this year, but I'm fading SMU until further notice. Nevada covers.



Non conference lock of the week: Hawaii over Delaware State by 40 - Not much to pick from. Delaware State covers.

This by itself has to pay for our acc share

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There's 1.6 million households with cable in the bay area