It’s a big game. They’re a good team from the Pac-12. A big-time name. We’ve got to prepare. A lot of last week’s practice was for Savannah State and our focus was there. But it was to prepare ourselves and give us momentum coming into this game. – BYU wide receiver Mitch Mathews
PROVO — Clinging to a modest three-game winning streak, including last Saturday’s 64-0 rout of Savannah State, BYU is looking to cap the regular season with a strong finish against a respectable opponent.
Cal (5-6), on the other hand, is coming off a 38-17 whipping at the hands of arch-rival Stanford last Saturday and needs a win to clinch bowl eligibility.
That’s what makes the regular-season finale between the Cougars and Golden Bears Saturday (2:30 p.m. MST, Pac-12 Networks) at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California, so intriguing and so important for both teams.
“We have a great challenge in front of us. They’re a Pac-12 school, a great offense,” said BYU quarterback Christian Stewart. “I feel like this is a game (against Savannah State) that we needed to tighten up a lot of execution things on our end as an offense. It’s taught us that we can put up numbers. We can play with Cal, for sure. We have a lot of confidence. We’ve won three games in a row. I feel like it will be a great way to close out the regular season.”
For the Cougars (7-4), Saturday’s game is a measuring stick for how far they’ve come since snapping their four-game losing streak at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 1.
“We kind of went through a rough patch and we’re trying to get on a winning streak now,” said defensive back Skye PoVey. “This is a chance to just prove that we’re a good team and that we’re playing well again. We want to make a statement.”
BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said his team built momentum last Saturday while blanking Savannah State in a game that saw him pull his starters midway through the second quarter.
The Cougars are excited about finishing the regular season with a game against a team from a Power-5 conference before it plays in the Miami Beach Bowl on Dec. 22.
“It’s a big game. They’re a good team from the Pac-12. A big-time name,” said wide receiver Mitch Mathews. “We’ve got to prepare. A lot of last week’s practice was for Savannah State and our focus was there. But it was to prepare ourselves and give us momentum coming into this game. They move the ball a lot and they score a lot of points. We trust the heck out of the defense to do what they do to stop them. … We’re grateful for this matchup and we’ve been looking forward to it for a long time. We’re excited to go to their place and show what we can do.”
Certainly, BYU’s defense will be tested against Cal’s explosive offense. Sophomore quarterback Jared Goff is No. 3 in the country in passing, having thrown for 3,580 yards, 31 touchdowns and six interceptions.
The Golden Bears are No. 5 nationally in passing offense (341.7 yards per game), No. 12 in scoring (38.5 points per game), and No. 15 in total offense (488.7 yards per game).
Against Stanford, Goff tied Cal’s record for touchdowns and broke his own school record for passing in a season. However, he threw for 182 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions against the Cardinal.
BYU’s defense, meanwhile, has been victimized this season by talented passers.
The Cougar defense set a school record for fewest yards allowed last weekend, as winless Savannah State gained only 63 yards of total offense.
“Certainly, this wasn’t a great gauge in terms of opponent,” Mendenhall said of his team’s defensive performance. “However, those statistical numbers, it’s hard to do more than that. In context, you have to say pretty impressive.”
BYU (7-4) at California (5-6)
LaVell Edwards Stadium
Saturday, 2:30 p.m. MST
TV: Pac-12 Networks
Radio: 1160 AM, 102.7 FM