By R.L. Bynum
North Carolina (2–3, 0–1 ACC) at California (4–2, 1–1)
Stadium: California Memorial Stadium | artificial turf | capacity 51,892 | Berkeley, Calif.
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET Friday
TV: ESPN | Anish Scroff play-by-play (radio voice of the Carolina Panthers) | Andre Ware analyst (1989 Heisman Trophy winner) | Paul Carcaterra sideline reporter
Could start on another channel: ESPN airs the 7 p.m. Louisville at No. 2 Miami game, so if that goes long, UNC-Cal would start on another ESPN channel.
Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network (affiliates list; streams on the Varsity Network app);
Jones Angell play-by-play, Bryn Renner analyst and Lee Pace sideline reporter
Line (according to FanDuel Sportsbook): California -9½ | UNC is 2–3 vs. the spread. | Cal is 3–3 vs. the spread.
Moneylines: UNC +320 | California -405
Over/under: 47½
Forecast: 68° and mostly clear at kickoff with winds at 6 mph | 58° and clear when the game ends with winds at 5 mph
— UNC quarterback Gio Lopez, who missed the Clemson game, is not listed on the initial ACC availability report released Wednesday night by the ACC (listed below), so presumably has been practicing and could start.
— Cal running back Brandon High Jr., who is third on the team in rushing with 98 yards on 23 carries, is listed as out.
— Carolina is 2–3 in California, with losses in its last three games there: 28–17 to No. 15 Oregon in the 2022 Holiday Bowl in San Diego, 24–17 at Cal in 2018 and 37–34 at Stanford in 1998. The wins came 31–9 over USC on Aug. 29, 1993, at the Disneyland Pigskin Classic in Anaheim and 8–7 on Oct. 3, 1958, at Southern Cal.
— Cal has won both meetings. Cal rallied from a 17–13 halftime deficit at Kenan Stadium for a 35–30 win in Coach Justin Wilcox‘s Bears debut on Sept. 2, 2017. Cal won in Berkeley on Sept. 19, 2018 (mentioned in the above note).
— The Tar Heels, who also play at Syracuse the last Friday of this month, are 2–8 on Fridays, including losses in the previous four Friday games (two against N.C. State). The only Friday wins were 55–13 in the 2019 Military Bowl over Temple and 30–28 at N.C. State in 1995.
— UNC is 8–17 in ACC road openers, with the last win coming 25–24 at Miami in 2022.
— True freshman Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (top photo) has thrown for at least 200 yards in all six games, including three in which he threw for three touchdowns and seven interceptions. The left-hander ranks sixth in the ACC in passer efficiency (129.2) and passing yards per game (246.5). His passing yards per game rank 32nd in the country, and his 1,479 total passing yards are fifth-most in the conference and 33rd in the nation.
— Cal’s talented quarterback won’t have to deal with Thad Dixon, UNC’s best defensive back, who is out with a left arm injury.
— The Bears’ defense is giving up 207.3 passing yards per game, which is fifth in the ACC. Cal has given up only four passing touchdowns this season, the fewest in the league and tied for fourth-fewest in the country.
— Carolina 131st in total offense (264.8 yards per game, the second-lowest since 1970) and first downs (70; on pace for 178, which would be the fourth-lowest since 1970) among 134 FBS teams, 122nd in passing offense (162.6, the lowest since 2000 and sixth-lowest since 1985), and 119th in rushing (102.2, the third-lowest since 1970).
— Bears running back Kendrick Raphael, who ran for two touchdowns in the loss to Duke, has 414 rushing yards (8th in the ACC) on 93 carries (2nd in the ACC; 33rd in the country).
— Cal inside linebackers Cade Uluave and Luke Ferrelli have combined for 97 tackles (2nd-best by two teammates ACC). Uluave is third in the ACC and 27th in the NCAA in total tackles with 52, while Ferrelli is eighth in the conference and 69th in the NCAA with 45.
— The Bears are fourth in the ACC and 21st nationally in kickoff returns with a 22.22-yard average, and are fifth in the conference and 17th nationally in punt returns with a 12-yard average.
| Team | ACC | All |
|---|---|---|
| No. 16 Virginia | 7–1 | 10–2 |
| No. 12 Miami | 6–2 | 10–2 |
| No. 25 SMU | 6–2 | 8–4 |
| No. 24 Georgia Tech | 6–2 | 9–3 |
| Pittsburgh | 6–2 | 8–4 |
| Duke | 6–2 | 7–5 |
| Louisville | 4–4 | 8–4 |
| Wake Forest | 4–4 | 8–4 |
| California | 4–4 | 7–5 |
| Clemson | 4–4 | 7–5 |
| N.C. State | 4–4 | 7–5 |
| Stanford | 3–5 | 4–8 |
| Florida State | 2–6 | 5–7 |
| North Carolina | 2–6 | 4–8 |
| Virginia Tech | 2–6 | 3–9 |
| Syracuse | 1–7 | 3–9 |
| Boston College | 1–7 | 2–10 |
Friday’s result
No. 4 Georgia 16, No. 24 Georgia Tech 9
Saturday’s results
N.C. State 42, North Carolina 19
No. 12 Miami 38, Pittsburgh 7
Louisville 41, Kentucky 0
Clemson 28, South Carolina 14
Boston College 34, Syracuse 12
Duke 49, Wake Forest 32
Florida 40, Florida State 21
No. 16 Virginia 27, Virginia Tech 7
California 38, No. 25 SMU 35
No. 9 Notre Dame 49, Stanford 20
Saturday’s ACC championship game
No. 16 Virginia vs. Duke in Charlotte, 8 p.m., ABC
| Month/ date | Score/ time | Opponent | Record/ TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| September | |||
| 1 | L, 48–14 | vs. TCU | 0–1 |
| 6 | W, 20–3 | at Charlotte | 1–1 |
| 13 | W, 41–6 | vs. Richmond | 2–1 |
| 20 | L, 34–9 | at UCF | 2–2 |
| October | |||
| 4 | L, 38–10 | vs. Clemson | 2–3, 0–1 ACC |
| 17 (Fri.) | L, 21–18 | at California | 2–4, 0–2 |
| 25 | L, 17–16, OT | vs. No. 16 Virginia | 2–5, 0–3 |
| 31 (Fri.) | W, 27–10 | at Syracuse | 3–5, 1–3 |
| November | |||
| 8 | W, 20–15 | vs. Stanford | 4–5, 2–3 |
| 15 | L, 28–12 | at Wake Forest | 4–6, 2–4 |
| 22 | L, 32–25 | vs. Duke | 4–7, 2–5 |
| 29 | L, 42–19 | at N.C. State | 4–8, 2–6 |
Photo via calbears.com
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