9.6.24 Football Articles

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247sports.com

Auburn Opponent Preview A deep dive into the Cal Bears

Jason Caldwell

7–9 minutes

After winning three straight games against SEC competition prior to last season's Auburn win in Berkeley, the Cal Bears head to Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time in a rematch from last season's 14-10 win for the Tigers. Much like Auburn, Cal comes into the game with a big group of first-year players with 54 Bears playing their first season with the program, including 28 transfers.

Everything starts on defense for the Bears with head coach Justin Wilcox and coordinator Peter Sirmon known for producing big things on that side of the ball. It's all built around creating turnovers, something they did a good job of last season with 28 takeaways, which tied for the lead nationally. They picked up where they left off in the 2024 season opener with three interceptions in a 31-13 victory over UC Davis, allowing just 230 yards of total offense.

Up front, Nate Burrell (6-2, 285) and Aidan Keanaaina (6-3, 320) were the starters on the interior defensive line for the Bears in the first game. A returner, Burrell had five tackles while the Notre Dame transfers Keanaaina had a career high four tackles and one PBU. Behind them, Wisconsin transfer T.J. Bollers (6-2, 290) is the top option for a Cal defensive front that played just six players in the first game.

On the outside, big Xavier Carlton (6-6, 275) and David Reese (6-2, 240) are back after playing in all 13 games for Cal a season ago and combining for 83 tackles, 11 sacks and 13.5 tackles for a loss. Reese was limited to just eight snaps in the season opener. Behind them, the top backup is 6-3, 245 Ryan McCulloch.

At middle linebacker, UC Davis transfer Teddye Buchanon (6-2, 235) and Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year Cad Ulave (6-1, 240) give Cal a strong duo to build around. Buchanon played four seasons at UC Davis and had more than 200 tackles for the Aggies while Ulave led all Pac-12 freshmen with 66 tackles while adding 2.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for a loss.

In the secondary, Cal brings in one of the most experienced groups in the country with 10 different players combining to play in 253 college games with 150 starts. The star of the group may be 6-1, 200 senior Nohl Williams. Adding his eighth career interception, Williams also had an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The player that came into the season with the most hype is 6-0, 210 Craig Woodson. In his sixth year at Cal, Woodson has started the last 26 games and has 179 career tackles and three interceptions.

Offensively everything for Cal's offense begins with running back Jadyn Ott. A preseason All-ACC selection, Ott has 2,261 rushing yards in his first 25 games as a Bear. He's third on the active list in yards per game at 90.4, but is questionable to play this week after being injured in last week's season opener. Playing just a few series, Ott still managed 49 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries and added four catches for 83 yards. Behind him, Cal features Jaivian Thomas (5-10, 190 and big back Byron Cardwell (6-0, 215).

At quarterback, Cal brings back Fernando Mendoza after he completed 63 percent of his passes last year for 1,708 yards and 14 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. Against UC Davis, Mendoza was 15-22 for 158 yards and one touchdown and an interception while North Texas transfer Chandler Rogers was 3-6 with 21 yards. 

Maybe the most dangerous player on offense besides Ott is Maryland tight end transfer Corey Dyches. At 6-2, 220, he's more like a glorified wide receiver and he enters Saturday with over 100 career receptions for more than 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns. Last year he caught 49 passes for 491 yards and two touchdowns for the Terps, but did not play in the bowl game vs. Auburn in Nashville.

Not playing in a game last season, 6-2, 210 Nyziah Hunter was third-team during preseason camp but led the way in the opener with four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. Marvin Anderson (6-0, 200) was second on the team with four catches for 34 yards after an injury-plagued 2023 season limited him to just eight total receptions. Trond Grizzell (6-4, 205) is back after catching 39 passes for 590 yards last season while the Bears added transfers Jonathan Brady (New Mexico State), Mikey Matthews (Utah) and Tobias Merriweather (Notre Dame).

Along the offensive line, Mike Bloesch is in his second year coaching the position for the Bears while also handling the offensive coordinator duties for the first time. Three starters are back for a group that helped Cal average 172.8 yards rushing per game in 2023. Redshirt senior T.J. Session (6-4, 305) has played in 34 games with 31 starts and will be the right tackle for the Bears. In the middle they will feature a pair of transfers with Will McDonald (6-2, 305) from Coastal Carolina at center while Montana State transfer Rush Reimer (6-5, 305) is expected to get the start at left guard.

OFFENSE

WR (X) 

3 Kyion Grayes 6-0 190 R-So.

6 Jonathan Brady 5-10 180 Jr.

9 Mason Starling 6-4 200 R-Jr.

LT 

52 Nick Morrow 6-8 305 R-Fr.

- or - 78 Victor Stoffel 6-7 295 R-Sr.

69 Aiden Newbill 6-8 285 Fr.

LG 

63 Rush Reimer 6-5 305 Sr.

77 Braden Miller 6-6 310 R-So.

62 Syris Corley 6-4 290 Fr.

C 

66 Will McDonald 6-2 300 R-Sr.

74 Matthew Wykoff 6-6 325 R-Jr.

65 Dylan Jemtegaard 6-4 295 R-Jr.

RG 

71 Sioape Vatikani 6-4 320 Jr.

76 Bastian Swinney 6-6 290 R-Jr.

68 Trent Ramsey 6-5 295 R-Fr.

RT 

72 T.J. Session 6-4 305 R-Sr.

54 Frederick Williams III 6-5 295 R-Fr.

73 Tyler Knape 6-4 285 Fr.

TE 

87 Jack Endries 6-4 240 R-So.

10 Corey Dyches 6-2 220 Sr.

86 Jeffrey Johnson 6-5 250 R-Jr.

- or - 89 Ben Marshall 6-4 240 R-Fr.

QB 

15 Fernando Mendoza 6-5 225 R-So.

- or - 7 Chandler Rogers 6-0 200 R-Sr.

16 CJ Harris 6-4 220 R-So.

RB 

1 Jaydn Ott 6-0 210 Jr.

25 Jaivian Thomas 5-10 190 So.

- or - 2 Kadarius Calloway 6-0 220 Sr.

21 Byron Cardwell 6-0 215 R-So.

SLOT 

11 Mavin Anderson 6-0 200 R-Jr.

- or - 83 Trond Grizzell 6-4 205 R-Jr.

- or - 8 Mikey Matthews 5-9 180 So.

- or - 17 Josiah Martin 5-11 170 Fr.

WR (Z) 

5 Tobias Merriweather 6-5 195 Jr.

13 Nyziah Hunter 6-2 210 R-Fr.

80 Jordan King 6-2 210 R-So.

- or - 84 Jaiven Plummer 6-3 200 R-So.

DEFENSE

DT 

98 Nate Burrell 6-2 285 Jr.

- or - 88 TJ Bollers 6-2 290 R-Jr.

96 Derek Wilkins 6-5 285 R-Jr.

DT 

91 Ricky Correia 6-4 325 Sr.

- or - 47 Aidan Keanaaina 6-3 320 R-Jr.

94 Stanley Saole-McKenzie 6-2 320 R-Jr.

OLB 

44 Xavier Carlton 6-6 275 Sr.

17 Cheikhsaliou Fall 6-4 255 R-Jr.

- or - 92 Myles Williams 6-3 240 R-Jr.

ILB 

0 Cade Uluave 6-1 240 So.

46 Aaron Hampton 6-1 230 Fr.

57 BJ Jones 6-2 215 R-Fr.

ILB 

10 Teddye Buchanan 6-2 235 Sr.

31 Hunter Barth 6-2 230 R-Jr.

41 Luke Ferrelli 6-3 215 Fr.

OLB 

7 David Reese 6-2 240 R-Sr.

43 Ryan McCulloch 6-3 245 So.

18 Serigne Tounkara 6-2 235 R-Fr.

CB 

5 Marcus Harris 5-11 190 R-Sr.

13 Collin Gamble 5-10 190 R-Jr.

- or - 6 Ja'ir Smith 6-1 185 R-Jr.

S 

4 Miles Williams 6-0 190 R-Sr.

23 Isaiah Crosby 5-10 180 R-Jr.

- or - 9 Ryan Yaites 6-1 200 So.

S 

2 Craig Woodson 6-0 210 R-Sr.

9 Ryan Yaites 6-1 200 So.

- or - 20 Cam Sidney 5-11 180 R-So.

CB 

3 Nohl Williams 6-1 200 Sr.

21 Lu-Magia Hearns III 5-10 170 Sr.

- or - 6 Ja'ir Smith 6-1 185 R-Jr.

NB 

22 Matthew Littlejohn 5-11 195 R-Sr.

8 Jasiah Wagoner 5-11 180 So.

- or - 6 Ja'ir Smith 6-1 185 R-Jr

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si.com

3 Keys to Victory for Auburn Tigers against Cal Golden Bears

Terrance Biggs

~3 minutes

The Auburn Tigers welcome the Cal to Jordan-Hare on Saturday. The Golden Bears make the cross-country trek for the first time as a member of the ACC - a trek they're going to have to get used to. The Tigers turned the page on last Saturday's resounding victory and now look forward to an elevation in competition level. 

This is the second of five home games to start the 2024 season for Auburn, and the Tigers aim to send Cal back out west with a loss.  In order to start the season 2-0, Auburn must do the following to emerge winners. 

Ball Security

If you needed to find one aspect of the 73-3 drubbing of Alabama A&M that Auburn must correct, look no further than turnovers. The Tigers put the ball on the ground twice. Granted, the outcome of the game never fell into doubt. 

However, fumbles will swing the balance of games and teams rarely lose the turnover battle while winning going away. As a result, special emphasis on ball security must occur. California finished first in FBS last year in takeaways. They will give extra effort to trying to rip the ball away, even sacrificing yards to stand up the ball carrier looking to dislodge the football. 

Watch the Deep Routes

During their victory against UC Davis, California executed a rather conservative approach to the passing game. That runs counter to what Justin Wilcox, the head coach, mentioned in the offseason. Wilcox promised a vertical attack, and aggressive departure from their run heavy approach during his previous seasons in charge. 

Normally, when coaches want to establish a trend on offense and the team fails to accomplish this, they will force feed the ball to fit what they want. California will line up and look to get vertical as soon as possible, hoping to catch the Tigers sleeping, leading to big gains. 

Temper Expectations

Now, no one expects Auburn to hang seventy-three on California. Well, at least, they probably should not. As a result, scoring fewer points and still winning doesn't mean a worse victory. Auburn will possess the ball for more than the 25 minutes they had last year against Cal.

The offense, instead of trying to air Cal out in the same fashion they did against AAMU, they need to pound the ball, mix plays, establishing the run and the intermediate passing game before taking the ball off the top vertically.

Down the road, while facing SEC competition, the Tigers need to hit on all cylinders while exploring every facet of their offense.

Kickoff for Cal at Auburn is set for 2:30 CDT on ESPN2.

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lindyssports.com

 

Cal hopes to have RB Jaydn Ott ready against Auburn |

 

~3 minutes

---

Field Level Media

September 04, 2024 at 8:18 pm.

California will get a chance to get acquainted with the type of travel in its Atlantic Coast Conference future when the Golden Bears fly 2,400 miles to visit fellow unbeaten Auburn in a nonconference game Saturday afternoon.

The matchup will complete a home-and-home agreement between the new ACC school and the longtime Southeastern Conference power, one that began last September with a 14-10 Tigers win in Berkeley, Calif.

Cal (1-0) is expected to have star running back Jaydn Ott available for the rematch after the All-American candidate injured his left ankle in the Golden Bears’ 31-13 opening win at home over U.C. Davis last Saturday.

Cal coach Justin Wilcox, who is known to be secretive with information such as starters and player availability, labeled Ott “probable” in his weekly chat with reporters on Tuesday.

Ott had just 49 yards on 14 carries but had scored two touchdowns before leaving the Davis game for good midway through the third quarter. He had 20 carries for a game-high 78 yards and one score in last year’s loss to Auburn.

Ott factored into a third TD in the opener when Nohl Williams, one of the blocking backs on the kickoff unit, grabbed a short kick designed to prevent an Ott return and dashed 80 yards for a score.

“Going into the week, I knew that was their game plan — kicking away from Jaydn,” noted Williams, who also intercepted a pass in the win. “That was my opportunity right there.”

Ott was a first-team All-Pac 12 selection in 2023, when he rushed for 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns. The preseason All-ACC first-team pick could be replaced Saturday by Kadarius Calloway, Jaivian Thomas and Byron Cardwell.

Auburn (1-0) will feature a familiar face in an unusual spot when it attempts to duplicate the offensive fireworks it displayed in last week’s 73-3 home win over Alabama A&M against a defense that allowed it just 14 points a year ago.

Sam Jackson V, who started at quarterback for Cal in last year’s meeting, is now a wide receiver for the Tigers. He had a 37-yard TD reception against the overmatched FCS opponent in his Auburn debut.

“It’ll be a good challenge to sort of see kind of where we are offensively,” Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said of the Golden Bears. “Here’s our chance to prove we can be a fundamentally efficient scoring machine against who I think plays really good defensive football.”

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collegefootballnews.com

Auburn vs Cal Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines

Pete Fiutak

~3 minutes

Auburn vs Cal prediction, game preview, how to watch, betting lines. Week 2, Saturday, September 7, 2024

It wasn’t exactly a scintillating shootout, but these two played an under-the-radar late night thriller last year in a 14-10 Auburn win. This year, both of them are better.

Cal won its first game as an ACC team - taking down UC Davis 31-13 - and Auburn went full throttle on Alabama A&M in a 73-3 win starting with a 52-3 halftime lead.

The Tigers get New Mexico up next - THAT will be an offensive firefight - and Cal gets San Diego State.

Auburn Tigers take the field as Auburn Tigers takes on Alabama A&M Bulldogs at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. Auburn Tigers lead Alabama A&M Bulldogs 52-3 at halftime

© Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK

Auburn vs Cal Preview

Auburn vs Cal How to Watch
Date: Saturday, September 7, 2024
Game Time: 3:30 pm ET
Venue: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
How to Watch: ESPN2
Auburn (1-0), Cal (1-0)
- Week 2 Schedule, Predictions
Bowl Projections | CFN Rankings
5 Underrated | 5 Overrated
5 Top Week 1 Takeaways
Heisman Race & Top 10 Players

Why Cal Will Win

Can the defense hold up?

Don’t get too excited about the Auburn explosion against the Bulldogs in the paycheck scrimmage. Cal has the defensive front and all-around run D to hold up against the Tiger ground game that gashed A&M throughout the first half.

It was all in desperation catch-up mode, but Alabama A&M QB Cornelious Brown wasn’t bad. Cal’s Fernando Mendoza is a baller who should keep things moving, but …

Why Auburn Will Win

Is Jaydn Ott okay?

The star Cal running back pounded away on Auburn last year for 78 tough yards and a score, but he got banged up against UC Davis. There are other options in a deep backfield, but he’s the main man.

But this should be about the Auburn offense. Payton Thorne hit the big plays last week, the timing appeared to be down, and …

Auburn vs Cal: Who Will Win

Don’t just assume that the fish-out-of-water thing will matter here - seriously, are there two more different schools in major college football than Cal and Auburn?

Cal is a hard-nosed, tough team with the defense and offensive balance to battle for a full four quarters. But the Bears don’t have enough pop and explosion.

Auburn will struggle early on, but one big play will open things up just enough to take over the momentum in the second half.

Auburn vs Cal Prediction, Betting Lines

 

Stay updated with College Football News on Google News to never miss a story.

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wsfa.com

Auburn hosts California in rematch of Tigers’ 14-10 victory last season

The Associated Press

~3 minutes

California (1-0) at Auburn (1-0), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Auburn by 13 1/2.

Series record: Auburn leads 1-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Both teams would love to look better than they did in last season's meeting, especially on offense. The Tigers eked out a 14-10 win at California when neither team reached 300 yards in total offense. Cal only had 281 yards in total offense during a 31-13 win over UC-Davis. Auburn ran rampant over FCS Alabama A&M in a 73-3 win.

KEY MATCHUP

Auburn's passing game against California's defense. The Tigers' seven new receivers combined for 14 catches and 393 yards in a route of Alabama A&M. There's little doubt Auburn's passing game has improved but that game wasn't a true barometer of how much. The Bears gave up 221 yards passing in the opener against UC-Davis but also intercepted three passes. Auburn's new group of receivers is led by Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith and freshmen Cam Coleman, Malcolm Simmons and Perry Thompson.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

California: RB Jaydn Ott limped off the field in the opener, but coach Justin Wilcox said he's probable for the Auburn game. Ott was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection last season after running for 1,315 yards. He's a preseason first-team All-ACC selection this year.

Auburn: QB Payton Thorne was stymied in last year's 14-10 Auburn win, passing for 94 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Now, Thorne has far more weapons at his disposal but still has to get it done against FBS competition.

FACTS & FIGURES

Auburn receiver Sam Jackson V played quarterback for the Golden Bears in last season’s meeting, passing for just 126 yards with an interception. Jackson had a 37-yard TD catch in his Auburn debut. ... This is Auburn's first meeting with an Atlantic Coast Conference team since a 14-6 loss at Clemson in 2017. ... The Tigers played 94 players against Alabama A&M, exactly half of them seeing their first action for the Tigers. ... Auburn set single-game school marks with six touchdown passes and five players catching at least one. It was Auburn's first win by 70 or more points since beating Erskine 77-0 in 1932.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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waka.com

Auburn to host California in rematch of Tigers' 14-10 victory last season - WAKA 8

WAKA Action 8 News

3–4 minutes

FILE – Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne looks to throw a pass during the first half of the Music City Bowl NCAA college football game against Maryland, Dec. 30, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

Auburn and California meet for the second time in the past two seasons. The Tigers host the Golden Bears after winning 14-10 last season. The Tigers have brought in seven new receivers to help out quarterback Payton Thorne, who struggled in that game. They’re coming off a 73-3 win over FCS Alabama A&M but get a bigger test now. Cal overcame a close first half to pull away 31-13 from UC-Davis in its opener. Auburn receiver Sam Jackson V played quarterback for the Bears in that game.

Both teams would love to look better than they did in last season’s meeting, especially on offense. The Tigers eked out a 14-10 win at California when neither team reached 300 yards in total offense. Cal only had 281 yards in total offense during a 31-13 win over UC-Davis. Auburn ran rampant over FCS Alabama A&M in a 73-3 win.

KEY MATCHUP

Auburn’s passing game against California’s defense. The Tigers’ seven new receivers combined for 14 catches and 393 yards in a route of Alabama A&M. There’s little doubt Auburn’s passing game has improved but that game wasn’t a true barometer of how much. The Bears gave up 221 yards passing in the opener against UC-Davis but also intercepted three passes. Auburn’s new group of receivers is led by Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith and freshmen Cam Coleman, Malcolm Simmons and Perry Thompson.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Auburn: QB Payton Thorne was stymied in last year’s 14-10 Auburn win, passing for 94 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Now, Thorne has far more weapons at his disposal but still has to get it done against FBS competition.

California: RB Jaydn Ott limped off the field in the opener, but coach Justin Wilcox said he’s probable for the Auburn game. Ott was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection last season after running for 1,315 yards. He’s a preseason first-team All-ACC selection this year.

FACTS & FIGURES

Auburn receiver Sam Jackson V played quarterback for the Golden Bears in last season’s meeting, passing for just 126 yards with an interception. Jackson had a 37-yard TD catch in his Auburn debut. … This is Auburn’s first meeting with an Atlantic Coast Conference team since a 14-6 loss at Clemson in 2017. … The Tigers played 94 players against Alabama A&M, exactly half of them seeing their first action for the Tigers. … Auburn set single-game school marks with six touchdown passes and five players catching at least one. It was Auburn’s first win by 70 or more points since beating Erskine 77-0 in 1932.

Kickoff is at 2:30PM CDT on ESPN2.

(Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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al.com

Scouting report: What to know about Cal ahead of matchup with Auburn

Published: Sep. 05, 2024, 6:00 a.m.

5–6 minutes

After a comfortable 73-3 win in its season opener, Auburn football has its sights set on its first Power 4 matchup of the season against Cal.

Like Auburn, the Golden Bears faced an FCS opponent in Week 1 but weren’t as dominant. They earned a 31-13 win over UC Davis and briefly trailed 13-7 during the second quarter.

Auburn won last season’s matchup 14-10, but neither team is the exact same as it was a year ago. Head coach Hugh Freeze said Cal is the same defensively as last season, but the offense is completely new.

Offense

Cal brought a new-look offense into the 2024 season with the introduction of new offensive coordinator Mike Bloesch.

“Tempo. Spread. Empty a lot. You’ve got one game to go on with the new coordinator, but obviously we know where he came from and can use some of that too,” Freeze said Monday describing Cal’s offense.

Bloesch spent last season exclusively coaching offensive line for Cal but spent 2020-2022 as both a co-offensive coordinator and the sole offensive coordinator at North Texas.

At Cal, the focal point of the offense is running back Jaydn Ott, who rushed for over 1,200 yards in 2023. Ott left Cal’s season opener early with an injury, but head coach Justin Wilcox said he is “probable” for Saturday’s game against Auburn.

When Auburn and Cal faced off last season, Ott rushed for 78 yards and scored Cal’s only touchdown of the game.

Ott had 14 carries for 49 yards and two touchdowns against UC Davis and added another 34 yards receiving on four catches. Ott has always been a threat in the passing game for Cal, having caught 72 passes for 517 yards and five touchdowns during his first two seasons.

"He’s concerning. He is one of the better tailbacks in the country, without a doubt,” Freeze said of Ott during his time on Auburn’s Tiger Talk radio show on Monday. “We anticipate he’s playing and he is one of the best backs in the country. We’ll have to tackle really well.”

Cal’s starting quarterback is Fernando Mendoza, who despite leading the team in passing last season, didn’t play in Cal’s 2023 matchup with Auburn.

He threw for 158 yards and a touchdown on 15-for-22 passing in Cal’s season-opening win over UC Davis.

Cal’s leading receiver from last season, Jeremiah Hunter, now plays at Washington, but it returned its next two most productive pass catchers Trond Grizzell and tight end Jack Endries.

Endries didn’t record a catch in Cal’s season opener and Grizzell recorded one for 11 yards. Cal’s leading receiver in the game was redshirt freshman Nyziah Hunter.

Defense

Schematically, Cal’s defense isn’t too different from what Auburn saw last season. Wilcox is a defensive-minded head coach and defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon returns in the same role he held last season.

When addressing the biggest challenges Cal’s defense poses, the defensive ends came to mind for Freeze.

“Both those defensive ends are really, really talented -- 44 and seven. You’ve got to have a plan for those guys,” Freeze said.

Those two defensive ends in question are seniors David Reese and Xavier Carlton. Reese is in his seventh season of college football and his second at Cal after spending five years at Florida.

He led Cal in sacks a season ago with six and a half, one of them coming against Auburn.

Carlton, who’s in his fifth season, was second on the team in sacks last season with four and a half.

As a team, Cal didn’t record any sacks against UC Davis but recorded three tackles for loss.

The Cal defense shut out UC Davis in the second half after only leading by one point at halftime. The biggest adjustment was more zone coverage looks in the second half, which helped force UC Davis to throw three interceptions.

Last season, Cal put an emphasis on forcing Auburn to make plays in the passing game. Auburn is more equipped to do that this season, and if Auburn can avoid turnovers, the matchup between its receivers and Cal’s secondary favors Auburn.

“They’ll have a good plan, I’m sure. And it’ll be a good challenge for us to see kind of where we are offensively now,” Freeze said.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at prauterkus@al.com

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al.com

How last year’s Auburn-Cal game caused dominoes to start falling and what’s now at stake to prove

Published: Sep. 05, 2024, 11:47 a.m.

5–7 minutes

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze knew he’d be asked questions about last season’s game vs. Cal this week as he and the Tigers are set to see the Golden Bears again on Saturday.

However, that doesn’t change the fact that no part of him wanted to revisit that long, September night in the hills of California.

“We probably don’t need to talk about that one,” Freeze said during his Tiger Talk radio show on Monday evening.

Just as it will this Saturday, Cal played the role of Auburn’s Week 2 opponent last year while the Tigers were coming off a lopsided win over UMass as Auburn put up 492 yards of total offense, averaged more than seven yards per play, had no turnovers and was forced to punt just twice.

However, once Auburn made its way to Cal Memorial Stadium the following week, the Tigers’ offense found itself stuck in the mud.

And that there is why Freeze wasn’t eager to revisit the game on Monday night.

“I was frustrated,” Freeze said of last year’s game. “Boy, I was just really frustrated.”

Against the Golden Bears last fall, the Tigers’ offense mustered just 230 yards of total offense — less than half of what it did the week prior.

"What I remember from that game, honestly, is just I feel bad for anyone that was watching that game,” Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne said in an interview with The Next Round earlier this week. “That was about the most boring game offensively that I can remember being a part of.”

Thorne and the Auburn passing attack contributed less than 100 yards in last year’s Cal game, while the Tigers managed just 4.2 yards per play on offense and went just 4-for-12 on third down.

The Tigers also lost three fumbles, while Thorne tossed an interception to bring Auburn’s turnover total to four.

In hindsight, it was the first look at some of the same issues that would plague Auburn’s offense all season long.

And, in retrospect, it sounds like it might’ve been the beginning of the end for former Auburn offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery, who was fired at the conclusion of the 2023 season.

“It’s probably when I started this uncomfortable feeling of, ‘Oh man, we’ve gotten away from everything I know and I can’t help,’” Freeze said on Monday. “I’m certainly not saying that I have all the answers, but it was just really, really uncomfortable for me.”

When Freeze was hired as Auburn’s head coach in November of 2022, he quickly brought Montgomery aboard and gave the former Tulsa head coach the role of Auburn’s play-caller.

Freeze knew a Montgomery-led offense would come with different terminology than what he was accustomed to, but it was something he was willing to take a gamble on at the time.

However, as the season unfolded and Auburn’s offense continued to spin its tires, it became increasingly obvious that Freeze was starting to have his doubts about the offense.

And from the sounds of it, it all started in Berkeley, California.

“Thank God we won it. Rivaldo made one heck of a catch and out defense played extremely well,” Freeze said of last year’s 14-10 win over Cal. “But it was kinda just the beginning of me saying, ‘Oh man, what have I done?’ in changing the offense around to something I’m not familiar with.”

Getting back to familiarity is something Freeze prioritized in the offseason.

After letting Montgomery go in the first week January, Freeze quickly zeroed in on longtime Ole Miss assistant Derrick Nix, who was officially hired at Auburn 12 days later.

Having spent 16 seasons at Ole Miss prior to coming to Oxford, Nix previously worked under Freeze when Freeze was the head coach of Ole Miss from 2012-16.

And because of Freeze’s history with Nix, the familiarity piece that was missing with Montgomery had been found.

My history with D-Nix goes back to our Ole Miss days,” Freeze said in an interview shortly after Nix’s hiring. “He’s an incredible man, No. 1, and he’s an incredible recruiter. Excited about having someone who knows our system to be able to add great value to our offense.”

Since Nix has settled into his role at Auburn, Freeze has continued to rave about the comfort and familiarity he feels coming into the football facility each day and is quick to shoulder the blame for not feeling that way last season.

“I have no one to blame but myself. This is not a negative toward anyone else, but yes, I’m very much more comfortable walking down the halls and walking in the offensive room and saying, ‘Alright, now, I know what means,’” Freeze said in the spring.

It’s still a bit early to judge how much the added comfort and familiarity will bolster the Auburn offense in 2024 (though scoring 73 points in the season opener against Alabama A&M was certainly a step in the right direction, albeit not the strongest test).

However, when Auburn and Cal meet again on Saturday, it could make for another meeting that reveals what the identity of this year’s Auburn offense will be.

“Here’s your chance — our chance, not just them, but us, too, as coaches,” Freeze said on Monday. “Here’s our chance to prove we can be a fundamentally efficient scoring machine against a team I think plays really efficient defensive football. It’ll be a really good test for us.”

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[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[SaltyTiger 8,596]

Good stuff Fiddy. Cloudy and chance of rain on the Plains this morning. Need it badly. Never got into the typical “dog days” afternoon thundershowers over the summer.

[aubiefifty 18,301]

7 minutes ago, SaltyTiger said:

Good stuff Fiddy. Cloudy and chance of rain on the Plains this morning. Need it badly. Never got into the typical “dog days” afternoon thundershowers over the summer.

i love a rainy day as long as i am not working in it. it soothes my soul. maybe get the guys on the snarky board to do some rain dances so i will be more chill? grins

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[SaltyTiger 8,596]

1 minute ago, aubiefifty said:

i love a rainy day as long as i am not working in it. it soothes my soul. maybe get the guys on the snarky board to do some rain dances so i will be more chill? grins

Always needed a rainy day every now then. Forces me inside to catch up on things I’ve put off. Of course as I get older there are daysI choose to nothing any harder than play on this board or watch a movie. Not a lot of those but one every now and then. Mrs Salty runs around like a 20 something 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

remember this?

 

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

 

[aubiefifty 18,301]

https://sports.yahoo.com/report-deuce-knight-visit-auburn-140045211.html?

[aubiefifty 18,301]

al.com

Auburn Board of Trustees grants initial approval for further Jordan-Hare Stadium north endzone renovation

Updated: Sep. 06, 2024, 11:18 a.m.|Published: Sep. 06, 2024, 11:16 a.m.

3–4 minutes

By

Peter Rauterkus | prauterkus@al.com

The Auburn Board of Trustees gave initial approval for a project adding “multi-use” facility to Jordan-Hare Stadium’s north endzone at its Sept. 6 meeting.

According to the meeting’s material documents, the addition will “combine premium seating, concessions, stadium support facilities, along with versatile conference event spaces, retail venues, student activity spaces, meeting rooms, as well as future shell space.”

The vote grants approval of project initiation and authorizes the selection of an architect to move the project forward, according to a release from the university.

"Elevating Jordan-Hare Stadium by modernizing the north end zone has been a big dream among Auburn people for decades,” athletic director John Cohen said in the release. “Thanks to the Board of Trustees’ initial approval and the Doves’ pace-setting gift, that dream is now in the process of becoming a reality. This project provides an exceptional opportunity to move Auburn forward.”

The construction is scheduled to begin following the 2026 season

The release stated that Robin and Reid Dove donated a “leadership gift” in support of the project’s commencement which was the largest single capital donation in Auburn Athletics history.

Cohen previously told AL.com in January that a project to add more suites and a mezzanine into the north endzone was in the “dream phase.”

With the “multi-use” facility project now having initial approval, it’s the second north endzone renovation project with construction for a new video board ongoing.

The video board construction is intended to be complete by the start of the 2025 season, according to a February Board of Trustees meeting where the project was granted its original approval.

The board approved the athletic complex renovation project for sports medicine.

“The renovation will enable the Athletics Department to co-locate, expand, and improve centralized sports medicine and training services to its student athletes,” according to the materials documents.

The project is estimated to cost $9 million and will be financed by athletics department funds, according to the materials documents.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at prauterkus@al.com

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