Syracuse’s first ACC test arrives quickly, and California brings a few things worth watching after its opener.
Cal showed real life on the ground in week 1, with the running game working and Jaron looking “as good as ever” before he tweaked his ankle. Once starting center Bastian Swinney exited, the offense started to lose its rhythm, and the whole operation got noticeably tougher from there. The game also tilted badly after three explosive running plays, and tackling on the outside perimeter became a problem.
On offense, the name to circle is Adam Mohammed. With Jaron set aside, he’s the new RB1 and has already shown the kind of workhorse traits that stand out quickly: nonstop leg drive and a willingness to break tackles.
Wide receiver Cooper Perry had some encouraging moments in the opener, and that’s the sort of production Cal would like to see him build on. There’s also growing buzz around freshman tight end Kainoa Noa, with some of the more plugged-in Cal followers watching for a breakout sooner rather than later.
Defensively, Kingston Lopa earned attention for a heads-up interception that helped keep Cal in the game last week. Nate Burrell is another returning player to keep an eye on.
There was also the portal storyline around JKS, and the view from Cal was that it was a real possibility rather than a shock. He had picked Cal once already, and with the coaching hire carrying a strong recruiting history, the sense was that keeping him around was at least realistic.
As for Mendoza’s run in the CFP with Indiana, the reaction was simple: “Honestly, I was happy for him. I think there’s a chance that Mendoza leaving helped wake up certain corners of the fandom, and more importantly, the donor class, to the new realities of CFB, which was a crucial step to Cal getting its act together and taking the steps they have to better the program.”
Looking ahead to Syracuse, the expectation is a tighter game than last year’s meeting, with the Orange getting what Cal sees as its first real opponent and the Bears serving as its second. The prediction from that side: this one comes down to a single score.
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Allen is scheduled to be recognized on the field at halftime of Syracuses upcoming game against California, a moment that fits the spirit of the award as much as the man receiving it. For Orange fans, it is also another reminder of how much of the programs identity is built on figures like Allen, whose legacy still resonates whenever Syracuse chooses to put its history front and center. [Read more 🡒]