What to know before Cal kicks off vs. Duke at Memorial Stadium

DUKE AT CAL Records Cal - overall - in ACC Duke - - in ACC Kickoff p m PT Saturday at Memorial Stadium Berkeley TV ESPN Radio AM Related Articles The Cal Bears are - but here is how they can be better One year later the ESPN College GameDay experience continues to impact Cal s football effort Cal holds on for thrilling win over Boston College after Sagapolutele s late TD pass What to know before Cal kicks off at Boston College in ACC opener Why the Big Ten can t adopt SEC model with permanent opponents Series history Duke leads - - The teams tied - back in in their only other matchup at Berkeley in All-America quarterback Craig Morton s junior season The Blue Devils won - the season before at Durham NC Duke storylines The Blue Devils were - after losses to Illinois and Tulane but responded with victories over NC State and Syracuse to open ACC play Quarterback Darian Mensah a redshirt sophomore transfer from Tulane leads the ACC with passing yards per challenge and touchdowns He has just two interceptions Mensah s favorite target is wide receiver Cooper Barkate a graduate scholar and Harvard transfer who averages yards for each of his catches Freshman running back Nate Sheppard has rushed for yards on yards per attempt He had yards in Duke s win over Syracuse Cal storylines The Bears will try to start conference play - for the first time since which is also the last time they reached - overall Senior cornerback Hezekiah Masses a transfer from FIU shares the national lead with four interceptions and is No in passes defended with Freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele bounced back from a rough outing in Cal s - loss at San Diego State to throw a -yard game-winning TD pass to tight end Mason Mini with left in the Bears - accomplishment at Boston College Cal will play the rest of the season without edge Ryan McCulloch and safety Isaiah Crosby both starters shelved by injuries Starting in their place for the second straight event are Jayden Wayne and Dru Polidore Jr Stats that matter Cal ranks second in the ACC in scoring defense allowing points per competition The Blue Devils are th at But Duke has an offense eighth at points that is points more productive than Cal th at Duke defensive end Vincent Anthony Jr leads the ACC with five sacks just two fewer than Cal s total as a club JEFF FARAUDO