UPDATE: The Cal Golden Bears are set to kick off against the Oregon State Beavers at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon. This highly anticipated matchup carries significant weight as both teams strive for a strong start in the 2024 college football season.
Cal enters the game with a 6-7 overall record from last season, having faced immense pressure to secure their first winning season since 2019. Chancellor Rich Lyons has been vocal about expectations, declaring that a .500 season will not suffice. Newly appointed general manager Ron Rivera emphasized that the Bears must aim for eight or nine wins to satisfy the administration.
In a bold move, freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele will make his debut, having secured the starting position over Ohio State transfer Devin Brown. This marks a critical moment for Cal, as only one other freshman quarterback, Jared Goff, has started a season opener for the Bears, back in 2013 against Northwestern.
On the other side, the Oregon State Beavers, with a 5-7 overall record, are eager to capitalize on their home advantage. They are led by Maalik Murphy, a 6-foot-5, 234-pound redshirt junior quarterback and Duke transfer, who shattered records last season with 2,933 passing yards and a program-record 26 touchdowns. For the first time since 2019, OSU returns both its leading rusher, Anthony Hankerson, who rushed for 1,082 yards and 15 touchdowns, and leading receiver Trent Walker, who caught 81 passes for 901 yards.
As kickoff approaches, the stakes could not be higher for both teams. The Bears will need to overcome the loss of four defensive backs who accounted for 12 of their 17 interceptions last season. Meanwhile, Oregon State has established a strong home record of 20-5 in August and September over the past four seasons, giving them a crucial edge.
The urgency of this matchup cannot be overstated. With both teams aiming to build momentum for their seasons, fans are on edge as Cal attempts to shake off last year’s disappointments and Oregon State looks to maintain its strong start.
Stay tuned as we bring you live updates throughout the game, and don’t miss a moment of the action!
