Records: Cal 1-0 overall, 0-0 in ACC; Texas Southern 0-1 overall, 0-1 in SWAC
Kickoff: 3 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium, Berkeley
TV: ACC Network+
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Radio: 810 AM
Series history: First meeting
Cal storylines: The Bears play their home opener against an FCS opponent. Cal has never lost to an FCS-level team . . . Freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele was named ACC Rookie of the Week after passing for 234 yards with three touchdowns and no turnovers in the Bears’ 34-15 win at Oregon State . . . Cal would like to run the ball more effectively after three backs totaled 100 yards on 27 attempts . . . Cal has designated a section in the south end zone as the Black Bears cheering section, hoping to attract fans of the departed Oakland Raiders who created the famed Black Hole at the Coliseum . . . Cal has labeled this game against an HBCU team as Black Culture Appreciate Day, and the Tigers’ renowned Ocean of Soul marching band, which once performed with Beyonce at the Super Bowl, will entertain fans at halftime.
Texas Southern storylines: The Tigers opened their season last Saturday with a 22-21 loss to SWAC rival Prairie View A&M, which scored on the final play to escape with the victory . . . Texas Southern is in its second season under coach Cris Dishman, a former 18-year cornerback in the NFL, who guided the program to a 5-6 record last season. The team was picked fourth in the preseason SWAC poll . . . TSU hasn’t posted a winning season since 2000 . . . Quarterback KJ Cooper, a 6-5, 215-pound redshirt junior, was 12 for 21 for 132 yards and a touchdown and he ran for 31 yards a TD vs. Prairie View. He is back this season after suffering a season-ending lower leg injury in last year’s opener.
Stats that matter: The Tigers have never beaten an FBS team and have dropped their past 10 meetings vs. FBS opponents by an average margin of 52-14, including 69-7 at Rice last season and 71-3 vs. Toledo the year before . . . Before completing the OSU victory without allowing a sack, the Bears surrendered at least three in each of their previous five games.
— JEFF FARAUDO