Cal vs. Boston College
Records: Cal 3-1 overall, 0-0 in ACC; Boston College 1-2 overall, 0-1 in ACC
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday at Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, MA
TV: ACC Network
Radio: 810 AM
Series history: Boston College leads 1-0. The Eagles won 21-15 at home in Cal’s 1986 season opener.
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Cal storylines: Playing their ACC opener, the Bears hit the road for the second week in a row and make the first of three cross-country treks for conference games. They play at Virginia Tech on Oct. 24, at Louisville on Nov. 8 . . . Coach Justin Wilcox said the Bears he could make lineup changes, especially on the offensive and wide receiver . . . Linebackers Cade Uluave (8.5) and Luke Ferrelli (8.3) are the sixth- and seventh- leading tacklers, respectively, in the ACC . . . Starting safety Isaiah Crosby, starting edge Ryan McCulloch and kicker Abram Murray are listed as out on the ACC’s availability report.
Boston College storylines: The Eagles are Cal’s second straight opponent coming off a bye. They lost 30-20 at Stanford in their most recent game . . . Second-year coach Bill O’Brien is 8-8 at BC, but 7-1 at home. He was 15-9 in two seasons (2012-13) as head coach at Penn State before posting a record of 54-48 over six-plus seasons (2014-20) with the NFL’s Houston Texans . . . The Eagles lead the nation in passing yards (393.7 per game), with Alabama transfer and redshirt sophomore Dylan Lonergan quarterback throwing for 330.3 yards per outing to go with nine touchdowns and just one interception. Lonergan’s favorite targets are WR Lewis Bond (NCAA-leading 9.67 receptions per game) and tight end Jeremiah Franklin . . . BC will play without injured starting CBs Syair Torrence and Amari Jackson and LB Dave Crouch is questionable.
Stats that matter: Cal’s 34-0 loss at San Diego State marked the first time in first-year offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin’s 18 seasons as a head coach or OC — spanning 218 games — that his team suffered a shutout defeat . . . BC is fourth in the ACC in scoring offense (42.0 points) and Cal is fourth in scoring defense (16.5) .. . The Bears (105.3 yards) and BC (73.3) rank second-to-last and last in the ACC in rushing yards per game.
— JEFF FARAUDO