Cal at Auburn: What to know as Bears visit an SEC opponent

CAL AT AUBURN

2024 Records: Cal 1-0, 0-0 in the ACC; Auburn 1-0, 0-0 in the SEC

Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Ala.

TV: ESPN2

Radio: 810 AM The Spread (KGO)

Series history: Auburn leads 1-0. The Tigers won 14-10 at Berkeley last season.

Cal storylines: Preseason All-ACC running back Jaydn Ott, who left last week’s game late in the third quarter with an ankle or foot injury, is “probable” to play this week, coach Justin Wilcox said . . . Coming off a 31-13 season-opening win over FCS-level UC Davis, the Bears are expected to alternate quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza and Chandler Rogers again . . . In last year’s loss to the Tigers, the Bears had more yards and first downs but converted just one of four red-zone chances, missed three field goals and threw a pair of interceptions, including one in the end zone with less than 2 minutes left.

Auburn storylines: In its second season under coach Hugh Freeze, Auburn crushed FCS-level Alabama A&M 73-3 in its opener last Saturday . . . Senior QB Payton Thorne passed for 322 yards and four touchdowns last week, all in the first half . . . Sam Jackson V, who started at quarterback for Cal last year against the Tigers, is now a backup wide receiver for Auburn. Jackson caught a touchdown last week . . . The Tigers added two talented wide receivers, consensus five-star freshman Cam Coleman and Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert Smith . . . Auburn was picked 10th in the preseason SEC media poll.

Stats that matter: In its only other game played in the state of Alabama, Cal lost 66-0 to the No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide in 1973 . . . Prior to losing to Auburn last season, Cal had beaten its three previous SEC opponents . . . Cade Uluave, Marcus Harris and Nohl Williams each intercepted passes last week, making Cal the only FBS team with three picks this season.

— JEFF FARAUDO