PLAYERS TO WATCH
–DB Traveon Beck intercepted USC quarterback JT Daniels in last weekend’s win, and had six tackles including one for a loss. Cal’s improvement in the secondary has helped key its defensive peak the past month. The Golden Bears had four sacks and 10 tackles for a loss against the Trojans. As for Beck, he faces Stanford quarterback K.J. Costello, who has 23 touchdowns to 10 interceptions this season.
–DE Luc Bequette had the game of his career against USC, as the redshirt junior had career highs with eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. Bequette earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors. If this type of performance is a trend for Bequette, Cal might not lose again this season.
–LB Evan Weaver continued to build on his NFL Draft potential, racking up a game-high 13 tackles and two sacks in terrorizing the Trojans. Weaver, who came to Cal as an outside linebacker before moving to the inside, has teamed up with senior linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk to lead this defense since Week 1 (well before Cal’s recent surge into the limelight).
–QB Chase Garbers, were he measured by quarterback rating, would technically have had an anemic game against USC (QB rating 37.9). But Garbers completed over 50 percent of his passes, had a touchdown pass, a running score and did not throw an interception. Cal’s defense has become strong enough that games like this may be enough for Garbers, a redshirt freshman. Stanford, though, provides a stout defense with superb linebacker play from Joey Alfieri, Bobby Okereke and Sean Barton, and an opportunistic secondary with safety Malik Antoine and cornerbacks Paulson Adebo and Alijah Holder.
–RB Patrick Laird is a fifth-year senior and former walk-on, and without his steady, workmanlike approach, the game plan of leaning on the defense and protecting the football would not be working as effectively. Laird, a surprise 1,000-yard rusher last season for Cal, had 19 carries for 71 yards against USC.
SERIES HISTORY: Stanford leads the series 58-43-10, and has won eight consecutive matchups (every game since 2010). This is the longest win streak for either team in this series.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “The streak and all that, we don’t really talk about it. I didn’t even know about it until somebody brought it up this week. We’re not playing the streak. These guys are competing and playing for each other.” — Cal head coach Justin Wilcox, on his team beating USC at the Coliseum for the first time since 2000. It was also the Golden Bears’ first win in the series since 2003, when Aaron Rodgers was quarterback and the Trojans were Rose Bowl champions and Pete Carroll was coach. Wilcox is a former USC defensive coordinator.