The goal this week is simple.

California is one win away from gaining bowl eligibility for the second time in three years if the Golden Bears defeat UCLA Friday night in Pasadena.
 
The Bears share the same record with the also 5-6 Bruins, so there will be a playoff-like atmosphere on the field when the state rivals meet.
 
Running back Patrick Laird, who boasts eight rushing touchdowns this season, is confident his team will be in the postseason in 2017.
 
"We're treating it like a playoff game," Laird said. "It's basically win or go home. We're working hard this week. We really believe we're going to get the win on Friday. We want to secure one more win for our seniors."
 
Laird is 51 yards shy of becoming a 1,000-yard rusher, which would be the 19th time it's happened in school history from 16 different running backs. He also needs 10 more receptions to set the school single-season record for most by a Cal running back.
 
Laird's breakout season may have been unexpected, but he was ready if he got the chance to show what he could do.
 
"I don't know if anybody expected it, but I prepared for it in case the opportunity presented itself," Laird said. "It's been fun. I don't really count up my carries and catches, but if the team needs my help, then I'm definitely willing to put my body on the line and take all those touches."
 
He's not the only the Bear who could reach a milestone Friday.
 
Matt Anderson enters the Friday night tilt as Cal's career points leader with 303, and he is also tied with Doug Brien for career field goals made with 56. While he said it would be great to get the record kicking a game-winning field goal, he is also completely fine with just kicking a lot of extra points as well.
 
For seniors like Anderson, winning is a must on Friday. He and the rest of the seniors want to experience one more bowl-game experience with their teammates before closing the chapter on their collegiate careers.
 
"I want one more game. I don't want this to be over yet," Anderson said. "I absolutely want to go out playing in a bowl game. I want to have that fun experience with the team of going through the bowl week and one more game. We're absolutely fighting for one more."

Fellow senior Raymond Davison III is a Southern California native who will have approximately 30 friends and family in attendance, but he knows the magnitude of the game outweighs playing the game in his hometown area.
 
"This is what football's about," Davison said. "The winner will be determined by who focuses on details the best. It's win or go home, and you normally don't get many games like this in college. It's like a high school playoff game. This is it for us. All the hard work we've done this season, we have to leave it all on the field in this game."
 
In addition to the Southern California natives getting a chance to see friends and family, the Bears will be spending Thanksgiving together this year. According to Jordan Kunaszyk, though, the team is still spending the holiday with family all the same.
 
"It'll be cool to be with the team for Thanksgiving this year," Kunaszyk said. "Usually, it's a time for family, but these guys, they're all my brothers. We're family, so it'll be nice to be with them on Thanksgiving. It's a business trip. We're focused on the task at hand. It's important for us to go down there with a business mentality."
 
Cal and UCLA square off at the Rose Bowl on Friday, Nov. 24, at 7:30 pm on FS1.