BERKELEY -- The California football team opens the 2023 home slate on Saturday against Auburn at 7:30 p.m. with a Gold Out and halftime drone show set for the primetime matchup at California Memorial Stadium. The Golden Bears and Tigers of the Southeastern Conference are set to meet for the first time in history.  

SATURDAY LINEUP
Venue: California Memorial Stadium
Time: 7:30 p.m. 
Television (ESPN): Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst), Kayla Burton (reporter)
Cal Bears Sports Network Powered By Northern California Auto Dealers: 810 AM
Justin Allegri (play-by-play), Mike Pawlawski (analyst), Kevin Danna (sideline reporter);
SiriusXM Ch. 138 /206 SXM App 969, The Varsity App

ABOUT THE SERIES
– This will be the first all-time meeting between California and Auburn on the football field

PRIMETIME FESTIVITIES
– Cal fans are encouraged to wear Gold to the game on Saturday night as the Bears look to fill California Memorial Stadium with a Gold Out 
– Cal Athletics will be working with one of the leading drone light show providers to do a halftime show at CMS on Saturday. The show will include over 500 drones that will be on display and will pay tribute to the celebration of CMS 100. It will feature the historic Paw Print, Campanile, Golden Gate Bridge, this is Bear Territory and much more.

OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
– Cal's offense put on a show in Jake Spavital's first game back as the Bears' offensive coordinator in a 58-21 season-opening rout of North Texas last week in Denton
– The Bears led 33-21 at halftime, the most points a Cal team has scored in a half since amassing 35 in a victory over Texas in 2016, when Spavital served one season as the team's offensive coordinator
– Cal tallied 669 yards of total offense, its most in a game in eight seasons. It was also the most points the Bears have scored in a game since 2015
– Sophomore running back Jaydn Ott exploded for 188 yards rushing with two touchdowns, the second-highest total of his career. Backup Isaiah Ifanse tied a career-high with three rushing touchdowns in his Cal debut, a feat he previously accomplished twice while playing for Montana State
– Cal's six rushing touchdowns at North Texas were the Golden Bears' most since six in a home win over Eastern Washington in 2009
– Cal finished with 357 yards rushing and 312 yards passing to mark only the second time in school history with at least 312 yards rushing and passing. It was the first time the Bears have had at least 300 yards rushing and passing since going for 325 through the air and 311 on the ground in a 52-49 double overtime win against Oregon in 2016

ACC BOUND
– Chancellor Carol T. Christ announced last Friday that Cal will join the Atlantic Coast Conference beginning with the 2024-25 academic year
– Longtime Pac-12 rival and neighbor Stanford University also announced last Friday it will be joining the ACC next summer, as did Southern Methodist University, bringing the conference's member institutions to a total of 18
– Cal values the ACC's extensive championship culture with competition at the highest level in 28 sports; 24 of which Cal Athletics sponsors. Cal has won 103 national championships in its history and no conference has won more NCAA championships over the last two years than the ACC

CAL DEBUTS
– 27 players made their first Cal appearance against North Texas - Asher Alberding, Sergio Allen, David Bird, J.T. Byrne, Taj Davis, Jack Endries, Ben Finley, Dashaun Harris, Brian Hightower, Isaiah Ifanse, Sam Jackson V, Dylan Jemtegaard, Matthew Littlejohn, Patrick McMorris, Ryan McCulloch, Fernando Mendoza, Barrett Miller, Marquis Montgomery, Kaylin Moore, Jaiven Plummer, David Reese, Cam Sidney, Jaivian Thomas, Cade Uluave, Nohl Williams, Lachlan Wilson and Matthew Wykoff
– Eight players made their first Cal start against North Texas - TE Asher Alberding, ILB Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TE Jack Endries, QB Sam Jackson V, NB Matthew Littlejohn, S Patrick McMorris, LT Barrett Miller and CB Nohl Williams. It was also the first career start for four of the eight in Elarms-Orr, Endries, Jackson and Littlejohn
– Five of Cal's eight touchdowns at North Texas were their first as a Golden Bear. Ifanse picked up three rushing, while Ashton Stredick had one on the ground and Taj Davis had one receiving. Finley and Jackson V each threw their first touchdown pass with the Bears

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