It is not often Clemson travels to the West Coast to play a football game.
In fact, it has only happened three previous times, the last coming in the 2019 College Football National Championship. However, that is exactly what is happening tonight when Clemson visits Cal’s Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif. Kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m., ET (ESPN).
What makes it more intriguing — it is a conference game for the Tigers and Golden Bears. That’s right, an ACC game – an ACC game that is 2,500 miles away from Clemson, S.C.
“It is football at the end of the day,” Clemson defensive end London Merritt said. “We have to go do our thing and play our game. We can’t let (the long travel) affect us on the field.”
What could affect the Tigers (2-1, 1-0 ACC) or whom that is, is Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who is one of the top passers in the country.
“He has the ability to make throws and keep the play alive,” safety Jerome Carter III said. “We will have to stay in coverage and be disciplined all around on defense and do our job.”
Sagapolutele has thrown for 866 yards in three games this season, while throwing seven touchdowns to two interceptions. He is completing 66.7 percent of his passes, as well.
“If you want to see what an NFL quarterback looks like in college, then watch this kid on Friday night,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said.
WATCH OUT FOR THE RUN
Cal running back Adam Mohammed is a 6-foot, 220-pounds bruiser. He is averaging 4.75 yards per carry despite the fact the Cal offensive line has been struggling to start the season.
Mohammed has 285 yards in three games and has scored 3 TDs. He had two TDs in last week’s win over Wagner and ran for 120 yards and scored a TD in a loss to UCLA to open the season.
The junior transfer is also good at catching the football, where he has 14 catches for 138 yards and a TD. He had a 65-yard TD reception against Wagner last week.
THIS IS WHAT SAFETY IS FOR
Cal’s Kingston Lopa leads the nation with 5 interceptions. The strong safety returned one of those interceptions 24 yards for a TD in the Bears’ win at Syracuse in Week 2.
Lopa has picked off a pass in every game so far this season. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Oregon transfer did not intercept a single pass in his two-year career with the Ducks.
WE MEET AGAIN
Tonight’s game will be only the second all-time meeting between Clemson and Cal.
The teams first met in the 1992 Citrus Bowl to end their 1991 campaigns. Prior to the game, Clemson had won five consecutive bowl games, but Clemson left Florida with its first bowl loss since 1985 when No. 14 Cal topped No. 13 Clemson, 37-13.
For the first time since the 1988 season, the Clemson defense, which led the nation in rushing defense in 1991, allowed an opposing running back to rush for 100 yards. Cal’s Russell White crossed the century mark with 103 yards.
THIRD TIME’S A CHARM?
Though Clemson beat Alabama to win the 2018 National Championship in Santa Clara, Calif, in January of 2019, the Tigers are 0-2 all-time in the Golden State in the regular season.
The Tigers lost to Pacific, who gave up football 31 years ago, in the 1951 regular season and then lost to USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1966.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN BEARS
The Bears did not punt against Wagner, marking the first time the Bears haven’t had to punt in a game since Nov. 4, 2017, vs. Oregon State.
Cal has produced strong results in the red zone this season with the Bears ranking second in the ACC and tying for 15th nationally in red zone defense (0.667) and fourth in the conference and tied for 43rd nationally in red zone offense (.917).
The Bears did not allow a sack against Wagner and only allowed one quarterback hurry to be recorded by the Seahawks.
Cal ranks first in the ACC and 10th nationally in passing defense efficiency (95.31), second in the ACC and ties for fifth nationally in total interceptions (5), ranks fourth in the ACC and 14th nationally in passing offense (321.7), ranks third in the ACC and ties for 29th nationally in turnovers gained (5).
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Clemson is 34-24-5 all-time in games played on Friday.
Friday games were a far more common occurrence in the early decades of Clemson football, as the Tigers played 46 of their 63 all-time Friday games to date in their first 60 years of existence.
Prior to this week’s contest, only four of Clemson’s 17 most recent Friday games have come in regular season play, including a win at Boston College in 2016, an upset loss at Syracuse in 2017, and wins at Syracuse in 2021 and Louisville in 2025.
Clemson is 27-18-5 in regular season Friday games and 7-6 in postseason Friday games, including the 1982 Orange Bowl to conclude Clemson’s 1981 national championship season.
–above photo by Kevin Vandervort / Straight Up Sports