What to know before Cal visits No. 14 Louisville in first-ever meeting

"Cal storylines: The Bears face their second straight AP Top 25 opponent, having lost 31-21 to then-No. 15 Virginia last week at home . . . Cal has dropped 14 consecutive games to Top 25 opponents, dating back to a 21-17 home victory over No. 21 Oregon in the COVID-shortened 2020 season . . . A loser in back-to-back games for the first time this season, Cal needs one victory in its final three games to secure bowl eligibility . . ."

"Stats that matter: Cal cornerbacks Hezekiah Masses (10 pass breakups, 4 interceptions) and Paco Austin (10 PBUs, 0 INTs) rank 1-2 in the ACC passes defended . . . Cal is last in the ACC in rushing yards (78.6 per game) and has topped 100 yards only once in its past seven games."

"Louisville storylines: The Cardinals landed at No. 15 this week in the first College Football Playoff rankings which will determine the 12 teams that qualify for the expanded postseason. They own a 24-21 road victory over then-No. 2 Miami and their line defeat was a 30-27 overtime loss to 12th-ranked Virginia . . . Louisville is led by senior quarterback Miller Moss, who spent four years at USC and came off the bench as a freshman in the Trojans' 24-14 loss to Cal in the 2021 season finale. In his past four games, Moss has eight touchdown passes and five rushing TDs. . . . Louisville will be without injured running back Isaac Brown, who is second in the ACC with 782 rushing yards and leads the nation at 8.6 yards per carry. Backup Keyjuan Brown (no relation) has rushed for 321 yards at 6.2 yards per attempt."

Cal (5-4, 2-3 ACC) visits No. 14 Louisville (7-1, 4-1 ACC). Cal has lost 14 straight games to Top 25 opponents and fell 31-21 to then-No. 15 Virginia, so one win in the final three games would secure bowl eligibility. Junior RB Kendrick Raphael has 557 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns; the availability of LB Cade Uluave, second in the ACC with 81 tackles, is uncertain. Cal ranks last in the ACC in rushing at 78.6 yards per game. Louisville is No. 15 in the first CFP rankings after a road win at Miami; QB Miller Moss has produced multiple recent touchdowns and Isaac Brown is injured.

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