Cal football links: Jaydn Ott & Matthew Cindric updates, UC Regents to discuss Calimony
Just another fun week in Bear Territory.
Auburn wrap-up
There was a halftime drone show! Here was one of the full videos I could find on YouTube.
We’ve linked to Justin Wilcox’s Auburn press conference in a few places. It was intense.
Here are the rest of the pressers.
Quarterback Sam Jackson V
Linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr
Defensive back Craig Woodson
More links
As was rumored, Cal center Matthew Cindric is out for the season. Brian Driscoll is likely to be the starter for the remainder of the season, with transfer Matthew Wykoff taking over Driscoll’s spot at guard.
Cal vs. Auburn was the 9th highest rated college football game of the week, with 2.23 million viewers turning in.
From 2018-22, NCAA teams who turned the ball over four times and failed to record 15 first downs in a game went 1-65, via Bill Barnwell. Auburn is the second win during that stretch.
Several Golden Bear commits took unofficial visits this weekend to Auburn, including EJ Caminong, Trevor Rogers, Camden Jones, and Tyler Knape.
Also in town on the basketball side? Jovani Ruff, a consensus top-25 2025 recruit. Mark Madsen is putting in that work.
Idaho updates
The Idaho depth chart was released by Cal this morning.
Sam Jackson V is listed as the starter again, so expect him to be out there in the first quarter against Idaho.
Trond Grizzell has been moved from the Z slot over into the Slot.
After a tough performance to start 2023, Michael Luckhurst is now listed as co-starter at placekicker with freshman Mateen Bhaghani.
Justin Wilcox noted that Jaydn Ott is day-to-day and is on track to play against Idaho.
Jake Spavital lamented Cal’s missed opportunities in Auburn territory, felt like the Bears offense was playing with 10 players every play, and said he’d like a few playcalls back.
Spavital was consistent about the offenses inconsistency, where they got to the 40 yard 8 times to only get 10 points.
The Cal OC put the brunt of the blame on himself for the execution, unequivocally stating that “it starts with me” and “i have to be consistent in how I am with them everyday”.
Justin Wilcox stated that WR Mavin Anderson is day to day after being a late scratch vs Auburn.
All Eyes On The 2-Pac
Oregon State and Washington State have filed a lawsuit against the Pac-12 and a judge has granted an early restraining order that the departing ten members shouldn’t have any say in the future the conference charts. There is a dispute as to whether the outgoing schools wanted to use Pac-12 money to cover part of their transition costs.
Calimony on the menu?
Jon Wilner reports that the UC Regents are set to meet again on a UC Berkeley/Atlantic Coast Conference matter. This likely will involve what UCLA might end up paying out to Cal for leaving the conference and hastening the disintegration of the Pac-12.
The Regents originally suggested a sum of $2 to $10 million, but that number could change because the initial assessment was that Cal would be staying in a reduced Pac-12 TV deal, and they are now getting a much smaller one in the ACC.
Cal getting reduced ACC revenue is more viable if UC Regents mandates Calimony from UCLA
This is an opinion piece authored by this writer. His opinions are his alone. As has been widely reported, Cal and Stanford seem to be on the verge of an ACC invite. The agreed terms will likely be at a reduced revenue cut of Tier 1 ACC rights from the ESPN deal
I agree with the "streetball" comment from Spav. It looked like the passing offensive calls and then the execution had nothing thought through.
I went back and watched the first drive (post-Sirmon not-pick-6-INT). Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GoQYSIfFfI&t=2m30s. Look at this 3rd and 10 play.
+ 11 Personnel
+ #14 goes in motion to the field side
+ Auburn NB comes down to cover #14, weakside safety rotates up, so looks like Cover-2 (I think).
+ At snap, watch #14 and #3. They are full on blocking at 9 yards down the field.
+ So Spav is assuming #1 can catch AND turn up field smoothly, AND #3 & #14 will hold their blocks, AND ILB (#30) is too slow or unable to diagnose this play to take away #1's angle.
Isn't that a ridiculous 3rd and 10 call?