The University of Mississippi Rebels will be on the road for their first time this season, taking on the California Golden Bears Saturday. Both the Rebels and the Golden Bears are 2-0 for the season, but not for long. This weekend will force one team to break their two-game win streak.
Ole Miss will make their trip to Berkeley for their first game against a Pac-12 school in football. This game will be the westernmost game in Ole Miss history.
Here’s what each time is bringing to the California Memorial Stadium this weekend.
Ole Miss
The Rebels are currently 2-0 after beating both South Alabama and UT Martin in Oxford. The Rebels have yet to play a SEC West conference game. Interim Head Coach Matt Luke says quarterback Shea Patterson is the biggest difference in the team this year.
Patterson started the last three games of the 2016 season, after taking over for Chad Kelly. Patterson is only the Rebels’ sixth true freshman to start at quarterback. In the game last weekend against UT Martin, Patterson threw five touchdown passes and 489 yards.
Coach Luke says California’s James Looney is someone to look out for on Saturday.
Cal
This season the Golden Bears defeated North Carolina (35-30) and Weber State (33-20). The Golden Bears defeated Weber State at home last Saturday, and are looking to do the same this weekend.
In July James Looney was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list. According to CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com, the award was created in 1993 by the Football Writers Association of America, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy is awarded to the best defensive player in college football and is presented by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. The award was established to complement the Heisman Trophy Award, which at the time had never been presented to a defensive player.
In the past two games, Looney has had a combined total of nine tackles, and has been able to help California’s defensive team from allowing North Carolina and Weber State from scoring enough points for a “W.”
https://twitter.com/CalFootball/status/907758011833188352
When and Where to Watch
Date: Saturday, Sept. 16
Game Time: 10:30 p.m.
Venue: California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA.
Network: ESPN