What to know before Cal kicks off in its ACC opener at Syracuse

CAL AT SYRACUSE

Records: Cal (0-1, 0-0 in ACC); Syracuse (1-0, 0-0 in ACC)

Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday at JMS Wireless Dome, Syracuse, NY

TV: ACC Network

Radio: 810-AM

Series history: Syracuse leads 2-1. The Orange won 33-25 at Berkeley in 2024, the teams’ most recent meeting.

Cal storylines: The Bears hit the road to open ACC play a week after losing 45-24 to UCLA in coach Tosh Lupoi’s debut game at Berkeley. The Bears and Bruins were tied at 24-all before two fourth-quarter turnovers triggered a 21-point closing run by the visitors . . . Quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele passed for 271 yards with two touchdowns against UCLA, but also lost a fumble and threw two interceptions . . . No. 2 running back Carter Vargas is listed as doubtful after being injured against UCLA. Center Bastian Swinney and tight end Dorian Thomas are not listed on the availability chart, suggesting they are able to play.

Syracuse storylines: The Orange, coming off a 3-9 campaign in 2025, opened with a 66-3 rout of FCS-level New Hampshire . . . Quarterback Steve Angeli, a transfer from Notre Dame a year ago, passed for 263 yards and three touchdowns in his first action since tearing his Achilles in Week 4 last season. Syracuse was leading the nation in passing yards when Angeli was injured, then lost its final eight games to finish 3-9 . . . Sixth-year wide receiver Umari Hatcher, who missed most of last season with an injury, had eight catches for 147 yards and two TDs in the opener . . . Linebacker Keyshawn Johnson, an FCS All-American last season at UT-Martin, had 2.5 of Syracuse’s five sacks in the win over New Hampshire.

Stats that matter: Cal running back Adam Mohammed, a junior transfer from Washington, rushed for a career-high 120 yards vs. UCLA, the most by any Cal player in his first game with the program in at least 50 years . . . Syracuse freshman running back Shavane Anderson Jr. rushed for 102 yards in his college debut while projected starter Ju’Juan Johnson sat with an injury. Anderson’s total was the most by an ACC freshman in his first college game in at least 20 years . . . Cal hasn’t won a game in the state of New York since beating Army at West Point in 1973.

— Jeff Faraudo