This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
(This is the sixth in a series of spring updates about Pac-12 football programs) It would be wrong to say that Utah caught a break by missing California the past two seasons in the Pac-12's scheduling rotation. After all, the Utes beat Stanford each year. But it is fair to say that Utah is catching Cal on an upswing as the Bears return to the Utes' schedule in 2015 in place of Stanford. Cal has gone from 1-11 to 5-7 in coach Sonny Dykes' two seasons in Berkeley. The Bears would have qualified for a bowl game last year, but they allowed BYU to score a late touchdown in a 42-35 defeat. So a .500 record is clearly the next goal for Cal. The necessary improvement must come from the defense. Dykes believes the Bears are bigger, faster and stronger now, and have more depth. Having been involved in several close games last season, Cal worked extensively on situational football in spring practice, such as running the ball to preserve a late lead. Ultimately, though, the Bears will have to keep scoring a lot of points to win games in 2015, so junior Jared Goff remains as important as ever. Dykes labeled Goff "a completely different player" in the spring, making a jump to an "elite-level quarterback. Goff's development as a leader also has been impressive, and he's "revered" by his teammates, Dykes said. "He hasn't tried to force it. I think it's happened naturally." Cal opens the season Sept. 5 against Grambling State. The Bears visit Washington to begin Pac-12 play Sept. 26 and come to Rice-Eccles Stadium to meet Utah on Oct. 10. In 2016, Utah will play for the first time at Cal's remodeled Memorial Stadium. The Utes lost to Cal in 2011 at AT&T Park, the Bears' temporary home during construction. – Kurt Kragthorpe