This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Back in September, when BYU was toppling Power 5 schools Texas and Virginia, the season-ended against California was setting up to be perhaps the biggest of the season for BYU.

The Bears were playing reasonably well, and of course the Cougars were 4-0 and talking about making it to a New Year's Six bowl game.

Times have certainly changed. The Cougars and Bears fell on hard times.

But that doesn't mean Saturday's game at California Memorial Stadium is insignificant.

A bowl bid is on the line for Cal, while BYU is playing to regain some national respect.

"This is a game that we really want to finish the regular season off strong by winning," said BYU running back Adam Hine. "Cal is a tough, physical team. We really want to come out and do our best. I think that everything is at stake in this game because it is really going to show how we are going to go into our bowl game."

As BYU players and coaches said a lot this past week, a 9-4 record (if BYU wins out) is much better than 8-5 or 7-6. And BYU needs all the momentum it can get going into 2015, when the Cougars open against Nebraska, Boise State, UCLA and Michigan in September.

"I have thought about that a lot," said BYU quarterback Christian Stewart. "Last year going into offseason workouts, we were 8-5, and I just remember the coaches ripping on us, saying, 'that wasn't the season we wanted.' It was a letdown. So, I want to go out with a five-game win streak, and really keep that momentum going into winter workouts and spring ball for next year for the younger guys."

Offensive lineman De'Ondre Wesley echoed the remarks of Hine and Stewart.

"Just winning out the rest of our games [is important to BYU]," Wesley said. "We don't want to take another loss on our schedule. So that's the big thing for us, is going out on a great note. We had a rough note in the middle. October was a sour month and then a great ending for us [would change the perception]. That would be something we are striving for."

Cal might have the best quarterback BYU will face this season in Jared Goff (although Nevada's Cody Fajardo's performance against them will be tough to beat).

I guess some are saying that Goff is going to be extra-motivated BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall called him a system quarterback. Actually, Mendenhall was trying to compliment both Goff and the offense that second-year coach Sonny Dykes has installed. Here's what he said:

"The system makes him great," Mendenhall said, when asked about Goff. "He certainly can throw the ball well, and makes good decisions, I think. Only six or seven interceptions on the year with a million throws. That's an exaggeration, but lots and lots of throws. But the system has him delivering the ball accurately, and on time, and he is difficult to get to.

So I think they do a really nice job with their system."

Many believe the game is going to turn into a shootout, but rain in the forecast could slow both offenses. Mendenhall knows what his defense is up against, at least.

"It is a delicate balance, because they are scoring about 40 [points] a game," he said. "And so there is a choice to make, either keeping up and outscoring them at any cost with no regard for the number of plays your defense runs. Or, try to manage the tempo. Their defense has given up quite a few points, so, no question, we are going to have to score. The teams that have limited them — only two teams have held Cal under 30 points this year — [have hogged the ball]. Washington held them to seven and Stanford just held them to 17. Turnovers have played a huge role any time they are under 30 points.

So, turnovers are a huge factor in this game, and I think special teams play are a huge factor. The rest is about what it is going to be, or what I think they've done this year.

So to me, the ability to create turnovers, and conversely, hold onto the football, and special teams play with field position is going to be really important."