7. Jared Goff in the national spotlight against troubled Texas
Most of the nation is still blind to the brilliance of Cal quarterback Jared Goff.
The junior out of Novato, Ca. is being compared by some to Aaron Rodgers, who also went to Cal. To date, he’s looked pretty darn good, albeit against poor competition. Accuracy is his hallmark, and he carries a 73.2 percent completion rate into this weekend’s game against the Longhorns.
Speaking of Texas, this program is in trouble. Athletic Director Steve Patterson was just fired by the school after 22 months on the job, and many are speculating brand new head coach Charlie Strong may not have much wiggle room after being hired away from Louisville last January. However, there are others, like Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News, who suggests this could potentially be positive for Strong.
For anyone suggesting that the Steve Patterson firing is bad for Charlie Strong, please think again. The two weren't exactly close.
— Chuck Carlton (@ChuckCarltonDMN) September 15, 2015
On the football side of things, the Longhorns are highly susceptible to getting torched through the air, as Notre Dame proved in Week 1. Malik Zaire passed for 313 yards and three touchdowns during that contest, and it’s likely Goff will have a field day this Saturday when he and the Golden Bears hit the field.
Fans of both teams can watch this nationally televised game on Fox, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.