The Kickoff: A First Glance at Oregon vs. Cal

THE MATCHUP: Both Cal and Oregon enter Thursday night's game with 3-1 records, and neither team brings a quality win to the table. Oregon's best win to date was over a beat-up and mistake-prone Arizona team, and Cal's best win is either a 15 point win over Fresno State, or an overtime win in Boulder over Colorado. The Golden Bears had a chance to get a win in Seattle over the huskies, but were only able to muster three points in the second half, despite having a 1st-and-goal from the 2 yard line late in the fourth quarter. 

THE HISTORY: We all remember last season at Cal's cramp epidemic, which affected numerous defenders' legs and kicker Georgio Tavecchio's brain. The 15-13 win was the closest call for the Ducks on the way to their first-ever national championship game appearance. 

The last time these two teams met in Autzen, the Golden Bears came into the game ranked #6 in the country, led by Heisman-trophy candidate Jahvid Best. The Ducks had been embarrassed in Boise, had lost LeGarrette Blount, and had gotten terrible quarterback play from Jeremiah Masoli. The result was the Ducks' coming-out party, a 42-3 romp which featured three touchdown passes from Masoli, all of them to Ed Dickson. It was Cal's worst-ever loss suffered while ranked in the Top 10. 

THE INJURIES: Oregon got two key players back against Arizona, with Kenjon Barner and Josh Huff returning from injury. Linebacker Michael Clay is still dealing with a leg injury, and kicker Rob Beard's status is still unknown, though both were in pads at practice on Sunday. 

Cal has been able to stay relatively injury-free thus far this season; their most recent injury news is that reserve running back Dasarte Yarnway is out after having arthoscopic surgery on his knee. 

KEY PLAYERS FOR CALIFORNIA

• QB Zach Maynard - The Buffalo transfer, and half-brother of standout wide receiver Keenan Allen, brings a dimension of mobility to a Cal offense whose last "mobile" quarterback was converted fullback Steve Levy. He has the ability to make plays with his legs, but hasn't really done so since the opener against Fresno State, when he rushed for 52 yards. He is only completing 52% of his passes, predominantly to wideouts Keenan Allen and Marvin Jones. 
• LB Mychal Kendricks - Kendricks has taken over nicely for Mike Mohamed as the field general on defense, racking up 34 tackles in four games and recovering a fumble against washington. The Cal front seven will have a tall order in stopping a red-hot Oregon rushing attack, and the play of Kendricks will go a long way to determine how effective Cal's defense performs. 
• K Georgio Tavecchio - First, a false start/illegal motion penalty. Then, a shanked chip shot. And that's how Tavecchio started the fourth quarter of last year's game. He has hit on all five of his field goals thus far this season, but will the demons of 2010 come back to haunt the Foulin' Italian?