Longtime Pac-12 combatants Oregon State and California renew their rivalry as nonconference opponents on Saturday when the teams duel in Berkeley, Calif. The Beavers (4-3) and Golden Bears (3-4) have met 75 times since 1917. Cal saw its all-time lead trimmed to 38-37 after a 52-40 home loss last October in a Pac-12 contest.
Both teams bring losing streaks into this year's contest, which is part of a two-year agreement to play nonconference games -- one at each site. Competing as an independent this year, Oregon State has dropped two consecutive narrow decisions -- 42-37 at Nevada and 33-25 at home last Saturday against UNLV. The Beavers ended last week's game at the Rebels' 6-yard line, spoiling a brilliant all-around effort by quarterback Gevani McCoy, who passed for 231 yards and rushed for an additional 81.
Oregon State coach Trent Bray sees a similarity between his team and Cal. "(I) think they're kind of looking for that same thing we are," he said. "We got to eliminate self-inflicted mistakes that in tight games against good opponents will keep you from winning.
" Cal has fallen victim to kicker issues in a string of four straight losses by a total of nine points to open its inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference campaign. Sandwiching a 39-38 home loss to Miami in which the Golden Bears blew a 38-18 lead in the fourth quarter, Cal kicker Ryan Coe missed two field goals in a 14-9 loss at Florida State and a potential go-ahead 40-yarder late in a 17-15 defeat at Pittsburgh. C.