Cal Golden Bears to host ESPN College GameDay for first time

The contest between the Hurricanes and Golden Bears is an intriguing one, featuring alluring storylines sure to garner interest from college football fans.

Miami is coming off a dramatic, controversial Week 5 win over the Virginia Tech Hokies in which the Hurricanes snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when a last-second Hail Mary pass by the Hokies, ruled a game-winning touchdown on the field, was reversed by a remote video replay crew.

Cal, which boasts a signature win this season over the Auburn Tigers, has one of the nation’s stingiest defenses. In four games, the Golden Bears have held opponents to a total of 51 points, yielding an average of only 12.75 points per contest. 

Miami’s quarterback, Cam Ward, is an early leading Heisman candidate. He has completed over 70 percent of his passes this season, throwing for 1,782 yards and 18 touchdowns with only four interceptions. The nimble signal-caller has also rushed for 146 yards and two more touchdowns.

Unlike the GameDay crew, Ward is familiar with Berkeley. In the offseason, Ward transferred from Washington State to Miami, and last year, Cal hosted Ward and Wazzu. The Golden Bears won that game in a 42-39 shootout in which Ward threw for 354 yards and three touchdowns.

Cal will look to pull off an upset against a top-10 foe in the Hurricanes.