Players to watch, keys to victory against Cal

It is a new year with a different team and different expectations, but a familiar foe awaits head coach Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers on Saturday. Following a dominating week one victory over Alabama A&M, the Tigers look to improve to 2-0 on the season when they take on California (1-0) this weekend.

Led by eighth-year head coach Justin Wilcox, the Golden Bears are looking to reel in their first “Power Four” victory as a member of the ACC following a 31-13 win over UC Davis in Berkeley, CA.

California pulled away late in its contest, having to find a new burst of energy after going into the half only up one point. Despite doing so, the team as a whole only recorded 281 total yards of offense, many of which came in the third quarter. 

Part of the lack of offense was due to an ankle injury suffered by star running back Jadyn Ott, forcing him out of the game in the third quarter. Out of the 102 rushing yards that the Golden Bears earned, 49 of those were by Ott, showing how much of a loss this was to their ground attack.

While week one was a struggle for California at times, it was never a question for Auburn in its 73-3 home-opening statement against Alabama A&M. The Tigers’ offense put up 628 total yards, averaging 13.7 yards per play and having no trouble executing big plays. 

The bulk of these yards came through the air, as the quarterbacks combined to throw for 451 yards over the course of the game. Starter Payton Thorne got the vast majority of the snaps before handing off the reins to Hank Brown and Holden Geriner in the midst of the second half. Thorne threw for 322 yards with four touchdowns while Brown and Geriner combined for 129 yards and two trips to the end zone.

The running game did not see a lot of action for Auburn, but did what was asked of them when called upon. Senior running back Jarquez Hunter was the team’s leading rusher on Saturday, carrying the ball four times for 53 yards and a touchdown.

After last year’s defensive war in which the Tigers won 14-10, changes are expected in what both teams will bring, but Freeze knows that defensively, it is still the same challenge his team faced in 2023.

“Justin Wilcox is one of the better defensive coordinators in the nation, has been for years and Peter Sirmon is with him,” Freeze said. “Will they play us the same exact way they did last year? I don’t know, but last year, they were basically saying, ‘We’re going to make you have to throw the football and win some one-on-ones.’”

Here are some players to watch on Saturday, along with keys to victory for both squads.

Players to Watch

California Golden Bears:

Fernando Mendoza (QB):

With both Sam Jackson V and Ben Finley gone from the program, Fernando Mendoza has stepped into the starting role for the Golden Bears. The redshirt sophomore went 15-for-22 on Saturday, throwing for 158 yards and one touchdown in the week one win. He gets better as the game goes on and can be dangerous when in a groove.

Xavier Carlton (LB):

The fifth-year senior is in his third season with California and was noticed by Freeze as someone that can pose a particular threat to his offense. Carlton racked up five total tackles for the Golden Bears and added one quarterback hurry, not being afraid to be aggressive and force opposing offenses into bad decisions.

Nohl Williams (DB):

The senior transfer from UNLV made a statement in multiple ways in week one. In addition to his four total tackles, he also recorded one of three interceptions that the California defense had to go along with his 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter. His speed allows him to be versatile and make timely decisions in the secondary.

Auburn Tigers:

Jarquez Hunter (RB):

After not running the ball a ton last week, expect for Hunter to be utilized a lot more this week in a game that should run with some pace. The senior is dynamic in the open field and has breakaway speed, which will prove to be crucial if Auburn becomes stagnant in the passing game.

Malcolm Simmons (WR): 

Seen by some as one of the players of the game from last week, the freshman quickly became a star on the Plains on Saturday, racking up three catches for 91 yards and a receiving touchdown to go along with his blocked punt recovery for a touchdown. His speed allows him to find space in the defense and make plays, weaving around defenders whenever possible.

Jalen McLeod (BUCK):

The senior edge rusher was a force on in the week one victory, racking up five total tackles, two tackles-for-loss and one sack. His power and jump off the snap allow him to get around the outside of the offensive line in an efficient manner, making him hard to stop if not covered correctly.

Keys to Victory:

California Golden Bears:

It is very evident that offensively, the Golden Bears are limited in some capacity. After Ott’s departure in the third quarter, the team got things going on the scoreboard, but it took every ounce of effort possible to achieve that. Although Ott is listed as probable, California cannot afford to be one dimensional like it was on Saturday for much of the game. Some variability needs to be thrown in every few plays to keep Auburn’s defense on its toes.

As for the defense, the play of the linebackers will be what dictates how well the Golden Bears will hold a more talented Tigers offense. With three interceptions on the day in total, how the linebackers disguise their coverage will be crucial to whether they force Thorne into uncomfortable decisions and possibly some turnovers.

Auburn Tigers:

As simple as it is to say, it is harder to do. Auburn must keep its offense hot and move efficiently in this game if it wants to win. As one of the most efficient teams in the nation in week one, the Tigers found ways to exploit holes in the defense for scores. Doing the same thing against a higher caliber opponent in week two can give this squad a lot of confidence throughout the game.

On the defensive side of the ball, it is all about stopping two things. If Ott is in for California, the defensive front needs to fill up any possible holes along the outside of the line, as that was where it was hurt last year. If not, staying on top of coverage assignments will make things easier for the defense to get off the field quickly, as the Golden Bears’ offense seems to be very lackluster without its dynamic running back on the field.

Auburn kicks off its second game against California in Jordan-Hare Stadium at 2:30 p.m. CST on Saturday, Sept. 9. This matchup will be broadcast on ESPN2.