Cal-Washington: What to know before kickoff in Berkeley

WASHINGTON at CAL

Records: Cal 3-3, 1-2 in the Pac-12; Washington 5-2, 2-2 in Pac-12

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PT Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley

TV: ESPN

Radio: 810 AM The Spread (KGO)

Series history: Washington leads 55-44-1. The Huskies won 31-24 in Seattle last year but Cal won the two previous meetings, in 2018 and ’19.

Cal storylines: The Bears try to halt a two-game skid following losses at Washington State and Colorado. They lost 20-13 in overtime at CU, which entered the game with an 0-5 record and hadn’t come closer than 23 points against any opponent . . . Cal has scored just one touchdown in each of its past two games and has slipped to 11th in the Pac-12 in scoring at 23.7 points per game . . . Quarterback Jack Plummer played the entire game at Colorado but offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said the Purdue transfer continues to be impacted by a lower-body injury he sustained against Washington State and that backup Kai Millner will be ready to step in if needed . . . The Bears could be without two key starters: junior wide receiver and punt return man Jeremiah Hunter and sophomore cornerback Lu-Magia Hearns III. Hunter is the team’s top pass-catcher with 30 receptions and averages 10.2 yards on punt returns. Both were banged up against Colorado and are listed as questionable.

Washington storylines: The Huskies, led by first-year coach Kalen DeBoer and Indiana transfer quarterback Michael Penix Jr., are the highest-scoring team in the Pac-12, averaging 42.1 points. They are coming off a 49-39 victory at home over Arizona after dropping consecutive road games to UCLA and Arizona State . . . DeBoer came to UW from Fresno State, where last season he guided the Bulldogs to a 9-3 record in his second year . . . Penix leads the nation in passing yards with 2,560 and tops the Pac-12 with 20 touchdown passes. He is coming off a program-record passing 516 yards, along with four TD passes and one running TD, in the win over Arizona . . . The Huskies boast a strong offensive line and a dynamic receiving corps, led by sophomore Rome Odunze, who has 44 catches for 693 yards and six touchdowns . . . Running back Cameron Davis does not start but leads the Pac-12 with nine touchdowns.

Stats that matter: UW and Cal have similar defensive yards allowed numbers — both stout against the run and susceptible to the pass — but the Bears have allowed just 21.7 points per game, compared to 28.6 for the Huskies . . . UW’s defense is adept at pressuring the quarterback and has 20 sacks through seven games. Cal has allowed 18 sacks in six games . . . Cal is 3-0 at home this season, Washington is 0-2 on the road. The Bears haven’t started 4-0 at Memorial Stadium since 2010. . . . Cal senior punter Jamieson Sheahan, fourth in the nation with a 46.6-yard average, has 13 kicks of at least 50 yards.

— JEFF FARAUDO