Team: California

Nickname: Golden Bears

Conference: Pac-10

Location: Berkeley, Calif.

Coach: Jeff Tedford (8th year, 59-30)

Last Bowl: 2008 Emerald

Last season: 9-4, 6-3

With one of the nation's best running backs, an experienced quarterback and a stout defense, the Bears are primed to make a run at USC's Pac-10 dominance. If anyone wants to pass on the Bears, they should think twice — corners Syd'Quan Thompson and Darian Hagan combined to break up 29 passes last season.

The season is a success if ... The Bears can beat USC for the first time since 2003 in a home game Oct. 3. Cal had only 165 yards last season against the Trojans. A win would put them in the Pac-10 driver's seat, and possibly national title picture.

The season is a failure if ... They can't win 10 games. The only nonconference road game is at Minnesota and the road Pac-10 slate isn't daunting past Sept. 26's game at Oregon.

Impact Player: Junior, Jahvid Best, running back. The latest in a line of great Cal backs, he ran for 1,580 yards and 15 TDs with an amazing 8.1 yards per carry last season.

Fun Fact: In the famous kick return against Stanford in 1982, the Bears lateraled the ball five times. The first player to touch it was Kevin Moen, who wound up scoring the touchdown (when he ran into a trombone player).

Official Team Site

Fan Site