Cal vs. North Carolina State Game Thread: Bears Try To Snap 3-Game Skid

Golden Bears, who won their first three games, still are seeking their first ACC win

Fernando Mendoza drops back to pass against Pitt / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Cal tries to snap a three-game losing streak and pocket its first Atlantic Coast Conference victory today when it takes on North Carolina State for the first time in a Homecoming matchup at Memorial Stadium.

Kickoff is 12:30 p.m.

The Bears (3-3, 0-3) began the season with three straight victories but have lost to Florida State, Miami and Pitt — the latter two nationally ranked foes — by a combined total of eight points.

The Wolfpack (3-4, 0-3) has lost two in a row entering its first game on the West Coast since 1960.

In the video above, Cal coach Justin Wilcox addresses the Bears' biggest issue on offense - allowing 24 sacks of quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

PERSONNEL UPDATES: We're 30 minutes from kickoff and there are some conspicuous absences among Cal players warming up on the field. Not dressed are RB Jaydn Ott, TE Corey Dyches, NB Matthew Littlejohn and OG Sioape Vatikani.

THIS JUST IN: The 9th-ranked Cal men's water polo team just completed a 13-11 upset No. 1 Stanford.

COIN FLIP: NC State wins the toss and elects to defer. Cal will receive the opening kickoff and defend the north goal.

13:47 1st Q: Cal strikes first, with Jaivian Thomas dashing 49 yards up the middle, untouched for a touchdown. Big block by left guard Rush Reimer helped open a huge hole. Capped a four-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Freshman kicker Derek Morris converts the PAT. Cal 7, NC State 0

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Here’s some pre-game reading: 

— Our thorough game preview

— An NC State beat writer answer 5 Questions about the Wolfpack

— Fernando Mendoza has been sacked 24 times through six games. We explore why

— Who will be Cal’s kicker today?

— Senior cornerback Nohl Williams chases Cal’s single-season interception record

— ESPN recognizes Williams as one of the nation’s top-25 players

— Here’s how the bowl experts view Cal’s postseason chances

— Former Cal quarterback long-time radio analyst Mike Pawlawski has written a book