Cal Football Video: Justin Wilcox on Bouncing Back and Oregon QB Justin Herbert

Bears need to get past last week's loss to focus on tough opponent

Cal faces a tough opponent at a tough site Saturday evening when it takes on No. 13 Oregon in Eugene, Oregon.

The Bears (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) cannot afford to have any lingering doubts after last week’s disappointing 24-17 loss to Arizona State.

“We have to flush it and move on,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox said in the video. “You work on the solutions during practice, and then you have to move on to the next opponent.”

Last year the Bears' first loss started a three-game losing streak.

Wilcox said the team has responded well to the loss this year, starting with Monday’s practice. The game will expose whether the Bears have in fact “flushed” last week’s loss.

The challenge for the Cal defense is sizable. Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert has thrown 14 touchdown passes and no interceptions this season, and some people believe he has not played his best football yet this year.

Plus Herbert is experienced. This is his fourth year as a starter, and he probably would have been a first-round NFL Draft pick if he turned pro after last season. He likely will be a first-round pick in the 2020 draft.

“That’s the kind of guys you want to play against,” Wilcox said. “It’s the kind of teams you want to play against. That’s why you come here.” 

Cal has won both of its road games this season, beating Washington in Seattle 20-19, and holding off Mississippi 28-20. Last week's loss to Arizona State knocked the Bears out of the top 25, but a win over Oregon would not doubt put Cal back in the rankings.

Making the challenge more difficult is the fact that Devon Modster will make his first start of the season for Cal, after Chase Garbers was injured against Arizona State, sidelining him for several games.