Cal prepares to face USC with Williams and Riley, plus a change for the final Pac-12 game in the rivalry

The Cal-USC matchup will not be called the Joe Roth Memorial Game, as the Bears’ annual home game against the L.A. schools has been for decades

BERKELEY, CA — If Cal officials conduct roll call at Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Bears fans may be disappointed if USC coach Lincoln Riley and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams raise their hands and respond, “Present,” after some doubt about their availability crept in earlier this week.

Better news for the home team: Cal redshirt freshman quarterback Fernando Mendoza says he is more confident and prepared for his third career start, all against Top 25 opponents.

But one of Cal’s most beloved former players will be missing from the festivities, as the athletic department made a decision that is sure to confuse and enrage the fan base. After 46 years, the Bears’ home game against the visiting Los Angeles school this season is not designated as the Joe Roth Memorial Game.

There’s a lot to unpack here as the Bears (3-4, 1-3) and 24th-ranked Trojans (6-2, 4-1) try to snap two-game losing streaks in their final meeting before Cal heads to the Atlantic Coast Conference and USC to the Big Ten. Let’s get this party started:

THE TROJAN HORSES COME TO VISIT

Riley and Williams, two of the Trojans’ most important players, will be ready to go. Riley’s status appeared to be in doubt earlier in the week when he was forced to miss two days of practice due to pneumonia.

He returned to town on Wednesday with a 17-5 record in two years.

Williams, who transferred from Oklahoma to USC with Riley prior to last season, has been outstanding for the Trojans. However, in losses to Notre Dame and Utah over the last two weeks, he threw one touchdown pass and three interceptions, prompting at least one analyst to suggest that he should stop playing right now and wait for the NFL Draft, where he is projected as a possible first-round pick.

“The Heisman Trophy is a long shot, CFB Playoffs are even less likely, and he won’t play in the bowl game,” Fox analyst Emmanuel Acho tweeted. “The risk of participating in FAR outweighs the reward.” “It’s a business decision.”

Williams hasn’t left USC, but he’s everywhere these days, including in Wendy’s and Dr. Pepper commercials, fueling an alleged $2.7 million income stream.

Williams’ agents, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, are spreading the word that he wants a financial stake in whatever NFL team drafts him. The problem is that league rules currently prohibit this.

“There’s a lot going on with Caleb Williams,” said Los Angeles Times beat writer Ryan Kartje. “And it’s fair to wonder what his headspace is right now.”

MENDOZA IS JUST BEGINNING

Mendoza said the bye week allowed him to further settle into his role as starter after throwing two touchdown passes in losses to Oregon State and Utah.

“I would say that I’m an entirely different quarterback, as I have gained a ton of experience, playing against two of the top defenses in the Pac-12,” he told reporters. “I’ve seen my development accelerate and, in some ways, fast-forward. So I’m a lot more confident going into this game than I was going into the Oregon State game.”

Mendoza’s performance has encouraged offensive coordinator Jake Spavital.

“I think Fernando has handled the circumstances pretty well,” Spavital said in an interview. “I think he’s really good at the second and third reads, which is an element that (had) been missing over the first five games.”

Mendoza added, “Not good enough.” “We didn’t win those games, so I was not up to par.”

THERE WILL BE NO JOE ROTH GAME.

Roth died in early 1977, at the age of 21, after battling melanoma privately throughout his senior season the previous fall. Within two months, the Cal athletic department announced plans to name the annual home game against USC or UCLA the Joe Roth Memorial Game in honor of the All-American quarterback.

The tradition would be changed next year when the schools no longer competed in the same conference.

“As we prepare to make the transition to the ACC, we will be looking at starting a new tradition around honoring Joe Roth and his legacy,” the university said in a statement. “In the meantime, we are excited to unveil a new version of the Joe Roth helmet on Saturday.”

An athletic department spokesperson updated the statement Thursday night, saying that the Joe Roth game will be played again in the future, but details are still being worked out.