BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Jared Goff’s college career has gotten off to quite the prolific start.
Goff became the first true freshman quarterback ever to start the season opener at California and responded by becoming the second player in Golden Bears history with back-to-back 400-yard passing games.
Goff will get his toughest test yet on Saturday when Cal (1-1) hosts a fourth-ranked Ohio State (2-0) team that has won 14 straight games.
Goff leads the nation in passing with 935 yards and has the most yards passing in his first two games since the start of the BCS era in 1998. Goff is more than 100 yards ahead of the next player on the list, North Carolina State’s Philip Rivers with 798 yards in 2000, according to STATS LLC.
”It’s cool, but I can’t think about stats,” Goff said. ”I’m really not concerned about that. All we’re worried about is Ohio State.”
The Buckeyes are plenty concerned about Goff, who followed up his 450-yard passing debut in a loss against Northwestern with 485 yards last week in a win over Portland State.
Ohio State hasn’t faced anything like first-year coach Sonny Dykes’ Bear Raid offense that has thrown 115 passes the first two weeks. The Buckeyes have allowed 401 yards passing on 73 attempts in wins this season over Buffalo and San Diego State. Only Texas’ Colt McCoy and Purdue’s Drew Brees have thrown for more than 400 yards in a game against Ohio State in the BCS era.
”It’s impressive to come in and step into this kind of offense,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. ”He’s a very impressive guy.”
Continue Reading: No. 4 Ohio State prepares stiff test for Cal QB
