Sporting News recently Atlantic Coast Conference Quarterback Rankings Heading into the 2024 season, and Cal's signal callers were given no respect.
The Golden Bears quarterback is ranked 18th in a conference of 17 football schools in 2024. Sporting News included Notre Dame in its ACC QB rankings, even though the Irish are not a member of the ACC in football. However, Notre Dame is a member of the ACC in almost every other sport, and in 2024 he will play against five of her ACC teams in soccer.
Either way, Cal's quarterback situation ranks last in the ACC.
Sporting News has Fernando Mendoza as Cal's starting quarterback, with Chandler Rodgers, a transfer from North Texas, as his backup. Rodgers is competing for the starting spot, but Mendoza is considered the Bears' No. 1 quarterback this spring.
Sporting News had this to say about Cal's quarterback:
18. California
starter: Sophomore Fernando Mendoza, in his 8th year at Cal.
backup: junior chandler rogers
Status heading into autumn: Mendoza started as a third-string quarterback in 2023, but became the starter in Week 6 and held the spot ever since. The offense finished the season with 40 points in three of eight games, 14 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Chandler Rodgers transferred after starting at North Texas, but will need to take Mendoza's spot to become QB1.
Interestingly, the two quarterbacks Cal played against in the Pac-12 last season were ranked No. 1 and No. 4 by Sporting News.
1st place goes to Cameron Ward who currently plays for Miami Florida. Last fall, when Ward was Washington State's quarterback, Cal defeated the Cougars 42-39. Ward had 34 hits for 354 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception (on a Hail Mary pass) in 59 games, but was sacked six times. Mendoza was 14-of-21 for 150 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
No. 4 in Sporting News' ACC quarterback rankings, he led Oregon State to an 8-4 regular season, including a 52-40 win over Cal in his first start at Mendoza College, and is currently at Florida State. – Became Uiagalelei. Uiagalelei was 19-of-25 for 275 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions, while Mendoza was 21-of-32 for 207 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. .
Cal will play the Golden Bears' first ACC game on Nov. 21 against Uiagalair and Florida State, and Cal's second ACC game is scheduled for Oct. 5 against Ward and Miami, marking Cal's first This will be the home ACC game.
Nine of the 18 projected starting QBs in Sporting News' ACC rankings are transfers who played at other schools a year ago. This does not include Cal, who could be moved on as the starting QB if Rodgers beats Mendoza in time for Game 4 of the 2024 season against Florida State.
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