Kevin Riley News

Shane Vereen ran for a career-high 193 yards and three touchdowns on 42 carries and Mike Mohamed intercepted a pass from Andrew Luck at the 3 with less than 2 minutes left as California spoiled No.

Shane Vereen was supposed to be Cal's every-down back after star Jahvid Best's scary injury two weeks ago.

The USC game wasn't the first time Jim Harbaugh went for a two-point conversion with a big lead.

Something tumultuous can happen this weekend in northern California. No, it has nothing to do with UC Berkeley's protests against the Regents' 32 percent tuition fee hike; nor does it have anything to do with the fact that Cal's Memorial Stadium is located on a fault line.

ARIZONA: The Wildcats allowed nine points late in the fourth quarter against California and that led to a 24-16 loss to the Golden Bears.

The California Golden Bears didn't have this game circled on their calendar when they began the season.

Twenty-nine carries into the heaviest lifting he's ever known as a collegian, Shane Vereen was as pristine as a blade of rubberized turf.

Shane Vereen rumbled 61 yards for a touchdown and finished with 159 yards on the ground in place of an injured Jahvid Best, as California upended 18th-ranked Arizona, 24-16, at Memorial Stadium.Giorgio Tavecchio kicked four field goals, including the go-ahead 22-yarder with under five minutes left.

The frightening fall and concussion that sidelined California star running back Jahvid Best hit his backup Shane Vereen particularly hard.

This Saturday, two great Pac-10 teams will square off when California and Oregon State tangle.

Riley, California's starting quarterback, isn't shaving as long as the Golden Bearskeep winning, and they're riding a three-game winning streak.

Even the most optimistic of Cal fans knows it's out of reach now. With Saturday night's 31-14 loss to Oregon State, the Bears are essentially out of the Rose Bowl hunt.

Not the shoulders of 70,000 screaming fans, not in a sea of blue and gold, not on a bed of roses.

Jahvid Best took the direct snap from center, curled around left end and streaked for the goal line.

On Saturday at 4pm, I will be standing in the student section of Memorial Stadium to watch the California Golden Bears beat the Oregon State Beavers for the first time at home in four years - and seek revenge for 2007's heartbreaking loss.

When Oregon State last visited Berkeley two years ago, it resulted in quarterback Kevin Riley's most forgettable moment at Cal.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller How does a team define a successful season? Here's a guess that both California's and Oregon State's definitions includes a victory this weekend.

"When the boy began to delight in his daring flight, and abandoning his guide, drawn by desire for the heavens, soared higher.

California is back in the Top 25. Staying there for more than a week, however, could be a challenge.

Last week, Cal linebacker Mike Mohamed said he would know better after the game against Arizona State "what are all about." Facing another team in the Pac-10 would reveal which was "the real Cal"-the team that scored six points in two losses or at least 35 in each of its five wins.