Jan. 10, 2013

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BERKELEY - The schedule for the first year of the Sonny Dykes era of California football features seven games in Memorial Stadium, kicking off with three home contests in a row and concluding with the regular-season finale in the Big Game at Stanford Stadium on November 23.

The Golden Bears' 2013 schedule begins with three consecutive nonconference opponents Northwestern (Aug. 31), Portland State (Sept. 7) and Ohio State (Sept. 14) in Berkeley. After a bye week, Cal opens its Pac-12 slate at Oregon (Sept. 28) before hosting Washington State on Homecoming Weekend (Oct. 5). Cal will also host Oregon State (Oct. 19) and Arizona (Nov. 2) before concluding its home schedule against USC (Nov. 9).

In addition to the Oregon and Stanford games, Cal will be on the road for conference tilts at UCLA (Oct. 12), Washington (Oct. 26) and Colorado (Nov. 16).

Kickoff times and television selections for all Cal games will be announced at later dates.

The Pac-12 Championship Game will be televised by either ESPN or ABC and played Dec. 7 between the winners of the conference's North and South divisions at the home of the team with the best record.

Cal opens the season against a Northwestern squad that finished the 2012 campaign with a 10-3 overall record and a 34-20 victory over Mississippi State in the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl. In the only previous meeting in the series, the Wildcats defeated the Bears, 20-14, in the 1949 Rose Bowl.

Portland State makes its second visit to Memorial Stadium, with Cal winning the only other matchup, 42-16, in 2006.

The Bears wrap up their out-of-conference slate against Ohio State. The Buckeyes, who will be traveling to Berkeley for the first time since 1971, lead the series, 6-1, after escaping with a 35-28 victory last September in Columbus. Cal's lone victory in the series came on Jan. 1, 1921 - a 28-0 shutout in the Bears' first-ever Rose Bowl.

In all, eight of Cal's 2013 opponents earned bowl berths this past season and a ninth - Ohio State - was the nation's only unbeaten Football Bowl Subdivision team but was ineligible for the postseason. Stanford (Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio) and Oregon (Tostitos Fiesta Bowl) won BCS bowl games. Others to participate in bowls included Arizona (Gildan New Mexico Bowl), Northwestern (TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl), Oregon State (Valero Alamo Bowl), UCLA (Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl), USC (Hyundai Sun Bowl) and Washington (Maaco Bowl Las Vegas).

Cal football season-ticket holders have through Thursday, Jan. 31 to renew their season tickets for 2013. As an early renewal perk, season-ticket holders who act by Monday, Jan. 14 will receive an exclusive Aaron Rodgers bobblehead and two tickets to an upcoming men's basketball game. Visit CalBears.com for details on renewals, pricing, perks and the Select-a-Seat upgrade event.

Fans who want to jump on board and become new season-ticket holders for the 2013 campaign can place a deposit through Jan. 31 and receive a free ticket to the Cal-UCLA men's basketball game on Feb. 14. Visit CalBears.com for deposit benefits and additional information.

Fans can also renew their tickets or place a deposit by calling (800) GO BEARS (462-3277).

2013 California Football Schedule

Home Games (in bold) at Memorial Stadium
*Pac-12 Game
#Homecoming
^Joe Roth Game
!Pac-12 Championship Game at Home Site of Regular-Season Champion
Unless Noted All Times and Television Selections to be Announced at Later Dates