Cal Football Tickets

June 22, 2006

BERKELEY - The University of California football team has received its highest preseason ranking of the year as Street & Smith's College Football 2006 Yearbook rates the Golden Bears at No. 6 in the nation. In addition, seven Bear players appear on the publication's preseason All-America teams. The preview magazine hits newsstands June 27th.

The No. 6 ranking is one better than ESPN.com's post-spring ranking of No. 7 for the Bears. California checked in at No. 8 in both the SI.com and Athlon Sports previews while Lindy's has Cal at No. 9 in the preseason.

Junior running back Marshawn Lynch and senior linebacker Desmond Bishop were both selected to Street & Smith's All-America first team. Senior kick returner Tim Mixon, senior defensive end Nu'u Tafisi and senior cornerback Daymeion Hughes were all named to the All-America second team while senior defensive tackle Brandon Mebane is a third-team selection. Senior tight end Craig Stevens is an honorable mention All-American by the publication.

In addition, the Golden Bears are picked first in the Pac-10 with five preseason All-Pac-10 players (Lynch, Mebane, Tafisi, Bishop and Hughes).

Cal Preseason Top 10 Rankings
No. 6 Street & Smith's (preseason)
No. 7 ESPN.com (post-spring)
No. 8 SI.com (post-spring)
No. 8 Athlon Sports (preseason)
No. 9 Lindy's (preseason)

Cal Preseason All-Americans (first team unless noted)
Desmond Bishop - Street & Smith's
Daymeion Hughes - Blue Ribbon Defense, Playboy Magazine, Lindy's Football Annual (second team), The Sporting News (second team), Street & Smith's (second team)
Marshawn Lynch - Lindy's Football Annual, The Sporting News, Street & Smith's, Athlon Sports (second team)
Brandon Mebane - Athlon Sports, Lindy's Football Annual, The Sporting News, Street & Smith's (third team)
Tim Mixon - Street & Smith's (second team)
Craig Stevens - Street & Smith's (hon. mention)
Nu'u Tafisi - Street & Smith's (second team)

Cal Preseason Watch List Selections
Daymeion Hughes - Bednarik Award, Lott Trophy, Nagurski Trophy
Brandon Mebane - Bednarik Award, Lott Trophy, Nagurski Trophy, Outland Trophy
Marshawn Lynch - Maxwell Award
Nu'u Tafisi - Hendricks Award

California is coming off an 8-4 season that included a win at the Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl. The Bears ended the 2005 season ranked No. 25 in both the Associated Press and USA Today polls. Cal opens the 2006 season on the road at Tennessee on Sept. 2. The home opener for the Golden Bears is Sept. 9 against Minnesota.