SALT LAKE CITY — Jared Goff may be the top quarterback in college football and a candidate for the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, but it’s the less-heralded Travis Wilson who’s leading the No. 5 team in the country.
The two will face off Saturday as Utah hosts No. 23 California.
The Utes (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12) and Golden Bears (5-0, 2-0) ask extremely different things of their quarterbacks, but their importance is no different. Utah was ranked No. 17 before Wilson had the best game of his career during a 62-20 rout of Oregon two weeks ago.
There were no questions about the Utah run game and defense entering the season, but the quarterback position kept the Utes from being considered a Pac-12 contender. They are if Wilson can consistently play at that level. He has thrown for 513 yards and four touchdowns and has completed 68 percent of his passes, with one interception in three games.
“Travis Wilson is much improved,” Cal coach Sonny Dykes said. “He was a good quarterback last year, and he’s playing even better now.”
On the other sideline, the Cal offense goes as Goff goes. The Golden Bears want to run the ball better, but Goff is elite. He ranks in the top 10 nationally in completion percentage, passing efficiency, passing touchdowns and passing yards.
Utah defensive coordinator John Pease said Goff reminds him of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton when he was at TCU. He’s got a live arm and reads coverages well.
