For a second straight season, TCU football has earned an early matchup with a future nonconference opponent. The Horned Frogs (6-6, 4-5 Big 12) will face the California Golden Bears (7-5, 4-5 Pac-12) in the Cheez-It Bowl on Dec. 26 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz.
Here are five things all TCU fans need to know about Cal as Gary Patterson tries to improve to 7-0 all-time against Pac-12 opponents.
1. A clash of defenses
Just as TCU prides itself on defense within a Big 12 Conference that is punctuated by high-scoring shootouts, Cal has developed a similar identity in the Pac-12 under the direction of second-year head coach Justin Wilcox.