California and Oregon State face similar situations in advance of Saturday's meeting
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion looks down near the end of an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/George Nikitin) (The Associated Press)
With their fan bases getting antsy and both needing two wins to even think about playing in a bowl game, California and Oregon State meet Saturday night in hopes of righting downward turns.
The Golden Bears (4-4, 2-4 Pac-12) limp into Corvallis with three straight losses. The Beavers (4-3, 1-3) are the first of four opponents left on Cal's schedule, followed by USC in Los Angeles and Stanford and BYU at home.
The Beavers are in a similar predicament.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Oregon State (4-3, 2-4) has lost its last two, including a 38-14 thumping at Stanford last weekend. The Beavers will have four left after the Golden Bears: Washington State, Arizona State, Washington and Oregon. Three of the last four are at Reser Stadium.