The Bears' 31-0 halftime lead is their largest in nine years

Cal offensive coordinator Mike Bloesch talks about wide receiver Tobias Merriweather, the Notre Dame transfer who missed the first seven games due to injury, in the video above. Merriweather began practicing this week, but with a bye looming, it seemed more likely he would work to be ready for the road game against Wake Forest a week from Friday.

Cal certainly hoped to have all hands on deck as it looked to end a four-game losing streak. The Bears started the season with three wins but have yet to win the Atlantic Coast Conference, losing four games by a combined margin of nine points.

PLAYER AVAILABILITY: The Bears are on the field warming up and there is no sign of Merriweather or TE Corey Dyches.

But starter RG Sioape Vatikani, who has played just part of one game in the Bears' first seven games, is warming up with his teammates.

Also warming up are OLB Ryan McColloch and NB Matthew Littlejohn.

COIN TOSS: Oregon State wins the toss and postpones. The Beavers will kick off and defend the south gate.

11:33 1st question: Cal scores on a bizarre third-and-8 play from OSU's 9-yard line. Fernando Mendoza throws a short pass to RB Jaivian Thomas in the right field, and as he is tackled, Thomas turns and passes it back to Mendoza, who runs untouched into the end zone. Derek Morris hits the PAT. Cal gained 75 yards on 9 plays, including a 40-yard completion from Mendoza to Trond Grizzzell. Jaydn Ott started and carried the ball twice for 3 yards. RG Sioape Vatikani did not start. Fred Williams started at RT in place of the injured TJ Session. Cal 7, Oregon State 0.

8:59 1st question: Cal forces OSU to punt from its own 1-yard line, starting at the Beavers' 42-yard line. Mendoza passed 27 yards to Ott at 15 yards and drilled a 20-yard TD pass to Nyziah Hunter after a false start penalty. Cal with 122 yards and OSU with minus-5. Cal 14, OSU 0.

END OF 1ST QUARTER: Cal 14, Oregon State 0. Cal has a 2nd-and-5 on OSU's 12-yard route as we move into the second quarter. The Bears outgained OSU 196 to 17 yards, including 185 to 3 through the air. Mendoza is 12 for 16 for 185 yards with two touchdowns, including one that statistically goes to himself. Ott carried three balls and zero yards, but had one reception for 27 yards.

Cal has 10 first downs to 1 for the Beavers, is averaging 8.9 yards per snap compared to 1.5 and was more efficient on third down, converting 3 of 4 while OSU was 0 for 3.

OG Sioape Vatikani saw action in this neighborhood, as did NB Matthew Littlejohn.

But ILB Cade Uluavethe Bears' second-leading tackler, isn't playing. Pete Thamel reported that it was a lower body injury and he suffers from it every day. Cal has a bye next week.

OG Bastian Swinney was injured and helped off the field on the last play of the first quarter. His status is uncertain.

14:08 2nd question: Cal managed 71 yards in 11 plays before Derek Morris kicked a 33-yard field goal. The big play of the drive was a 29-yard pass from Mendoza over Grizzell to the OSU 30. Cal 17, Oregon State 0.

9:31 2nd question: An interception by senior safety Craig Woodson at the Beavers' 47-yard line sets up a seven-play, 19-yard scoring drive in which Morris converts a career-long 46-yard field goal. He's now 5-6 in two weeks, although last week's miss was a big mistake. Cal 20, Oregon State 0.

5:09 2. Q: Jaivian Thomas scores on a 2-yard burst midway through a play after an official review showed he was stopped at the 2-yard line after a run from the 18-yard line. Mendoza had a 19-yard completion to Jack Endrives and a 24-yard completion to Jordan King and also ran for 11 yards and a first down during the 71-yard, six-play drive. Mendoza then passed to Mikey Matthews for the successful 2-point conversion. Cal has a yardage advantage of 277 yards to 27. Cal 28, Oregon State 0.

0:00 2. Q: Morris hit his third FG of the game, a 19-yarder at the horn, as the Bears ran out of time in their attempt to add another touchdown. The 11-play, 79-yard drive included a 24-yard pass from Mendoza to Ott and an 18-yard completion to Grizzell. Cal 31, Oregon State 0.

HALFTIME: Cal 31, Oregon State 0. That's Cal's largest halftime lead since beating Grambling State 52-0 on Sept. 5, 2015. The Bears clearly dominated an Oregon State team that has beaten them in the last two seasons and four of the last five.

Cal has a total yardage advantage of 356 to 82, a passing yardage advantage of 299 to 40 and a first downs advantage of 20 to 4. Cal averages 7.9 yards per snap to Oregon State only at 3.4. The Bears converted 5 of 8 third downs. Down attempts, OSU is 0 for 6. Cal is 5 for 5 in the red zone, the Beavers are 0 for 1.

Mendoza is 22 for 30 for 299 yards and 2 TDs plus a touchdown reception (though he doesn't get credit for a catch, just the 15 yards and TD on a lateral from Jaivian Thomas). Ott has 3 receptions for 57 yards but 5 carries for 0 yards. Grizzell has 5 catches for 95 yards and Endries 4 for 38.

8:37 3. Q: Morris kicked his fourth FG, a 26-yarder, after a 25-yard drive in nine plays. Cal gained possession at the OSU 32-yard line after the Beavers inexplicably attempted to gain possession from the 32-yard line on fourth-and-3. They failed to convert, essentially giving Cal three points. Cal 34, OSU 0.

.