UC Davis @ Stanford preview

Stanford begins its quest for a third straight Pac-12 title and fifth consecutive BCS bowl appearance when it hosts FCS school California Davis on Saturday. The 11th-ranked Cardinal return 14 starters - including seven on defense - from an 11-3 team that lost 24-20 to Michigan State in the Rose Bowl. After finishing the season ranked fifth in the BCS, Stanford is aiming to be among the top four to qualify for the first College Football Playoff.

The Cardinal rely on a passing game led by junior quarterback Kevin Hogan, who is 16-3 as a starter. Hogan will be playing behind an inexperienced offensive line and a running back corps that is in flux. Both units will have to hit the ground running with No. 15 USC on tap Sept. 6 in Palo Alto. UC Davis returns 18 starters - including eight on offense - from a 5-7 team that finished tied for fourth in the 13-team Big Sky Conference.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: None

ABOUT UC DAVIS (2013: 5-7): The Aggies will be without running back Gabe Manzanares (ankle), who was named the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year and third-team all-conference after running for 1,285 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior transfer from San Francisco City College. Colton Silveria, a senior who was the starter as a freshman and sophomore, will replace Manzanares against Stanford. Who will start at quarterback is a game-time decision with the job going to either senior London Lacy or sophomore Ben Scott, neither of whom played last season.

ABOUT STANFORD (2013: 11-3): The passing game is set with the return of Hogan and wide receivers Ty Montgomery (a USA Today preseason All-America) and Devon Cajuste, who set a school record 22.9 yards per catch last season. The running backs are untested with the starting job going to senior Kelsey Young, who had 14 carries for 110 yards last season. The progress of the offensive line will likely determine the Cardinal’s season with left tackle Andrus Peat the lone returner.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Stanford’s backup running back is junior Barry Sanders, son of the legendary Hall of Famer.

2. In the teams’ last meeting in 2005, UC Davis rallied from a 17-point first-half deficit to record a 20-17 victory on a touchdown pass with eight seconds remaining.

3. Ron Gould is in his second year as UC Davis head coach after spending 16 seasons on the staff at Stanford rival California.

PREDICTION: Stanford 35, UC Davis 3