Ducks, Beavers May Test New Starting QBs

Even though Kevin Hogan grew up the son of a lobbyist and attended high school six blocks from the Capitol building, nobody had to do any politicking for him to be Stanford's starting quarterback. The way Hogan has played made him a nearly unanimous choice. In one of the smoothest and least controversial changes any major program will ever have, Hogan has quietly supplanted Josh Nunes under center. Stanford coach David Shaw says the redshirt freshman will make his first start for the No. 16 Cardinal (7-2, 5-1) on Saturday against No. 13 Oregon State (7-1, 5-1) in what is essentially a Pac-12 North semifinal. The winner will face Oregon with a chance - assuming neither loses it's only other league game left - to advance to the conference championship. Meanwhile in Berkely, California begins preparations for its toughest game of the season with backup quarterback Allan Bridgford getting the bulk of the snaps at practice. Coach Jeff Tedford said Tuesday that starter Zach Maynard remains day to day with an injured left knee. Maynard wore a heavy brace on his left leg and did not practice as the Golden Bears (3-7, 2-6 Pac-12) get ready for Saturday's game against No. 2 Oregon (9-0, 6-0). Bridgford relieved Maynard late in Cal's 21-13 loss last week to Washington. He was 2 for 7 for 26 yards and is just 4 for 16 for 32 yards in two brief stints this season.