Auburn wasn't the only college football team that felt shortchanged after the 2004 season. Cal felt the same way.

Auburn didn't qualify for the national championship game despite going 12-0. Cal didn't qualify for the BCS despite going 10-1 during the regular season, with its only loss to eventual national champion Southern Cal by six points.

Cal coach Jeff Tedford viewed that as a lack of respect for the entire Pac-10 Conference.

"When you have a team with one loss and you can't get into a BCS game ... We don't get enough respect," he said. "I don't know if it's because of the East Coast, and people go to bed early and don't get a chance to see us play."

Cal cornerback Daymeion Hughes, a preseason All-American, doesn't mind being underrated.

"We like it that way," he said. "We can sneak up and hit everybody in the mouth."

He also is aware Pac-10 defenses get less credit than their offensive counterparts.

"I don't think people realize how good our defense is," Hughes said. "We have a lot of people who can make plays.

"The great thing about playing in the Pac-10 is that every team has great wide receivers. I've played against every body-type there is. It has prepared me."

Up For Grabs: As of Monday, Cal still was undecided on starters at four positions, the most obvious being quarterback. Tedford might announce his starting quarterback -- either Joe Ayoob or Nate Longshore -- today.

Either Syd'Quan Thompson or Randy Bundy will start at cornerback in place of Tim Mixon, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in preseason. Noris Malele and Bryan Deemer are battling at left offensive guard; Mickey Pimentel and Justin Moye are competing at strong-side linebacker.

Lightweight Receivers: You don't see many college football players under 170 pounds, but Cal has two starting at wide receiver.

Sophomore DeSean Jackson is listed at 6-feet, 166 pounds. Junior Robert Jordan is 5-11, 165.

Jackson, who had 38 catches for 601 yards and seven touchdowns last season, makes up for a lack of size with speed. He runs a 4.3-second 40, according to the Cal media guide.

Jordan had 34 catches for 455 yards and four touchdowns last season.

Offense Is A Snap: When Cal implemented the spread-option offense in the spring, center snaps from the shotgun formation were a concern. That concern has been alleviated in preseason, thanks to the work of sophomore center Alex Mack.

Mack snapped thousands of balls in the summer to prepare for the season, and it has paid off, according to a story in the ContraCosta Times.

"I was too slow when I first started (to learn the shotgun snap)," Mack said. "The ball wasn't going back fast enough. Now I'm to the point where every snap is good."

More Firepower: One of the reasons Tedford likes the spread option is that it will enable him to get running backs Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett on the field at the same time.

Lynch is a Heisman Trophy candidate, and Forsett rushed for 999 yards last season as his backup.

Returning Star: If the Vols kick off to open the game, they won't have to wait long for a shot at Lynch. He's set to return kickoffs.

That's not a new role for Lynch. He averaged 20.8 yards on 13 kick returns last season and returned 15 kicks for a 24.8-yard average in 2004.

He has never returned a kick for a touchdown in college.