According to Tennessee's football schedule, the Vols won't face an SEC opponent for another three weeks.

Or at least one that counts in the league standings.

Watching film in preparation for Saturday's season opener against No. 9 California, the Vols' minds are squarely set on the SEC, and it's the Golden Bears' defense that put the thought in their heads.

"They definitely remind me of an SEC defense with all the speed and size that they have," offensive tackle Arron Sears said. "They play with great pad leverage and great speed. They have big linebackers about the size of defensive ends and they play very fast.

"Their front seven is one of the best I've seen, and I've been playing in this league about three or four years."

Sears isn't the only one who sees shades of Georgia or LSU or Florida when looking at Cal.

There's a good reason.

Weakside linebacker Worrell Williams is listed at 6-foot, 256 pounds. Strongside linebacker Justin Moye is a quick 6-1, 228.

In the middle is Desmond Bishop, a 6-2, 243 preseason All-American according to Street and Smith's.

Tackle Brandon Mebane and cornerback Daymeion Hughes are consensus preseason All-Americans, forming Cal's trio of preseason All-Americans who will play Saturday.

"They look like an SEC defense: 260-pound linebackers that can run, 300-pounders inside. That's what we see regularly in the SEC," Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe said.

The Golden Bears' defensive prowess extends well past their height, weight and speed.

Eight starters return, including four players -- Mebane, Hughes, Bishop and defensive end Nu'u Tafisi -- who were either first- or second-team All-Pac-10 in 2005.

All four will almost certainly be playing in the NFL a year from now.

The Golden Bears must replace three starters in the secondary after a season-ending knee injury to cornerback Tim Mixon during fall camp.

Still, the core returns from the nation's 24th-best rushing defense (119.2 yards per game) in 2005. The Golden Bears allowed an average of just 21.2 points, the 26th-best total in the country.

It's not exactly the dream matchup for an offensive line that will break in three new starters -- center Michael Frogg, right guard Anthony Parker and right tackle Eric Young.

"I'm as anxious as you guys are to see them play and see how they do against a good Cal football team," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said of his offensive line. "They are more athletic than last year's group, more like what we've played with in the past."

Cal isn't exactly a throwback to the Pac-10's high-scoring, no-defense shootouts of the past.

UT receiver Jayson Swain, who will likely match up against Hughes, sees the talent and the speed that reminds him of more familiar opponents.

"They have good team speed on defense," he said. "Athletic, experienced group, play with confidence. But at the same time, we're the same. Whoever makes the most mistakes will come out the loser. We've got to do our best to know our assignments and play hard so we can have the least amount of mistakes."

One mistake the Vols are not making this week is taking Cal's defense lightly.

"I think they know they're good," Cutcliffe said of his players. "Cal knows they're good. It'll be a real challenge."