Here’s an update following Wednesday’s practice at Witter Field: Defensive tackle Kevin Bemoll will make the 64-man travel roster.

Rejoice! How can you not root for the guy? He’s been through a rough couple years, grumbling his way through drills as an offensive guard. Now he says football is fun again, and he provides comic relief for the D-line unit as well.

However, true freshman Kendrick Payne is sidelined two weeks with a knee. He’ll undergo minor surgery tomorrow, but coach Jeff Tedford expects him to return full-strength. No, Payne will not receive a redshirt.

The Cal football team is back in the national rankings today after putting up a 66-spot on Saturday.

The Bears are No. 23 in the AP rankings and No. 25 in the USA Today poll. I’d venture a guess that everybody associated with the team will stress just how much unimportant the rankings really are. Coach Tedford is going to say that he hasn’t seen them (which is probably true.) But that little number goes a long way in the eye of the national viewer.