UCLA has never lost three straight regular-season games under Jim Mora. To avoid falling into that hole, the Bruins will need to hold off a Cal offense led by star quarterback Jared Goff. The No. 20 Bears are averaging 40.2 points per game after a surprising 5-1 start, and will be eager to win at the Rose Bowl for just the second time in the last 15 years. Connor Letourneau, who covers Cal for the San Francisco Chronicle, answered five questions about the team.

(Here are the questions I answered about the Bruins for the Chronicle.)

1. After suffering its first loss, what does Cal most need to prove against a second-half schedule that looks much more intimidating than the first?

The Bears are trying to prove they can win the Pac-12 North. Though No. 10 Stanford is the clear favorite at this point, No. 20 Cal is very much in contention. The division title would likely come down to the Big Game on Nov. 21 if the Bears can win their next four games over unranked opponents.

To make that happen, they must start stringing together complete performances. Cal’s past four games have been within six points, largely because it has struggled in at least one phase. In its Oct. 10 loss at Utah, for example, uncharacteristic offensive mistakes put the pressure on an inconsistent — albeit much-improved — defense.

2. Jared Goff threw a career-high five interceptions in Salt Lake City. Did Utah do something that other defenses will be able to replicate, or did the quarterback simply have a bad day?

That was an odd performance. The first couple interceptions, which came on a dropped pass and a tipped ball, weren’t necessarily Goff’s fault. Then the takeaways seemed to throw him off-kilter a bit. He started forcing things and ended up with four picks by halftime. Still, Utah’s defense deserves much of the credit. Its defensive line did a nice job getting hands on balls in the screen game, and its defensive backs were excellent in coverage.

3. Daniel Lasco rushed for 1,000 yards last season, but hasn’t done much since injuring his hip in Week 2. Is there anything holding him back besides health, and has he shown any promise of regaining his former form?

Lasco’s disappearance has been one of this team’s most surprising story lines. When he strained a muscle in his hip Sept. 12 against San Diego State, coaches were confident the senior could return as soon as the following week. Lasco missed the next two games before trying to come back against Washington State and Utah. In both of those games, he was benched after coaches sensed he wasn’t quite ready.

Lasco’s problems are more mental than physical right now. He has lost his confidence, a troubling development for a running back. Sonny Dykes said that Lasco looked great in Sunday’s practice, though, and I expect to see him in the rotation again Thursday. Whether he will be productive is another question.

4. Cal’s defense leads the country with 21 takeaways, but also ranks 10th in the Pac-12 in giving up 7.2 yards per pass attempt. Are the forced turnovers sustainable, or do the Bears rely too much on opponents making mistakes?

You raise an intriguing point. All season, Cal’s defense has excelled at forcing turnovers. But the Bears have leaned too heavily at times on takeaways powering their defense. The secondary, though better than last year’s horrendous bunch, continues to make a lot of mistakes in coverage. To go from decent to good on defense, Cal’s defensive backs must be much more assignment sound. Forced turnovers can be fleeting.

5. Athletic director Michael Williams hasn’t been willing to publicly commit to Sonny Dykes on a long-term basis. What’s the bar for the third-year head coach to earn an extension?

Barring a complete second-half collapse, I expect Dykes to earn an extension in the offseason. That means the Bears need to at least make a bowl game. But if they can win eight or nine games, I don’t think Williams would have much choice. Keep in mind that, in addition to what he’s done on the field, Dykes has completely overhauled the program academically.