Tag: Cal

Nov 25, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Dante Moore (3) throws the ball against the California Golden Bears in the first half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Cal blitzes UCLA with 27 unanswered points, wins to become bowl-eligible

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Fernando Mendoza threw a pair of touchdown passes to Jeremiah Hunter, Jaydn Ott returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and Cal gained bowl eligibility for the first time since 2019 with its 33-7 rout of UCLA on Saturday in Pasadena, Calif.

The Golden Bears (6-6, 4-5 Pac-12) fell behind 7-6 in the second quarter when Dante Moore threw a 5-yard scoring pass to Logan Loya. The UCLA score was set up by Laiatu Latu, who picked off Mendoza and took the return deep into Cal territory.

Ott returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, reclaiming the lead the Golden Bears built in the first quarter on a pair of Mateen Bhaghani field goals. Ott’s touchdown began a deluge, with Cal scoring 27 unanswered points.

Hunter matched a season high with eight receptions and set a season high with 101 yards, hauling in scoring receptions of 14 yards just before halftime and 13 yards in the fourth quarter.

Both touchdown receptions came after takeaways. David Reese set up the first one by forcing a fumble from Moore, who stepped in after Bruins starter Ethan Garbers left with an undisclosed injury in the first quarter. Brett Johnson recovered to set up the Cal offense in the red zone.

After Bhaghani kicked his third field goal to open the fourth quarter, the Golden Bears’ special teams forced a fumble from Colson Yankoff that placekicker Michael Luckhurst recovered. The takeaway led to Hunter’s second scoring catch.

UCLA (7-5, 4-5) outgained Cal 380-302, with 266 of those yards coming on Moore’s 23-of-38 passing. The Bruins had three possessions end on turnovers, while another three concluded with UCLA turning the ball over on downs.

Cade Uluave helped key the Cal defensive effort with 12 tackles, including two for loss, a sack and an interception. Craig Woodson picked off a pass, and Reese recorded three sacks.

Mendoza went 19-for-30 for 178 yards and was intercepted twice. Ott rushed 21 times for 80 yards.

–Field Level Media

November 25, 2022; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears running back Jaydn Ott (6) runs the football against UCLA Bruins linebacker Laiatu Latu (15) during the first quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Cal seeks bowl eligibility when it visits UCLA

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cal seeks a road win on Saturday in Pasadena, Calif., to reach bowl eligibility for the first time since 2019, while host UCLA pursues its third straight season of eight or more wins.

UCLA (7-4, 4-4 Pac-12) comes into its regular-season finale off of a dominant 38-20 win over rival Southern California last Saturday. The Bruins led by 25 points in the late fourth quarter en route to both their second straight road win at USC, and a victory that pulled them out of a two-game skid.

UCLA overwhelmed the Trojans rushing offense, limiting USC to just three net yards on 22 attempts. This week, the Bruins face a stiff test trying to replicate that dominance against a Cal offense ranked No. 25 nationally with 186.5 rushing yards per game.

“When you’re playing Cal, they’re a really balanced football team, and Jaydn Ott is a really outstanding running back,” UCLA coach Chip Kelly said during his Monday media availability.

Ott leads the Pac-12 with 1,180 rushing yards on 208 carries, and his 11 touchdowns on the ground are tied with Washington’s Dillon Johnson and USC’s Caleb Williams for most in the league.

Cal (5-6, 3-5) comes into Rose Bowl Stadium on Saturday riding a two-game winning streak. The Golden Bears lost four straight before a 42-39 defeat of Washington State on Nov. 11 and a 27-15 win over rival Stanford last Saturday has them in the hunt for a bowl game.

Although Cal rushed for fewer yards than its season average in each of the last three games, including the defeats of Washington State and Stanford, the Golden Bears are going for 229.8 yards on the ground in wins vs. 150.3 in losses.

They will try to establish a consistent rush against a UCLA defense that leads the nation with just 64.6 yards allowed on the ground a contest and is tied for second by giving up just three rushing touchdowns.

“At this point in the season, the stats bear it out,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox said in his Tuesday media availability. “They’re very good up front … Laiatu Latu is an elite football player. He plays on the edge for them, but he’ll get down. He makes plays for them in the run game, in the pass game. Very difficult to block.”

Latu leads the conference in both sacks with 13 and tackles for loss with 20.5 (best in FBS), contributing to UCLA’s miniscule rushing yield.

–Field Level Media

Nov 18, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; California Golden Bears running back Jaydn Ott (1) runs with the football against Stanford Cardinal linebacker David Bailey (23) during the first quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports

Big Game goes Cal’s way in victory over Stanford

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Fernando Mendoza threw three touchdown passes, Jaydn Ott rushed for 166 yards and a score, and visiting California retained “The Axe” in its annual Big Game against Stanford with a 27-15 victory Saturday in the rivals’ final Pac-12 meeting.

Trond Grizzell caught two touchdown passes in the first half and Jeremiah Hunter hauled in a clincher with 10:19 to go as the Golden Bears (5-6, 3-5 Pac-12) remained alive for bowl eligibility with one game remaining: Nov. 25 at UCLA.

Ashton Daniels passed for 188 yards and a touchdown and rushed for a team-high 68 yards for the Cardinal (3-8, 2-7), who completed their Pac-12 schedule. Stanford ends its season at home against Notre Dame next week.

Cal led just 21-15 after Stanford’s Joshua Karty connected on his third field goal of the game, a 50-yarder, with 46 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

But the Golden Bears then drove 75 yards in 13 plays, capped by Mendoza’s 8-yard scoring connection with Hunter.

Mendoza finished 24-for-36 for 294 yards with one interception. Grizzell made seven catches for 136 yards.

Ott, the Pac-12’s leading rusher, had his fifth 150-plus-yard game of the season. His touchdown came on a 1-yard plunge in the third quarter.

Tiger Bachmeier caught Daniels’ lone scoring pass, a 41-yarder, later in the third quarter for the Cardinal, who never led.

Karty’s other field goals covered 44 and 53 yards.

Grizzell’s touchdown catches came from 9 yards out in the first quarter to open the scoring, then 54 yards in the second minute of the second period, giving Cal a 14-3 lead.

Stanford countered Cal’s first two scores with two of Karty’s field goals to hang within 14-6 at halftime.

With 161 yards on the ground and 294 through the air, Cal finished with a 455-290 dominance in total yards and 29-12 edge in first downs.

–Field Level Media

Nov 11, 2023; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears running back Jaydn Ott (1) rushes for a touchdown against the Washington State Cougars during the second quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Cal snaps four-game skid, edges Washington State

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California snapped a four-game losing streak when Washington State kicker Dean Janikowski missed a 48-yard field goal with 50 seconds left that could have tied the game, helping the Golden Bears post a 42-39 victory on Saturday at Berkeley, Calif.

California (4-6, 2-5 Pac-12) almost blew an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Washington State (4-6, 1-6) and the Golden Bears must win their last two games be eligible for a bowl.

The Cougars have lost six straight games.

Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward got the Cougars into field-goal position, to the Cal 31-yard line, after completing a 16-yard pass to Josh Kelly.

After an incomplete pass, setting up fourth down, Janikowski missed the 48-yarder wide left. He failed on a 42-yard attempt earlier in the fourth quarter.

Washington State used its three timeouts to force California to punt with 28 seconds left.

The Cougars got the ball to their 47 after two pass plays.

Ward’s Hail Mary attempt at the end was intercepted at the goal line by Cade Uluave, who had a 51-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the first quarter.

Ward attempted a career-high 60 pass attempts and completed 35 of them for 358 yards. He threw three touchdown passes and was intercepted once.

With 9:26 remaining, Ward fumbled while being sacked and Nohl Williams returned the ball 52 yards for a touchdown, increasing California’s lead to 42-24.

Ward then led the Cougars 70 yards in seven plays on a touchdown-scoring drive that took only 1:49 left in the clock.

His 21-yard scoring strike to Kelly and subsequent successful 2-point conversion pass to Djouvensky Schlenbaker with 7:33 remaining cut the lead to 42-32.

California running back Jaydn Ott fumbled on the ensuing possession and Washington State’s Sam Lockett III recovered it at the California 37 with 6:38 remaining.

A 20-yard pass from Ward to Lincoln Victor set up a 5-yard scoring connection between Ward and Schlenbaker with 5:23 left to cut the lead to 42-39.

California had a three-and-out possession, forcing it to punt to Washington State with 3:42 remaining.

Janikowski’s missed field goal came at the end of the possession.

Ott rushed for 167 yards on 27 carries to lead a California offense that mustered 327 total yards.

–Field Level Media

Nov 4, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws a pass during the second half against the California Golden Bears at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

Bo Nix, No. 6 Oregon blast Cal

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Bo Nix passed for four touchdowns and rushed for two to lead No. 6 Oregon to a solid 63-19 victory over Cal on Saturday in Pac-12 play at Eugene, Ore.

Tez Johnson recorded career bests of 12 receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns for the Ducks (8-1, 5-1 Pac-12). Troy Franklin, Terrance Ferguson and Traeshon Holden also caught touchdown passes and Bucky Irving and Jordan James added rushing scores.

Jaydn Ott rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown and Nohl Williams returned a fumble for a score for the Golden Bears (3-6, 1-5), who lost their fourth straight game. Fernando Mendoza completed 18 of 34 passes for 177 yards and one interception.

Nix completed 29 of 38 passes for 386 yards and one interception for the Ducks, who won their third straight game. Irving accumulated 117 scrimmage yards (89 rushing, 28 receiving) as Oregon outgained the Golden Bears 597-286.

The Ducks have won 13 of the past 15 meetings between the teams.

Ott scored on a 20-yard run early in the third quarter to cut the Golden Bears’ deficit to 35-19.

Five-plus minutes later, Irving scored from the Cal 6 to push the Oregon lead back to 23.

Later in the quarter, Cal’s Jaivian Thomas fumbled and Oregon’s Evan Williams recovered at his own 1-yard line with 4:05 left in the quarter.

The Ducks then drove 99 yards on 10 plays with Nix tossing a 4-yard touchdown pass to Ferguson to make it 49-19 with 14:11 remaining in the contest.

Four-plus minutes later, James scored on a 16-yard run, and backup quarterback Ty Thompson tossed a 6-yard scoring pass to Holden with 2:26 remaining to complete the scoring.

Johnson had nine receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns in a first half that ended with the Ducks holding a 35-13 advantage.

His first scoring catch was a 48-yarder from Nix with seven minutes left in the opening quarter. Just over two minutes later, Nix scored on the ground from the 1 to give the Ducks a 14-0 lead.

The Golden Bears answered with 10 points in just seven seconds.

Mateen Bhaghani got Cal on the board with a 43-yard field goal with 1:39 left in the first. On Oregon’s next play, Johnson was running in motion to the right, the shotgun snap hit him and the ball bounded toward the Ducks’ end zone. Nohl Williams then picked it up and scooted 9 yards for the touchdown.

The Golden Bears moved within 14-13 on Bhaghani’s 27-yard field goal with 11:28 left in the first half.

Oregon answered with three touchdowns over the final 5:21 of the half. Nix scored from the 1 and tossed touchdown passes of 14 yards to Johnson and 7 to Franklin for a 22-point halftime lead.

–Field Level Media

Oct 28, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Oregon Ducks kicker Camden Lewis (49) kicks a PAT against the Utah Utes during the first half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports

No. 6 Oregon, trying to peak at right time, not overlooking Cal

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Oregon is in the thick of the national championship picture as the calendar turns to November.

The Ducks are No. 6 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the campaign. They conclude the regular season with three of four games at home, beginning with a Pac-12 contest against Cal on Saturday in Eugene, Ore.

Oregon sits behind No. 5 Washington of the Pac-12 due to its 36-33 loss to the Huskies in Seattle on Oct. 14. It is possible the two teams will meet again in next month’s Pac-12 title game.

Regardless, momentum is running rampant after the Ducks (7-1, 4-1 Pac-12) trounced Utah 35-6 last weekend in Salt Lake City. The Utes had won 18 straight home games.

Now the task is not slipping up against the Golden Bears (3-5, 1-4), who have dropped three straight games.

“We want to play our best football at the end of the season,” Oregon second-year coach Dan Lanning said. “We’ve played our best football to date this last week, and we have to play better going forward.”

Lanning said the rout of Utah was “certainly the best performance of our team since I’ve been here.”

The Ducks have topped 30 points in all eight of their games and rank third nationally in scoring among FBS teams at 45.5 points per game and second in total offense at 531.4 yards per game.

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix has moved into the top tier of Heisman Trophy candidates and leads the nation with a 78.3 completion percentage. He has completed at least 72 percent of his throws in every game this season.

Nix has thrown for 2,337 yards and 21 touchdowns against just one interception, but his experience (an NCAA-record 55 career starts) and intangibles stand out.

“Bo Nix is the best quarterback in the nation, just to be really clear,” Lanning said. “I don’t think there’s any doubt about it. And again, it’s not just the plays he makes on the field, I think a lot of people talk about chasing stats and all these things, this guy just plays consistent.”

Nix insists he isn’t concerned with the Heisman race.

“I want to go out there and put our team in the best situation possible,” Nix said. “I feel like when I do that, (my teammates) have my back and they go out and perform at a high level as well.”

Cal had a chance to post a signature win against Southern California last weekend but fell short with a 50-49 home loss.

The Golden Bears led by 14 points before the Trojans scored 21 straight to take a 50-43 lead with 3:33 to go. Cal scored a touchdown with 58 seconds left and coach Justin Wilcox elected to go for a two-point conversion, but quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s pass was deflected by USC’s Jaylin Smith.

“Late in the game we had some opportunities to make a play here or there to change the outcome and we just couldn’t quite come up with it,” Wilcox said. “That’s a very talented team we just competed with and (we) had a number of chances to win and we didn’t do it.”

Mendoza completed 25 of 39 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for two scores. The redshirt freshman has started three straight games and has thrown two TD passes while getting intercepted once in each contest.

Golden Bears sophomore running back Jaydn Ott matched his career best of three rushing touchdowns and posted his fifth career 100-yard game by rushing for 153 yards on 21 carries against the Trojans. Ott left in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury, and Wilcox said Tuesday that his best back is expected to play against the Ducks.

Ott has 754 rushing yards and eight scores on the season.

Oregon has won 12 of the past 14 meetings with Cal.

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal quarterback Ashton Daniels (14) throws the ball against the Southern California Trojans in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

ACC unveils schedule model with Cal, Stanford, SMU additions

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The Atlantic Coast Conference released its football scheduling model for the next seven years Monday, incorporating the upcoming additions of Cal, Stanford and SMU.

All teams will play each other at least twice in the first seven seasons after the ACC grows to 17 members. Amid the inclusion of two West Coast programs, no team will travel to California in back-to-back seasons.

Not every school has the same number of protected rivalry games. Georgia Tech and Louisville have none at all, while some programs have as many as three. Cal, Stanford and SMU all have one another as protected rivals, and geography was emphasized for the others.

It is unclear what will become of Notre Dame’s annual set of games against ACC schools, including its rivalry series with Stanford. Those games will be determined at a later date, according to the league.

The 16 protected games that will take place every year are:
–Boston College-Syracuse
–Boston College-Pitt
–Syracuse-Pitt
–North Carolina-Virginia
–North Carolina-Duke
–North Carolina-NC State
–NC State-Wake Forest
–NC State-Duke
–Duke-Wake Forest
–Virginia Tech-Virginia
–Florida State-Clemson
–Miami-Florida State
–Miami-Virginia Tech
–Stanford-Cal
–Stanford-SMU
–Cal-SMU

–Field Level Media

Oct 28, 2023; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears wide receiver Trond Grizzell (left) catches a touchdown pass against USC Trojans safety Jaylin Smith (right) during the second quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

No. 24 USC rallies in fourth, survives vs. Cal, 50-49

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No. 24 Southern California rallied from down two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and snapped a two-game losing skid with a 50-49 road defeat of Pac-12 Conference counterpart California on Saturday in Berkeley, Calif.

USC (7-2, 5-1 Pac-12) trailed 43-29 after Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza rushed for a 1-yard touchdown with 14:06 remaining in the game.

The Trojans then scored 21 unanswered points to take a 50-43 lead with 3:33 remaining.

But Mendoza led the Bears on a 79-yard touchdown drive that culminated with a 13-yard scoring strike to Jaivian Thomas with 58 seconds remaining. Cal opted to go for the lead and 2-point conversion but couldn’t convert as Mendoza’s throw into the end zone fell incomplete.

Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams accounted for four touchdowns. He passed for 369 yards and two TDs and rushed for another two.

Jaydn Ott rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns for Cal.

USC trailed 28-17 going into halftime that ensued in unusual fashion. Williams completed a fourth-and-11 pass to Lake McRee for 29 yards. However, officials declared the clock expired and both teams went to the locker room — but a second was added upon review.

The final play of the second quarter, a missed 33-yard Denis Lynch field-goal attempt, was run after intermission and just before the beginning of the third quarter.

The odd sequence set the tone for a roller-coaster second half in which Cal (3-5, 1-4) fell behind after giving up a pair of third-quarter USC touchdowns. But the Bears answered with two quick scores of their own, the second coming to kick off the fourth quarter and the 43-29 lead.

Mendoza capped Golden Bears drives of 75 and 54 yards with goal-line runs for touchdowns.

Mendoza was in on four total touchdowns with a pair of scoring throws: a 17-yarder to Trond Grizzell in the second quarter, and the connection with Thomas in the final minute of regulation. Mendoza was 25-of-39 passing for 292 yards.

Cal ultimately could not overcome a three-touchdown onslaught from USC in the fourth quarter, beginning with Williams’ goal-line touchdown run to cap a 75-yard drive.

MarShawn Lloyd rushed for nine of his 115 yards on a score set up after Tackett Curtis recovered a muffed punt deep in Cal territory. Lloyd also scored a touchdown on a 2-yard carry in the first quarter and finished with 72 yards on three receptions.

Austin Jones completed the Trojans’ comeback with a seven-yard touchdown, set up on Lloyd’s 56-yard reception from Williams.

–Field Level Media

Oct 21, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) carries the ball against the Utah Utes in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

No. 24 USC searches for offensive stride against Cal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cal and No. 24 Southern California both come into their Saturday Pac-12 Conference matchup in Berkeley, Calif., looking to pull out of two-game losing streaks.

USC (6-2, 4-1 Pac-12) followed its first defeat of the 2023 season — a 48-20 rout on Oct. 14 at then-No. 21 Notre Dame — with its first conference loss last week, falling 34-32 to then-No. 14 Utah.

The Trojans fought back from a 14-point, third-quarter deficit to pull ahead 32-31 of the Utes with 1:46 left in the game thanks to an 11-yard touchdown run by reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. That was the only TD Williams accounted for in the contest.

Utah’s ensuing drive ended with Cole Becker’s 38-yard field goal that sent USC to a fourth consecutive loss against the Utes.

The latest setback all but ended the Trojans’ College Football Playoff aspirations. USC has never reached the four-team field since the CFP’s inception in 2014-15.

“It’s always that one little niche off,” Trojans assistant head coach and offensive passing game coordinator Dennis Simmons said, filling in for coach Lincoln Riley on Monday’s “Trojans Live” radio show. “We may overrun a zone here or not quite be in the right space there or not quite pick up something on a protection. It’s just getting all 11 things to click at the same time.

“From an offensive standpoint, that’s vital. Because if one piece breaks down, it has a chance to muck up the whole picture.”

USC came into the month of October having scored no fewer than 42 points in each of its first five games. The Trojans head to Cal still ranked third nationally in scoring offense among FBS teams at 45.4 points per game but have averaged 26.7 in regulation over the past three contests.

The Trojans went into the first of three overtimes tied at 28 on Oct. 7 in what ended up being a 43-41 win over Arizona.

Cal (3-4, 1-3) is coming off a bye week after also dropping a game to Utah, 34-14 on Oct. 14. That came after a 52-40 shootout setback vs. then-No. 15 Oregon State on Oct. 7.

Golden Bears coach Justin Wilcox said Cal used the extra date, in part, to “get a head start on USC.”

Wilcox believes the Trojans’ defense, which has allowed 30.5 points per game, is better than what the stats show.

“They have excellent edge players. They create a lot of negative plays on their own, either sacks or tackles for loss,” Wilcox said. “They have a guy inside (Bear Alexander) who’s a very, very talented, gifted player.”

A Cal offense that has experienced ups and downs from week to week will not have to see USC’s standout defensive lineman Alexander in the first half. Alexander was penalized for a targeting penalty on Utah’s final drive and will therefore miss the opening two quarters on Saturday.

The Golden Bears’ offense, ranked third in the Pac-12 with 195.4 rushing yards per game behind running back Jaydn Ott, will attempt to take advantage of Alexander’s absence.

Ott averages a conference-leading 100.5 rushing yards per game.

–Field Level Media

Oct 14, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; California Golden Bears defensive back Craig Woodson (2) tackles Utah Utes wide receiver Mikey Matthews (0) in the second quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Sione Vaki carries No. 16 Utah to 34-14 win over Cal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Sione Vaki rushed for 158 yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns while also totaling four tackles on defense to help No. 16 Utah to a 34-14 win against visiting Cal in a Pac-12 game on Saturday afternoon.

Vaki, a safety who had one carry on the season coming into the game, sealed the win with a 72-yard touchdown with 6:51 remaining.

Ja’Quinden Jackson added 94 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown for Utah (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12), which finished with 317 rushing yards as a team.

Utah quarterback Bryson Barnes completed 15 of 21 passes for 128 yards and rushed for another 50 yards and a touchdown.

Fernando Mendoza completed 10 of 17 passes for 149 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for Cal (3-4, 1-3).

Cal scored on its second drive when Mendoza connected with Jaydn Ott for a 48-yard touchdown with 5:41 left in the first quarter.

An interception by Lander Barton led to a 3-yard touchdown run by Jackson that tied the score 7-7 with 7:56 left in the first half.

Utah quickly got the ball back and marched 89 yards in 15 plays, taking a 14-7 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by Vaki, who was pushed across the goal line by a couple teammates with 26 seconds left in the opening half.

The Utes received the second-half kickoff and Cole Becker booted a 23-yard field goal to extend the lead to 17-7.

Utah then sacked Mendoza on the next play from scrimmage, forced a fumble and recovered at the Cal 13-yard line. Three plays later, Barnes scored on a 4-yard run for a 24-7 lead with 9:11 left in the third quarter.

Cal answered back with a six-play, 65-yard drive capped by Mendoza’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Taj Davis, cutting the deficit to 24-14 with 4:21 left in the third.

Cal kicker Mateen Bhaghani missed a 30-yard field goal with 7:49 left that would have cut the lead to seven.

On the same drive, Utah’s best defender, safety Cole Bishop, was ejected for targeting, which will force him to miss the first half of next week’s game against No. 10 USC.

After Vaki’s long touchdown run, Becker tacked on a 38-yard field goal with 1:57 left to extend the lead to 34-14.

–Field Level Media