Cal blasts UCLA in final Pac-12 game at the Rose Bowl to secure bowl eligibility
Cal had not beaten UCLA since 2019. And Cal had not beaten UCLA by more than 10 points since 2016. But with bowl eligibility on the line and UCLA a willing participant in its own undoing, the Bears rolled the Bruins Saturday night in the final Pac-12 league game at the Rose Bowl.
Jeremiah Hunter had eight catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns, Jaydn Ott had 80 rushing yards and a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and the Golden Bears won 33-7 — their biggest win over UCLA at the Rose Bowl since 2009.
“The guys played with guts,” said coach Justin Wilcox. “I just have so much respect for the guys in that locker room – finishing the season the way we have. I have a lot of pride seeing those guys enjoy the moment.”
The win secured bowl eligibility for Cal, which closed out its season with three consecutive wins.
Cal kicked a pair of field goals in a lifeless first quarter. UCLA turned it over on its first drive of the game, then followed that up with a three-and-out. Ethan Garbers was forced out after taking a hard shot on UCLA’s first possession and Dante Moore’s first play, a pass, was tipped and intercepted in the endzone.
With six minutes to play in the first half, Laiatu Latu picked off Fernando Mendoza and returned it inside the 10-yard-line to set UCLA up for an easy score. On third-and-goal from the 5, Moore found Logan Loya for the go-ahead touchdown.
The lead lasted all of 16 seconds.
Ott took the ensuing kickoff to the house to restore Cal’s lead and the Bears accelerated from there.
JAYDN OTT HOUSE CALL 🏠📞 pic.twitter.com/VEicle7zP5
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) November 26, 2023
With less than a minute to play in the first half, UCLA took over possession looking to create some momentum going into the break. Instead, Moore was sacked on the first play of the drive and fumbled the football. Cal took over at the 11 and, three plays later, Mendoza fired to Hunter in the endzone for a touchdown that put Cal up 20-7 with 10 seconds remaining.
In the second half, Cal outscored UCLA 13-0, forced a fourth turnover, and kept the Bruins from finishing much of anything. UCLA had four possessions in the final 30 minutes; the first ended in an interception, the next two ended on downs, and the fourth ran out the game clock.
A week after thumping crosstown rival USC at the Coliseum, UCLA fell flat.
And several thousand Cal fans who made the trip to Pasadena stayed late to celebrate.
“I want them to soak it up,” Wilcox said. “I want them to be with their brothers. There’s nothing like that. That’s why a lot of us coach – you can’t find that anywhere else. As gut-wrenching and agonizing losing is, there’s no feeling like being on the other end of the spectrum – especially under the circumstances and what was at stake. I’m just really proud of those guys. I have a lot of love for those people in that locker room.”
Cal finishes at 6-6 and 4-5 Pac-12 play. It will play in a bowl game for the first time since 2019.
UCLA slides down to 7-5 and 4-5 in league play.
Both sides will await bowl selections on Sunday, Dec. 3, to see where they’ll play in the postseason.