Cal vs. No. 21 SMU Thread: Bears Hold On For 38-35 Stunner

Cal began the post-Justin Wilcox era with a 38-35 upset victory over No. 21 SMU in their regular-season finale in front of 28,956 fans on a chilly night at Memorial Stadium.

The Bears (7-5, 4-4 ACC) clinched their first winning season since 2019 with an upset of the Mustangs (8-4, 6-2), who were denied a spot in the ACC title game. A win also gave Cal its first non-losing conference record since 2009.

Cal was under the direction for the first time of interim head coach Nick Rolovich, who talks about the game in the video above. The 46-year-old was promoted from senior offensive analyst after general manager Ron Rivera fired nine-year coach Wilcox last Sunday.

Freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw a career-best four touchdown passes before directing a seven-play, 75-yard go-ahead scoring drive starting with 2:22 to play. He was 5 for 5 for 61 yards on the drive and Kendrick Raphael scored on a 2-yard run with 43 seconds left to win it.

COIN FLIP: SMU wins the toss and defers. Cal will receive the opening kickoff and defend the south end zone.

9:40 1st Q: Offensive lineman Fred Wlliams III and Akli Calhoun both lined up at tight on plays during the Bears' first offensive possession. Cal is playing without TEs Mason Mini and Landon Morris. The Bears are about to start their second drive after each team punted. Cal 0, SMU 0.

3:23 1st Q: Cal goes 60 yards in 15 plays before Chase Meyer kicks a 40-yard field goal on fourth-and-18 from the 22. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele appeared to throw a 12-yard TD pass to Trond Grizzell on the previous play but OG Jordan Spasojevic-Moko was flagged for holding. The Bears ran the ball effectively on the drive, with Kendrick Raphael carrying 8 times for 38 yards, including three runs that converted first downs. Cal 3, SMU 0

1:37 1st Q: The Mustangs strike back quickly. Chris Johnson Jr. dashes 54 yards untouched for a TD two plays after a pass interference penalty against Cal CB Hezekiah Masses had had fans unhappy, SMU goes 80 yards in four plays. SMU 7, Cal 3

END OF 1ST Q: Cal has the statistical edge in most area, including total yards - 106-77. The Bears have passed for 62 yards, run for 44. SMU is at 16 and 61. Cal has 7-4 edge in first downs and has converted 3 of 5 third downs, vs. 0 for 1 for SMU. The Bears have run 23 plays, SMU 9. But the Mustangs gave produced 8.6 yards per snap compared with 4.6 for Cal.

Sagapolutle is 8 for 13 for 62 yards, Raphael has nine rushes for 38 yards and Jacob De Jesus has four catches for 36 yards. SMU 7, Cal 3

13:33 2nd Q: The Bears respond with a seven-play, 82-yard scoring drive, capped by Sagapolutele's 35-yard TD pass to redshirt sophomore WR Jaiven Plummer, just his second career reception. Cal 10, SMU 7

10:29 2nd Q: Sagapolutele throws to De Jesus in the left flat and he races into the end zone for a 7-yard TD play. Cal went 17 yards in five plays after freshman safety Aiden Manutai intercepted a deflected pass and returned it 14 yards from the 31 to the 17. Sagapolutele is 11 for 16 for 108 yards and two TDs. Cal 17, SMU 7

HALFTIME: Cal 17, SMU 7. The Bears missed a chance to add to their lead when kicker Abram Murray was wide right on a 46-yard field goal try with 1:13 left in the half.

Cal outgained the Mustangs 208 yards to 127. The Bears had 116 passing yards, 92 on the ground, which is 10 more yards than their per-game average that ranked last in FBS. That's allowed Cal to run 41 plays and average 5.1 per snap.

SMU had 54 passing yards and 74 on the ground. They ran 26 plays and gained 4.6 yards per snap. Cal had 15 first downs to 8 for SMU, and converted 4 of 7 third downs vs. 3 of 5 for the visitors.

Sagapolutele 12 for 17 for 116 yards with two TDs. Kendrick Raphael has run 21 times for 80 yards. De Jesus has 6 receptions for 51 yards, giving him 93 catches and counting on the year.

8:25 3rd Q: The Bears add to their lead following a strange 11-play, 75-yard drive. The Bears had a first-and-goal from the 9 after a facemask penalty against the Mustangs. But penalties for offensive pass interference and a false start pushed the Bears back to the 29. Sagapolutele completed a 14-yard pass to De Jesus to the 15 on second down. He then fired a 15-yard TD to WR Cole Boscia, who made a leaping catch in the end zone -- just his third career reception. Cal 24, SMU 7

4:52 3rd Q: With its back to the wall, SMU assembles its best drive of the night, 75 yards in nine plays. Kevin Jennings is 5 for 5 for 59 yards including a 6-yard TD pass to tight end Matthew Hibner. Cal 24, SMU 14

END OF 3RD Q: The Bears will have a second-and-15 from the SMU 32 when the fourth quarter begins. They had first-and-10 from the 27 before a holding penalty. Cal has 341 total yards, including 226 through the air and 115 on the ground. They have run 60 plays and have 21 first downs. Bears are 7 for 10 converting third downs.

Sagapolutele is 22 for 29 for 226 yards with 3 TDs and no turnovers. Raphael has a career-high 28 rushes for 103 yards. De Jesus has nine catches for 80 yards. Cal 24, SMU 14.

14:54 4th Q: Sagapolutele fires a strike down the middle for a 15-yard TD to QuaRon Adams on the first play of the quarter. It gives Sagapolutle his first four-tuchdown game and Adams his first TD as a Golden Bear. Cal went 75 yards in nine plays for the TD. Cal 31, SMU 14

12:58 4th Q: It's not over yet. SMU went 75 yards in 7 plays, consuming just 1:56 off the clock. Jennings scored on a 3-yard keeper around left end after a play-fake that lost everyone. Johnson's 35-yard dash down the left sideline got the ball to the 3. Cal 31, SMU 21.

7:59 4th Q: The Mustangs keep coming. This time they go 71 yards in 11 plyays before Jennings hits Jordan Hudson with a 20-yard TD pass. Cal 31, SMU 28

2:22 4th Q: SMU takes the lead on TJ Harden's 1-yard run, the Mustangs' third touchdown of the quarter. SMU went 73 yards in 5 plays, including a 32-yard completion to TE Hibner. SMU 35, Cal 31

0:42 4th Q: Raphael goes in from the 2-yard line, capping a 7-play, 75 yard Cal scoring drive. Sagapolutele was 5 for 5 for 61yards on the final drive. Cal 38, SMU 35

0:03 4th Q: SMU's Sam Keltner is wide right on a 52-yard FG try, ending SMU's comeback hopes. FINAL SCORE: Cal 38, SMU 35

Pre-game readng reading:

Our thorough preview of this evening's game

Is Tosh Lupoi too obvious for Cal to bypass?

Cal will be without two key receivers against SMU

Nick Rolovich embaces his second chance at Cal

Cal seems undervalued according to ESPN's ranking of jobs

SMU beat writer answer five questions about Cal's next opponent

Cal upsets No. 18 UCLA in basketball

Cal QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele will factor into coach search

GM Ron Rivera explains his plan for finding Cal's next coach