Cal vs. Virginia Thread: Bears Fall 31-21 to No. 15 Cavaliers

Cal lost 31-21 to No. 15 Virginia on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium, once again missing a chance to become bowl eligible.

The Bears (5-3, 2-3 ACC) must travel to No. 16 Louisville next Saturday. The Cardinals improved to 7-1 with a win over Virginia Tech.

Cal linebacker Cade Uluave left the game sometime in the first quarter after apparenty injuring his right hand or wrist. He did not return and coach Justin Wilcox had no update on his condition.

*** Quarterback Justin Sagapolutele talks before the game in the video at the top of the story,

COIN FLIP: Cal wins the toss and defers. The Bears will kick off and defend the south end zone.

11:56 1st Q: Not a great start for the Cal defense. Virginia goes 75 yards in eight plays with J'Mari Taylor scoring on a 25-yard run up the middle. QB Chandler Morris was 3 for 4 for 36 yards on the drive. Virginia 7, Cal 0

5:21 1st Q: Will Bettridge kicks a 25-yard field goal to cap an 11-play, 67-yard scoring drive. Morris converted two third-down passes to keep the Cavaliers moving. He is 6 for 10 for 104 yards. Virginia 10, Cal 0

END OF 1ST QTR: Virginia 10, Cal 0. Virginia has outgained Cal 142 yards to 69, including 104-43 through the air and 38-25 on the ground. Cavaliers have 7 first downs to 4 for Cal. VA is 3 for 4 on third-down conversions, the Bears 2 for 4. Cavs averaging 7.9 yards per snap, Cal 4.3.

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutle is 6 for 8 for 43 yards. RB Kendrick Raphael has 4 carries for 17 yards and 2 receptions for 21. Bears have fourth-and-1 at the Virginia 33.

13:00 2nd Q: Cal is on the board as RB Kendrick Raphael takes a direct snap on 1st and goal from the 2 and goes into the end for his fourth touchdown in two games. Cal went 75 yards in 14 plays. Sagapolutele passed 15 yards to Jordan King to the 2 to set up the TD. Sagapolutele was 4 for 4 for 46 yards. Virginia 10, Cal 7

5:21 2nd Q: Virginia extends its lead back to 10 points with a 14-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 5-yard burst up the middle by Taylor, who now has 59 rushing yards on nine carries. Morris was 5 for 5 for 39 yards on the possession. Cal is playing without ILB Cade Uluave, who started the game but has been on the sidelines without his helmet at least all of the second quarter. Doesn't look good for him playing again today. Virginia 17, Cal 7

HALFTIME: Virgnia 17, Cal 7. The numbers reflect the score. Virginia has outgained Cal 264 yards to 104. Morris is 14 for 19 for 165 yard. Sagapolutele is 10 for 13 for 88 yards. The Cavaliers has rushed for 99 yards to 16 for Cal (including losses of 20 yards on 2 sacks).

Virginia has convered 6 of 9 third down, Cal just 2 of 6.

The Bears get the ball to start the second half.

6:08 3rd Q: OC Bryan Harsin goes into bag of tricks and the Bears score on their most creative play of the season. Sagapolutele throws a lateral pass to the left to tight end Mason Mini, who fires a 42-yard TD pass to running back Kendrick Raphael. An 18p=yard punt return by Jacob De Jesus set up the 1-play, 42-yard drive. Virginia 17, Cal 14

1:51 2nd Q: Virginia answers with 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive, tight end Eli Wood catching a lateral pass in the right flat and ran it in from 4 yards. The drive's big play: a 25-yard completion to tight end Sage Ennis. Virginia 24, Cal 14.

12:57 4th Q: Cal again pulls within 3 points when Raphael powers in from the 1 after taking the handoff from backup QB EJ Caminong, who came on after Sagapolutele was shaken up on the previous play. Raphael's third TD of the day, his sixth in two games. The previous play was a 24-yard completion from JKS to Mini to the 1-yard line on the first snap after the Bears took over following a 14-yard punt off the side of the foot of Virginia's Daniel Sparks. Sagapolutele appears to be OK. Virginia 24, Cal 21

0:34 4th Q: Linebacker Kam Robinson padded Virginia's 3-point lead when he returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown with 34 seconds left. Virginia 31, Cal 21

Pre-game reading:

Our Cal-Virginia game preview (a lot here)

A special night for ex-Golden Bear DeSean Jackson

Two running backs, starting safety out for Cal vs. Virginia

Utah prep wide receiver commits to Cal for 2026

Five questions for a Virginia beat writer about the Cavaliers

Can Cal defy ESPN Analytics' bleak outlook?

Cal coach Justin Wilcox says a big part of tackling is a matter of want-to

How much have dropped passes hurt Cal football?

Cal's next opponent has a surprisingly low ESPN SP+ rating

Hawaii a possible bowl destination for Cal

Cal's Ron Rivera among highest-paid GMs and he deserves it