The euphoria of Cal’s stirring come-from-behind win over rival Stanford in the 127th Big Game last week dissipated in a hurry on Saturday afternoon in suburban Dallas.
With quarterback Fernando Mendoza sidelined by an overnight illness, the Bears had no growl on offense at No. 9 SMU, trailing 21-0 at halftime on the way to a 38-6 defeat in their regular-season finale.
The Bears also played without left tackle Nick Morrow — their only offensive lineman who had started every game — and leading rusher Jaivian Thomas. Already they entered the game sans guard Sioape Vatikani and inside linebacker Cade Uluave, both on the shelf with injuries.
By the time it was over, Cal was playing with its third-string quarterback and another offensive lineman went to the sideline with an injury.
The result wasn’t pretty against the Mustangs (11-1, 8-0), who completed a perfect inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference and will play Clemson in next Saturday’s ACC championship game. SMU also enhanced its prospects of landing a spot in the 12-team college football playoff.
Cal (6-6, 2-6) did not fare as well in its first ACC campaign, losing four conference games by a total of nine points before getting its act together over the past month. The Bears had won three of four before arriving at SMU, where they were nearly two-touchdown underdogs.
The Bears already had achieved bowl eligibility for the second straight season and will find out where and who they are playing within a week.
Without Mendoza, a three-time ACC Quarterback of the Week, Cal had no offense and no chance against SMU.
Chandler Rogers #7 of the California Golden Bears throws during the first half of the game against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Nov. 30, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
Transfer Chandler Rogers, who passed for more than 7,000 yards at Louisiana Monroe and North Texas and had been effective in spot duty this season, appeared rusty and out of rhythm early after likely getting few first-team practice reps all week.
By the time he settled in, SMU had control of the game.
And Rogers didn’t make it to the finish line, either. He injured his left leg on a scramble for a first down with 9:13 left in the third quarter, finishing his day 8 for 15 for 84 yards.
He was replaced by third-stringer CJ Harris, who hadn’t thrown a pass all season for the Bears.
A redshirt sophomore transfer from Ohio U, Harris had two runs of 7 yards each and a 14-yard completion to Mikey Mathews, getting the Bears into position for Ryan Coe’s 40-yard field goal with 5:30 to play in the third quarter.
Harris delivered a 60-yard completion to Nyziah Hunter on the Bears’ next possession, setting up a 53-yard field goal by Coe, cutting the margin to 21-6 on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Cal’s defense, which seemed a step behind early, found its footing and held its own in the second and third quarters against an SMU offense that was averaging 39.3 points — fourth best in the country.
After allowing 202 yards and nine first downs in the first quarter, the Bears gave up just 66 yards and four first downs in the second and third periods.
But the Bears never really got themselves back in the game, thanks to an SMU defense that had five sacks among 15 tackles for loss totaling 54 yards.
The Mustangs made it a three-score game again when Collin Rogers drilled a 48-yard field goal for a 24-6 lead with 9:25 left.
Then, on the Bears’ next play, Harris was intercepted by defensive back Jonathan McGill, a graduate transfer from Stanford. That set up Kevin Jennings’ 23-yard TD pass to running back Rashard Smith that put the contest out of reach at 31-6 with 8:28 to play.
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Harris wound up 6 for 11 for 75 yards in his relief appearance for the Bears.
Undefeated in nine games since being named the starter, Jennings was 20 for 30 for 225 yards with two touchdowns. Preston Stone, who began the season as the Mustangs’ starter, threw a 40-yard TD to Key’Shawn Smith for a 38-6 lead with 3:38 to play.