Cal football: Bears lose to 24th-ranked USC

The last scheduled football game between Cal and USC was filled with unusual events, including a midfield protest and a delayed halftime. The game ended with a 50-49 victory for USC.

In what turned out to be a thrilling and eventful game, the Cal Bears faced off against the USC Trojans in their last scheduled football game. The game was filled with bizarre occurrences, starting with a midfield protest at Memorial Stadium that caused a delay in the start of the game. As if that wasn't enough, an unusual ruling led to the final play of the second quarter happening after the halftime intermission.

The game was a back-and-forth battle, with the Bears leading 27-18 at halftime and 43-29 early in the fourth quarter. However, a series of mishaps allowed the 24th-ranked Trojans to score three unanswered touchdowns in the final 11:15 of the game, securing a narrow 50-49 victory in front of a crowd of 43,716.

Despite the loss, Jaydn Ott had an impressive performance for the Bears, scoring three touchdowns and rushing for 153 yards in the first half. However, Ott left the game early in the fourth quarter, and Cal seemed to lose all momentum.

The Trojans took advantage of four Cal turnovers, fighting back from a 14-point deficit to take the lead. Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak, followed by a 9-yard TD run by Marshawn Lloyd after a Cal fumble on a punt return. Oakland's Austin Jones then scored a 7-yard TD run to give USC a 50-43 lead with just 3:33 left in the game.

Cal didn't give up, though, and went on a 79-yard drive in nine plays, culminating in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Mendoza to freshman Jaivian Thomas with 58 seconds remaining. With the score at 50-49, the Bears decided to go for a two-point conversion and the win. However, Mendoza's pass fell incomplete, sealing the victory for USC.

In his third career start, Mendoza had a solid performance, completing 25 of 39 passes for 292 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Williams, on the other hand, had an impressive game for USC, completing 23 of 40 passes for 369 yards and two touchdowns.

The game was already filled with excitement even before the opening kickoff. The start of the game was delayed by about 10 minutes due to a protest at midfield. A group of protesters sat on the field, demanding justice for professor Ivonne del Valle, who had been suspended for stalking. The protesters were eventually escorted off the field by police and security.

Despite trailing early in the game, the Bears fought back and kept the score close. Ott scored two long touchdown runs of 43 and 61 yards in the first quarter, helping Cal stay within three points of USC at the end of the quarter.

The Bears continued to find success on offense, taking the lead multiple times throughout the game. Mendoza threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Trond Grizzell, giving Cal a 28-17 lead in the second quarter. However, the halftime break was extended due to a ruling that time had not run out in the second quarter. This caused a 10-minute delay, but ultimately didn't impact the score as USC missed a field goal.

The Trojans came out strong in the second half, scoring two quick touchdowns to take the lead. Williams scored on a 6-yard keeper, followed by a 2-yard touchdown pass to Brenden Rice. USC failed to convert both extra points, but still held a narrow 29-28 lead.

Cal responded with a 75-yard scoring drive, aided by pass interference penalties. Mendoza scored on a 2-yard keeper, and the Bears executed a creative 2-point play to extend their lead to 36-29. Mendoza shifted to the left, while Ott took the snap and lateraled it back to Mendoza, who then passed to Grizzell in the end zone.

Mendoza continued to lead the Bears on offense, completing passes to Grizzell and Hunter before scoring on a 1-yard sneak to give Cal a 43-29 lead with 14:06 left in the game. However, USC's late comeback sealed the victory for the Trojans.

Overall, it was a wild and unpredictable game, filled with unexpected twists and turns. The Bears put up a valiant effort, but ultimately fell short against the Trojans. This game marked the 110th and possibly final meeting between these in-state rivals, as they will be going their separate ways next fall after the Pac-12 Conference undergoes significant changes.