STANFORD — As if the 128th Huge Recreation weren’t unhealthy sufficient, Cal coach Justin Wilcox now faces fan response that’s positive to be piercing.
The Bears didn’t merely lose 31-10 to Stanford on Saturday evening; they self-destructed in a style that leaves them open to criticism. Three misplaced fumbles led to 3 Cardinal touchdowns — two of them on scoop and rating performs.
Cal additionally dedicated 13 penalties for 128 yards, a glut of errors that counsel undisciplined play additional hindered every part the Bears hoped to perform.
Wilcox doesn’t blame Outdated Blues who’re disillusioned.
“There should be high expectatIons,” mentioned Wilcox, the ninth-year coach whose job standing can be evaluated by Cal basic supervisor Ron Rivera. “We work really hard at this. It’s not an excuse to go out and play like that. I understand their pain, I understand the frustration.”
The Bears (6-5, 3-4 ACC) have been hoping to win their fifth consecutive Huge Recreation, matching their longest stretch ever in a collection that started within the nineteenth century. They may have clinched their first profitable season since 2019.
And, on the heels of their greatest recreation of the season two weeks in the past in a 29-26 additional time win at then-No. 15 Louisville, they might have despatched themselves into subsequent Saturday’s regular-season finale in opposition to SMU (8-3, 6-1) with an opportunity to achieve eight victories themselves.
The Bears by no means gave themselves an opportunity to attain any of these objectives.
“It’s heartbreaking,” senior defensive lineman Aidan Keanaaina mentioned. “It’s very important to our team, to our coaches and to our alumni. It’s a legacy game. It really hurts for all of us.”
Cal’s protection held Stanford and not using a first down within the first quarter and simply 71 complete yards within the first half.
However the Cardinal (4-7, 3-5), coming off three straight defeats, led 14-10 at halftime after two defensive touchdowns.
The Bears have been up 3-0 earlier than Stanford defensive deal with Omar Staples popped the ball free from huge receiver Jacob De Jesus and security Jay Inexperienced ran it in from 49 yards with 12:57 left within the half.
After the Bears’ lone landing of the evening — a 7-yard quarterback draw by Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele for a 10-7 lead with 4:38 left within the half — lightning struck once more.
Operating again Kendrick Raphael fumbled when hit by Jahsiah Galvan and security Darrius Davis picked up the free soccer and ran it in from 17 yards with 48 seconds earlier than halftime.
California huge receiver Quaron Adams (18) can’t haul in a catch in entrance of Stanford cornerback Brandon Nicholson (9) in the course of the third quarter of the 128th Huge Recreation, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 in Stanford, Calif. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Space Information Group)
Cal outgained the Cardinal 196 yards to 71 within the half, had 10 first downs to 5 for Stanford and had possession for 21:33 of the primary half-hour . . . and nonetheless trailed.
“I would not have seen that coming,” Wilcox mentioned of the fumbles after the Bears misplaced simply two of their first 10 video games.
However there was extra. Sagapolutele’s misplaced fumble arrange a 20-yard scoring drive, which Micah Ford capped with a 4-yard TD run on the primary play of the fourth quarter.
“They were ready to play in terms of their energy and their excitement,” Wilcox mentioned of his gamers. “Unfortunately, want-to doesn’t equal good football.”
And whereas errors have been the theme of the primary half, Stanford outplayed the Bears over the ultimate two quarters. Cal couldn’t run the ball — 12 web speeding yards — and Sagapolutele was sacked 5 occasions whereas compelled to try 49 passes.
“The line of scrimmage, especially in the second half, went to them. That became obvious,” Wilcox acknowledged.
Keanaaina mentioned how he and his teammates reply is important.
“As painful as it’s going to be, we’re going to sit there and watch every play, critique every little detail and see where we went wrong,” he mentioned. “We’re going to take those and move on to this next week against a good opponent and put our best foot forward.”
NOTES: De Jesus caught 14 passes for 96 yards and has 87 receptions on the season, third-most by a Cal participant since 2000. He has 53 of these catches over the previous 5 video games. Teammate Trond Grizzell had a career-high 9 catches for 104 yards . . . Sagapolutele completed with 269 passing yards, pushing his season complete to 2,787. With 117 extra yards, he’ll go Aaron Rodgers for tenth on Cal’s single-season listing . . . The Bears’ 13 infractions for 128 penalty yards have been their most since totaling 14 for 145 yards in a double-overtime win over Oregon in 2016.
