My preview for that is here. Just for anyone interested in my thoughts on Cal women's volleyball. They've had quite a turnaround this season.


Stanford won 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-19). Sawyer Thomsen (10 kills) and Maggie Li (9 kills) were the top performers for the Bears. Stanford is the number two team in the nation, so no surprise in the result. Cal fought hard and as I wrote in my preview seem to have a bright future.

Yes, there will be one more Pac-12 game before the conference disbands for good, but Saturday will be the final day all the teams are in action. Cal visits UCLA this weekend and it will be the final showdown for the two schools before they depart for the ACC and Big Ten, respectively. Maria looks ahead to the matchup at the Rose Bowl that is set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff ... Pac-12 After Dark, anyone?

Is running a "pro-style" offense too difficult for college players? The turnovers are killing the team…is it a lack of a PG or our type off fans (at this level)? Pro-style offenses rely less on PG's so I worry we don't have the skill and/or maturity for this style.

Hope everyone is having a great holiday!

Over the past six weeks, Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza said he has seen a lot of change in his mindset and leadership abilities. While against Oregon State — his first career start — the redshirt freshman said his goal was to energize the team, since then, his experience has allowed him to become a better leader.

Read about Mendoza's development since the young quarterback earned the starting job six weeks ago, and how he feels about the Bears' trip to UCLA this weekend. And happy Thanksgiving!

GAME DETAILS

Cal (2-3) vs. Tulane (3-1) | SoCal Challenge consolation game

Time: 9:30 p.m. PT
Location: San Juan Capistrano, California | The Pavilion
Watch: CBS Sports Network | Chris Sylvester (PxP) & Dave Miller (Analyst)
Listen: 810 AM & The Varsity App | Justin Allegri (PxP)

It's once again game day for the Bears! Cal is back on the floor tonight in the consolation game at the SoCal Challenge in Orange County on the campus of JSerra High School. The Bears are coming off an opening round loss to UTEP that came on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. I'll be in attendance once again tonight and will be providing updates from the floor at The Pavilion.

I invite you to join in the conversation as the Bears look to get back to .500 this evening. I'll update you on any pregame news a little later.

And for all the good banter around here. Keep the faith and let’s not settle for mediocrity! Fire Jimbo & Go Bears

Actually, only one: STANFURD SUCKS

Please oh Golden Bear watching from the sky, let's give them the axe! Go Bears!

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Fardaws Aimaq went into the stands after Monday’s game to confront a fan, and tonight Mark Madsen has shed some light on what took place at the SoCal Challenge involving the Cal big man.

GAME DETAILS

Cal (2-2) vs. UTEP (4-0) | SoCal Challenge opening round

Time: 9:30 p.m. PT
Location: San Juan Capistrano, California | The Pavilion
Watch: CBS Sports Network | Chris Sylvester (PxP) & Dave Miller (Analyst)
Listen: 810 AM & The Varsity App | Justin Allegri (PxP)

Cal is looking to get back on track after last week's 3-point loss to Montana State. The Bears have left Berkeley for the first time this season as they are spending the week down south in Orange County at the SoCal Challenge on the campus of JSerra High School. Mark Madsen's squad opens up the event against undefeated UTEP tonight.

The Miners are averaging just over 100 points per game so far this season with wins over McMurry, University of Science and Arts Oklahoma, UC Santa Barbara and Austin Peay.

I am in attendance tonight and will be again Wednesday night, so I'll have coverage from the court throughout the evening. Feel free to jump in the conversation and follow along for updates from The Pavilion at JSerra.

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I gathered a collection of takeaways after watching Cal take on UTEP last night. It wasn't all bad by any means, and Mark Madsen even found reasons to be optimistic about his group despite the last-second loss.

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Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza has earned his first Pac-12 Freshman of the Week award today after his career day against the Cardinal in Saturday's Big Game. Meanwhile, former Cardinal and Bears current left tackle Barrett Miller has been named the Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week. Brian Driscoll won that award earlier in the season while linebacker Cade Uluave won the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week award last week making it back-to-back nods for the Bears with Mendoza picking up the honor today.

Following a win in the 126th Big Game, Cal’s coaching staff talked to the media Tuesday about the Bears’ performance in that victory and the UCLA matchup that awaits the team in Southern California Saturday.

The Bears are one win away from being in contention for a bowl game, which would be their first since the 2019 season, so there is a lot on the line for this team. Here are five takeaways from Tuesday’s media availability with Cal head coach Justin Wilcox, defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon and offensive coordinator Jake Spavital.

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There were some injury updates, there was some leftover Big Game talk, a look ahead to the regular season finale and even some Thanksgiving conversations as Cal head coach Justin Wilcox, defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon and offensive coordinator Jake Spavital met with reporters today ahead of this week's game against the Bruins.

1-5 last week for 32-39-2 for the year. 0-1 for the lock of the week for 7-5 for the year. https://cal.forums.rivals.com/threads/lets-pick-the-pac-12-games-week-12.32390/

Home teams in italics

Oregon by 13.5 over Oregon State - Beats me. Oregon?

Utah by 22 over Colorado - Beats me. Colorado?

Arizona by 11.5 over ASU - I'll take ASU and the points.

UW by 16.5 over WSU - Should be closer than that. WSU.

ND by 25 over the Furd - Furd doesn't care. ND covers.

UCLA by 9.5 over Cal - Not reading too much into UCLA destroying USC. Cal covers, but loses.



Non conference lock of the week: Nebraska by 1.5 over Iowa - Iowa covers.

The “Cal isn’t a football school” trope, unfortunately, is not entirely based in complete myth. Or, rather, it is sometimes understandable why the trope looks to be true, especially with slipping attendance numbers and at times rather depressing student sections. But not during the Big Game.

Saturday’s 27-15 win against Stanford put to bed any concern that Cal fans or students don’t care about football. In fact, it showed just how much it matters to the student body and alumni.

A lot of things have gone awry this season, from the quarterback and special teams fiascos to a number of one-score heart wrenching losses. But students, alumni and the community as a whole still care, they just need to be given a reason to.

Read my column about Cal's win against Stanford and what I think it means for the team and its fanbase:

Really puts a wrinkle in our last game as JW won’t know how to prepare for a surprise signal caller in an offense that he already couldn’t stop.

Read that here. I made it an even distribution of Cal and Stanford players. I'm also planning on doing a Berkeley version next year.

Here you go. If you have any other questions, please let me know!

Saturday, Cal kept the Axe in Berkeley defeating Stanford, 27-15, to get a third straight win over the Cardinal. While it wasn’t necessarily football of the highest quality, Cal’s offense was able to capitalize on momentum in key drives, while the Bears’ defense stepped up to get some key stops.

Walk-on Trond Grizzell shone in a career game, leading the team with seven receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns — with a 19.4 yard average.

Read about Cal's Big Game win and what's on the line as the Bears head to UCLA next week:

Just giving this its own thread.

Stanford thought it had reeled in Tennessee RB transfer Justin Williams-Thomas, but Cal swooped in and stole him away. Huge win for the Bears, as Williams-Thomas was a four-star top-200 national prospect in the 2022 recruiting class out of Georgia. He had 11 carries for 37 yards this season

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Our Week 11 winner is a tie between @Fire Starkey and @dhemy with a score of 2! Next best was @UCB4LIFE with a score of 3.

Here are the updates standings through eleven weeks. Remember, after Week 4 we drop each person’s two worst scores from the average provided they have participated all four weeks (or drop one score if a week has been missed). The bold scores are the scores that have been dropped.

Look for Jaydn Ott to have another HEAVY workload ...

GAME DETAILS

Cal (2-1) vs. Montana State (1-1)

Time: 8 p.m. PT
Location: Berkeley, California | Haas Pavilion
Watch: Pac-12 Network (Bay Area) | Barry Tompkins (PxP) & Dan Belluomini (Analyst)
Listen: 810 AM & The Varsity App | Justin Allegri (PxP) & Theo Robertson (Analyst)

Cal was able secure a win over Cal State Bakersfield earlier in the week and now looks to close its opening homestand with a victory as the Bears welcome Montana State to Haas. Cal will head down south for the SoCal Challenge next week with a matchup against San Diego State awaiting the Bears next weekend. So, continuing to come together before that trip will be key for Mark Madsen's squad.

Join the conversation and follow along for updates throughout the game.

There is something in the air this week. There is nary a red Gatorade to be found on the grounds of California Memorial Stadium. Wearing red around the facilities is almost akin to a crime. Rumblings about keeping the Axe in Berkeley can be heard far and wide throughout the city.

It’s Big Game week.

And for players, whether it’s their first time playing in the Big Game, whether they’re hoping to recreate past Big Game glory or even if they’ve recently moseyed over into enemy territory, everyone understands what’s at stake.

Read about Cal players' — including Stanford transfer Barrett Miller — approach to the Big Game as they embrace a storied rivalry