US EditionNo. 25 SMU squanders chance at clinching berth in ACC title game as Cal scores 38-35 upset
Cal scored 21 unanswered points and overcame a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat No. 25 SMU 38-35, ending SMU’s ACC championship hopes.
- On Saturday, California upset SMU 38-35 when Kendrick Raphael scored with 43 seconds left after a 75-yard drive in Berkeley.
- SMU's slow start produced the hole they couldn't climb out of, generating just 74 first-half yards outside Chris Johnson Jr.'s 54-yard touchdown and allowing six plays over 15 yards plus seven penalties for 79 yards.
- SMU rallied in the second half to retake the lead, scoring touchdowns on four consecutive drives and T.J. Harden's 1-yard TD with 2:22 remaining despite their prior 12-game win streak.
- With the loss, SMU Mustangs were eliminated from ACC championship contention and Duke and Virginia clinched the two spots in next Saturday's game in Charlotte.
- Despite past November success, the defeat cost SMU a title shot as Rhett Lashlee, SMU head coach, lamented, `We lost an opportunity to play and compete for a championship next week.
33 Articles
33 Articles
Marin Independent Journal
The Mercury newsCal rides Sagapolutele’s late-game magic to upset win over No. 21 SMU on an emotional night
BERKELEY — There is so much uncertainty ahead for Cal football: Who becomes the next head coach? Who will the Bears face in a bowl game? How much will defections to the transfer portal impact the program? But on Saturday night, after a nightmarish week in which Cal lost the Big Game to rival Stanford, then lost nine-year coach Justin Wilcox to a Sunday firing, the Bears enjoyed their finest moment of the season. Freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe…
Cal’s late TD denies No. 21 SMU spot in ACC title game
Kendrick Raphael scored on a 2-yard run with 43 seconds remaining as Cal, in interim coach Nick Rolovich's debut, stunned No. 21 SMU 38-35 on Saturday night in Berkeley, Calif., denying the Mustangs a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.A 1-yard plunge by T.J. Harden with 2:22 remaining capped SMU's run of touchdowns on four consecutive second-half possessions for a 35-31 lead, putting the Mustangs (8-4, 6-2 ACC) in the drive…
Rockdale Citizen & Newton Citizen
Cal's late TD denies No. 21 SMU spot in ACC title game
Kendrick Raphael scored on a 2-yard run with 43 seconds remaining as Cal, in interim coach Nick Rolovich's debut, stunned No. 21 SMU 38-35 on Saturday night in Berkeley, Calif., denying the Mustangs a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference…
Associated Press News
No. 25 SMU squanders chance at clinching berth in ACC title game as Cal scores 38-35 win
Kendrick Raphael ran in from 2 yards out with 43 seconds left and California upset No. 25 SMU, 38-35, night to spoil its hopes of making the Atlantic Coast Conference championship for a second straight year.
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