UPDATE: In a heart-stopping showdown, the California Golden Bears fell to the Virginia Tech Hokies 42-34 in double overtime on Friday night at a sold-out Lane Stadium. This loss severely hampers Cal’s hopes of bowl eligibility, as they aimed for their sixth victory this season, which would have marked the earliest bowl qualification since 2006.
The game was a rollercoaster, with both teams battling hard in a fierce atmosphere. In the first overtime, Cal struck first with a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele to tight end Mason Mini. However, Virginia Tech quickly responded, as quarterback Kyron Drones dashed for a 17-yard touchdown, leveling the score at 34-34.
The second overtime saw Virginia Tech take the lead after Drones connected with Takye Heath for a 7-yard touchdown pass, his third of the night. The Hokies then opted for a two-point conversion, with Drones keeping the ball to extend their lead to 42-34. Cal’s final attempt to mount a comeback ended in four straight incomplete passes.
With this defeat, Cal now holds a record of 5-3 (2-2 in the ACC), facing a challenging upcoming schedule that includes a matchup against No. 16 Virginia next Saturday. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech improves to 3-5 (2-2 in the ACC) after a tumultuous start to the season that included an early coaching change.
The game showcased a stark contrast in offensive performances. Virginia Tech dominated the ground game, racking up an impressive 357 rushing yards, while Cal struggled with only 39 yards on the ground. Drones was a standout player, rushing for 137 yards and contributing two rushing touchdowns along with his three passing touchdowns.
Sagapolutele completed 24 of 39 passes for 285 yards, showing resilience but ultimately unable to secure victory. Defensive standout for Cal, linebacker Cade Uluave, delivered an exceptional performance with 19 tackles, including three for loss and two sacks.
Cal’s journey to establish a lead was dramatic. After trailing 10-0 early in the game, they rallied to lead 20-10 at halftime. However, Virginia Tech answered back with 17 unanswered points to take control. Despite a late-game surge from Cal, including a touchdown from running back Kendrick Raphael, they could not clinch the win.
As the Bears regroup for their next game, fans will be eager to see if they can recover from this setback and secure the wins needed for bowl eligibility. The pressure mounts as they enter a crucial four-game stretch to end the regular season.
Stay tuned for further updates on Cal’s season as they aim to bounce back against Virginia next week.
