Box Score | Postgame Notes
Photo Gallery | Video Highlights

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) -- Kendrick Raphael ran in from 2 yards out with 43 seconds left and California upset No. 25 SMU, 38-35, on Saturday night to spoil its hopes of making the Atlantic Coast Conference championship for a second straight year.

The Mustangs (8-4, 6-2 ACC) had clawed their way back into the game and took the lead when T.J. Harden scored from a yard out with 2:22 remaining.

Cal (7-5, 4-4) responded immediately, though, as quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele marched the Bears 75 yards in seven plays, capped by Raphael's 12th rushing touchdown of the season.

The Bears were playing their first game under interim coach Nick Rolovich, who was appointed after Justin Wilcox was fired last Sunday.

The Golden Bears made it quite clear after falling behind 7-3 through one quarter, they weren't going to cooperate with SMU's plans to clinch a spot in the conference championship, as they scored 21 unanswered points.

SMU came into the game allowing 19 points and 385 yards per game. Cal's 38 points were the second-most the Mustangs allowed this season, while the Bears' 452 yards were third most by an SMU opponent.

Both Cal and SMU await invitations to postseason bowl games.
 

• Cal 38, [21 CFP/25 AP/25 Coaches] SMU 35
• Cal (7-5, 4-4 ACC), SMU (8-4, 6-2 ACC),
• California Memorial Stadium – Berkeley, California

• SMU is 8-4 this season
  • SMU is 37-16 under Rhett Lashlee
  • SMU in 27-5 in conference games under Rhett Lashlee
  • SMU is 27-5 in the last 32 regular-season games
  • SMU is 14-2 in November under Rhett Lashlee
  • SMU is 14-4 in the last 18 road games
• SMU is 32-4 under Rhett Lashlee when scoring 30+ points
  • 5-2 this season when scoring 30+ points

• Kevin Jennings (#7, QB, RS Jr.) -- Maxwell Award Watch List, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List, Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, Manning Award Watch List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List, Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team, Athlon Sports All-ACC Third Team
  • 18-7 as a starter
  • 24-36 passing for 250 yards with 2 TDs
  • 6-23 rushing with a TD (4^th rushing TD this season, 10^th of his career)
  • 3 total TDs
  • TD passes to: Matthew Hibner (6 yards), Jordan Hudson (20 yards)
  • Entering the game Enter
    • 2^nd ACC / 9^th NCAA FBS in passing yards per game at 3,113
    • 2^nd ACC / 9^th NCAA FBS in passing yards per game at 283.0
    • 2^nd ACC / 13^th NCAA FBS in passing TDs at 24
    • 3^rd ACC / 21^st NCAA FBS in total offense per game at 285.5
    • 2^nd ACC / 23^rd NCAA FBS in points responsible for at 162
    • 2^nd ACC / 20^th NCAA FBS in points responsible for per game at 14.7
• 8 different receivers caught a pass
  • At least 7 players have a catch in 40 of the past 43 games
  • Jordan Hudson 6-58, 1 TD
  • Matthew Hibner 5-87, 1 TD
  • Yamir Knight 4-29
  • TJ Harden 3-19
  • RJ Maryland 2-33
  • Derrick McFall 2-12
  • Jalen Cooper 1-9
  • Chris Johnson Jr 1-3
• Rushing Leaders
  • Chris Johnson Jr – 10-128, 1 TD
    • Career-high rushing yards in a game
    • 1^st career 100-yard rushing game
  • TJ Harden – 10-44, 1 TD
    • 7^th rushing touchdown this season 19^th career rushing touchdown

• Total Yards: SMU 477, Cal 452
• Passing Yards: SMU 250, Cal 330
• Rushing Yards: SMU 227, Cal 122
• Total plays: SMU 67, Cal 77
• 3^rd downs: SMU 7-11,  Cal 7-12 

• Captains: Matthew Hibner (#88, TE, Sr.), Alexander Kilgore (#54, LB, Jr.), Logan Parr (#71, OL, Sr.), PJ Williams (#59, OL, Jr.)
• SMU had 5 TFLs
  • 5 TFLs  (entered game 6^th ACC / 23^rd NCAA FBS at 6.5): Alexandar Kilgore (1.5), Marcellus Barnes Jr. (1), Cam Robertson (1), Kyron Chambers (1), Terry Webb (0.5)
  • Tackle leaders: Ahmaad Moses (10), Alexander Kilgore (9), Brandon Booker (8 - tied career high), Cameron Robertson (8 - tied career high) 

• ESPN2
  • Chris Johnson Jr. 54-yard TD run https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/47144228
  • Matthew Hibner 6-yard TD pass from Kevin Jennings https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/47145355
  • Kevin Jennings 3-yard TD run https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/47145739
  • Jordan Hudson 20-yard TD pass from Kevin Jennings https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/47145746
  • TJ Harden 1-yard TD run https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/47146055 
• SMU Football (@SMUFB)
  • Chris Johnson Jr. 54-yard TD run https://x.com/SMUFB/status/1994945576853803372?s=20
  • Kevin Jennings 3-yard TD run https://x.com/SMUFB/status/1994977172709408920?s=20
  • Jordan Hudson 20-yard TD pass from Kevin Jennings https://x.com/SMUFB/status/1994981747063493005?s=20
• SMU Highlights and Head Coach Rhett Lashlee postgame radio | SMU Radio Network on KTCK "The Ticket" 96.7 FM/1310 AM (Rich Phillips pxp, Scott Garner analyst, Steve Lansdale sideline) – Courtesy Learfield / SMU Athletics
  • Highlights – https://tinyurl.com/2cx66stz
  • SMU Postgame Press Conference - https://tinyurl.com/2aoz3yya
  • Photos – Courtesy SMU Athletics https://smu.box.com/s/qonql9tocdl29tjqp2xdcdfjulzuuf3y

• Jordan Hudson (#2, WR, Sr.) - East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team, Athlon Sports All-ACC Second Team
  • 6-58 receiving with a TD 

• Kevin Jennings (#7, QB, RS Jr.) -- Maxwell Award Watch List, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List, Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, Manning Award Watch List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List, Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team, Athlon Sports All-ACC Third Team
  • 24-36 passing for 250 yards with 2 TDs
  • 6-23 rushing with a TD 

• RJ Maryland (#82, TE, Sr.) -- John Mackey Award Watch List, College Football Comeback Player of the Year Watch List, Senior Bowl Top 300 List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team, Athlon Sports All-ACC Second Team, Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas First Team
  • 2-33 receiving 

• Marcellus Barnes Jr. (#8, CB, So.)
  • 6 tackles, 1 PBU, 1 TFL
• TJ Harden (#27, RB, Sr. ) - East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List
  • 10-44 rushing, 1 TD
  • 3-19 receiving
  • 8 total TDs this season
• Matthew Hibner (#88, TE, Gr.) - John Mackey Award Watch List
  • 5-87 receiving with 1 TD
  • 4 TDs this season, 8 in his career
• Alexander Kilgore (#54, LB, Jr.) - Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee, Athlon Sports All-ACC Fourth Team
  • 9 tackles, 1.5 TFLS
• Chris Johnson Jr. (#6, RB, So.)
  • 10-128 rushing with 1 TD
  • 4 rushing TDs this season
• Sam Keltner (#95, K, Fr.)
  • 3-3 PAT
  • 0-1 FG (missed 52)
• Yamir Knight (#8, WR, Jr.)
  • 4-29 receiving
• Derrick McFall (#0, RB, Fr.) – Doak Walker Award Watch List
  • 5-32 rushing, 2-12 receiving
• Wade McSparron (#43, P, RS Fr.)
  • 3-119 punting with 2 inside the 20
• Ahmaad Moses (#3, S. Sr.) – Walter Camp Award Semifinalist, Senior Bowl Top 300 List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Athlon Sports All-ACC First Team, Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team, ACC DB of the Week (9/2)
  • Team high 10 tackles, 1 PBU
• Addison Nichols (#63, OL, RS Jr.) -- Rimington Trophy Watch List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Phil Steele All-ACC Third Team, Athlon Sports All-ACC Third Team
  • Started 12 games at RG at SMU (started all 12 games at Arkansas in 2024)
• Isaiah Nwokobia (#23, S, RS Sr.) - Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, Bronco Nagurski Trophy Watch List, Chuck Bednarik Watch List, Senior Bowl Top 300 List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Walter Camp All-America Second Team, Sporting News All-America Second Team, Athlon Sports All-America Third Team, Phil Steele All-America Fourth Team, All-ACC Team, Phil Steele All-ACC First Team, Athlon Sports All-ACC First Team, Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas First Team
  • Has played 52 games for SMU, including 42 starts
  • Had 3 tackles
• Logan Parr (#71, OL, Gr.) -- East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team, Athlon Sports All-ACC Second Team, Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas First Team
  • Has started 37  of the 39  games played at SMU
• Cameron Robertson (#9, DE, Sr.) - Athlon Sports All-ACC Third Team
  • 8 tackles (tied career high), 1 TFL
• Isaiah Smith (#1, DE, Sr.) - Phil Steele All-ACC Fourth Team
  • 4 tackles
• Terry Webb (#4, DT, 5th Yr. ) - East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas Second Team
  • 5 tackles, 0.5 TFL
• PJ Williams (#59, OL, RS Jr.) - Outland Trophy Watch List, East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List, Athlon Sports All-ACC First Team, Phil Steele All-ACC Fourth Team, Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas Second Team
  • Has started the last 27  games he has played