Texas Tech rolls over California Golden Bears in Independence Bowl

Cal’s transition from the Pac-12 to the Atlantic Coast Conference won’t come with any momentum provided by a big showing in a bowl game.

The Bears, playing in the postseason for the first time since 2019, led early against Texas Tech but stalled thereafter in a 34-14 loss at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Saturday night.

Cal (6-7) led 7-0 and 14-7 but was outscored 27-0 the rest of the way in its final game representing the Pac-12 before moving to the ACC next fall. The Bears failed in their bid to end a season with four straight victories for the first time since 1993.

The Red Raiders (7-6) held Cal to 80 yards combined in the second and third quarters, using balance in their own offense to keep the Bears guessing.

Redshirt freshman Fernando Mendoza threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to senior Monroe Young on the game’s first play from scrimmage following a Red Raiders fumble on the opening kickoff.

Jaydn Ott ran for a 1-yard touchdown and 14-7 Cal lead late in the first quarter but the Bears got little done thereafter.

Mendoza finished 22 for 32 for 284 yards but had three interceptions and a lost fumble, all of the giveaways in the second half to stall any comeback hopes. He also was sacked six times, as the Red Raiders rolled up 13 tackles for losses.

Ott, who gained 1,260 yards during the regular season to earn first-team All-Pac-12 honors, found little room to run and was limited to 42 rushing yards.

The Cal defense, which played well during three victories that closed the regular season to earn bowl eligibility, could not stop Texas Tech in the key moments.

Quarterback Behren Morton passed for 256 yards and three touchdowns and running back Tahj Brooks rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown.

The Red Raiders led 24-10 at halftime.

Cal took advantage of the only turnover of the first half to score just 15 seconds into the game.

Red Raiders kickoff return man Drae McCray lost the ball after a hit by DeJuan Butler and kicker Michael Luckhurst recovered at the 15-yard line.

On the first play called by new offensive coordinator Mike Bloesch, Mendoza used a play-fake to set up a 15-yard touchdown pass down the middle to wide receiver Monroe Young for a 7-0 lead.

The Bears could have added to that advantage but failed to convert a fourth-and-2 play from the Texas Tech 5-yard line on their next possession.

Mendoza scrambled 12 yards to the 5 on third-and-14 but landed awkwardly with what appeared to be a hyper-extended right knee. He returned after a timeout, but the ball was snapped directly to Ott, who was thrown for a 2-yard loss, giving the ball back to Texas Tech.

Morton then directed a 93-yard scoring drive, which he capped with the first of his three first-half TD passes, a 27-yarder to Coy Eakin with 4:19 left in the opening period.

Cal went back in front on a 1-yard TD run by Ott with 2:38 left in the quarter, a score set up by Mendoza’s 51-yard completion to Trond Grizzell. That made Mendoza 7-for-7 for 130 yards.

But the rest of the half belonged to the Red Raiders. They outgained Cal 153 yards to 30 in the second quarter and Mendoza was just 2-for-5 for 2 yards the rest of the half.