AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Fernando Mendoza threw for 233 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and California celebrated the first of several cross-country trips this season by holding onto a 21-14 road win at Auburn on Saturday.
Mendoza completed 19 of 21 passes before halftime, which rallied late to beat Cal last September. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Nyziah Hunter was on the receiving end of both of Cal’s first-half touchdowns.
“Last night, the team leaders came together and just said it was Cal versus the world — 80,000-plus fans, a white out (crowd), all that,” Mendoza said. “But we knew if we could just execute play-by-play, we could have a great result.”
Auburn scored the first touchdown of the game on a 15-yard pass from Payton Thorne to KeAndre Lambert-Smith, but the Tigers struggled offensively after that opening drive and finished with five turnovers to none for Cal.
”(This win) creates confidence and validates the work you put in in the offseason,” Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said. “There will be lessons to be learned, but we came out with a big win against a really talented team in a hostile environment.”
Thorne threw four interceptions, including one that led to the visitors’ go-ahead touchdown early in the second quarter. After a scoreless third quarter, Jaivian Thomas broke a 32-yard touchdown run for Cal shortly after a fumble from Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter.
Auburn took advantage of several Cal penalties to cut the lead in half with 6:06 remaining on a rushing touchdown from Thorne. The Tigers got two late chances to tie the game, but Thorne threw a pair of quick interceptions that sealed the Golden Bears’ victory.
“This is disappointing,” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said. “I had hoped we were further along. … You can’t turn the ball over five times and expect to beat anybody.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Cal: While the Golden Bears needed a strong second half to put away FCS opponent UC Davis in their season opener, they had no issue getting off to a great start in week two. Mendoza looked to be in total control of a new-look passing attack. He left the game on Cal’s second-to-last drive with an apparent leg injury, and the Golden Bears will hope it’s nothing major.
Auburn: The Tigers’ 73-3 win over FCS program Alabama A&M last week didn’t translate to much tougher competition Saturday. Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze had voiced concerns about his secondary in recent weeks, and those were validated in the first half. Thorne also continued his passing struggles against power-conference foes, which was a theme in 2023.
A TURNOVER TURNAROUND
Last season, Cal committed 28 turnovers, which was the fourth-most among FBS teams. Through two games this season, the Golden Bears haven’t committed a single turnover and have forced eight.
“There’s no sacred coach or player in our program,” Wilcox said. “The only sacred thing is the football.”
CONFIDENCE VERSUS THE CONFERENCE
Cal has now won four of its last five games against SEC teams, with the 14-10 result against Auburn last season being the only loss in that stretch. The Golden Bears defeated Tennessee in 2007 and Ole Miss in both 2017 and 2019.
Auburn has now lost five of its last six games against current ACC members. The Tigers’ last victory against the conference came in 2015 against Louisville.
UP NEXT
Cal: Hosts San Diego State on Saturday.
Auburn: Hosts New Mexico on Saturday.
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Justin Ferguson, The Associated Press