Cal made it a lot fascinating in opposition to No. 9 USC on Saturday, chopping away at a 20-point deficit within the fourth quarter earlier than the Trojans escaped with a 41-35 victory on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The Bears (3-6, 1-5 Pac-12) trailed 34-14 coming into the ultimate interval earlier than Jack Plummer threw a 47-yard landing go to Mavin Anderson with 12:56 to go.
Cal then efficiently pulled off an onside kick, as junior Hunter Barth pounced on the ball. The Bears went 52 yards in 10 performs with Plummer connecting on a 3-yard TD to make it 34-27 with 9 minutes left.
However USC (8-1, 6-1) survived, powered by Heisman Trophy contender Caleb Williams, who threw for 360 yards with 4 touchdowns and likewise ran for one. He has thrown 14 TDs with out an interception within the Trojans’ previous three video games.
His fourth TD, a 2-yarder to tight finish Lake McRee with 5:34 left, gave the Trojans a two-touchdown lead as soon as extra.
Cal saved coming, scoring on a 4-yard Jaydn Ott run with 2:31 to play, pulling inside 41-33. Plummer then delivered a shovel go to Monroe Younger for the two-point conversion and the Bears pulled inside six factors.
The Bears tried one other onside kick, however the Trojans recovered this one and ran out the clock.
Plummer threw a expensive interception late within the first half to arrange a landing that gave USC a 20-7 halftime lead, however the Purdue switch in any other case had his finest sport for Cal. He accomplished 35 of 49 makes an attempt for a season-best 406 yards with three touchdowns.
Cal, which performed with out 5 injured defensive backs, misplaced its fifth straight sport and should beat Oregon State, Stanford and UCLA in its last three video games to turn out to be bowl eligible.
The Bears struck first, going 76 yards in 5 performs on their first possession, with Ott altering instructions a pair instances on the best way to a 10-yard landing with 10:29 left within the first quarter. He had three carries for 40 yards on the drive and Plummer was 2-for-2 for 36 yards.
The Bears hardly ever have been capable of spring Ott the remainder of the night time within the run sport. He had simply 10 yards on 11 subsequent rush makes an attempt, together with the late TD. He did have 70 yards on seven go receptions.
Cal large receiver Jeremiah Hunter caught six passes for 102 yards and a landing.