California Bears Secure First ACC Victory

The California Golden Bears secured their first Atlantic Coast Conference victory, defeating Wake Forest 46-36 in a thrilling game marked by quarterback Fernando Mendoza's outstanding performance. Mendoza completed 40 of 56 passes for a career-high 385 yards, throwing two touchdowns and rushing for another. The Bears led 29-14 at halftime but faced a tense fourth quarter as Wake Forest closed the gap to 39-36 before a key interception by Liam Johnson and a touchdown run by Jaivian Thomas sealed the win. This victory is particularly significant for Cal, which had lost four consecutive ACC games by a total of nine points. Despite the win, Cal's defense struggled at times, allowing Wake Forest to amass 386 total yards and score 36 points. The Bears now move to a 5-4 record, with crucial upcoming games that could lead to postseason opportunities.