California Golden Bears secured a 31-10 victory over San Diego State, marking their first 3-0 start since 2019. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw two touchdown passes and rushed for another, while running back Jaivian Thomas led the ground game with 169 yards. The Bears overcame a challenging first half filled with penalties and six sacks, managing to score on their first four possessions of the second half. San Diego State struggled offensively with backup quarterback Javance Tupou’ata-Johnson, who threw one touchdown but also had an interception. The Bears' defense held the Aztecs to only 10 points, continuing their trend of limiting opponents to 14 points or fewer this season. Despite missing star running back Jaydn Ott, Cal's rushing attack performed well, gaining 275 yards on the ground.