California secured a surprising 21-14 victory against Auburn, with quarterback Fernando Mendoza throwing for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Mendoza's strong performance included completing 19 of 21 passes before halftime, while redshirt freshman Nyziah Hunter caught both first-half touchdowns. Auburn initially led with a touchdown from Payton Thorne but struggled thereafter, committing five turnovers, including four interceptions thrown by Thorne. Cal's defense played a crucial role, with linebacker Teddye Buchanan making significant contributions, including forcing a fumble. The Golden Bears, now 2-0, capitalized on their opportunities and maintained composure in a challenging environment, avenging their previous loss to Auburn. Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze expressed disappointment over the team's performance, highlighting the negative impact of their turnovers.