| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAL | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| WSU | 3 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 19 |
No. 10 Washington State beats California 19-13
Leach: 'We thought it would be a war'
Mike Leach reflects on the Cougars' thrilling 19-13 win over the Golden Bears, praising Gardner Minshew for his outstanding performance at quarterback.
PULLMAN, Wash. -- Gardner Minshew threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Easop Winston Jr. with 32 seconds left to lift No. 10 Washington State to a 19-13 win over California on Saturday night, extending WSU's long-shot quest to crash the College Football Playoff.
Minshew threw for 334 yards for Washington State (8-1, 5-1 Pac-12, No. 8 CFP), which is also seeking its first Pac-12 North title. The Cougars have a 12-game home winning streak, fourth-longest in the nation.
Chase Garbers threw for 127 yards and ran for 67 for Cal (5-4, 2-4).
This is Washington State's first 8-1 start since 2002.
Blake Mazza's 29-yard field goal put WSU up 3-0 early in the game.
After Evan Weaver intercepted a Minshew pass at the Washington State 39, Garbers threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Malik McMorris to give the Bears a 7-3 lead.
Max Borghi replied with a 5-yard touchdown run, capping a 75-yard drive, to put the Cougars ahead 10-7.
Greg Thomas hit a 42-yard field goal late in the first half to tie the score at 10-10. Washington State linebacker Dominick Silvels was ejected from the game during the drive for targeting on tight end Ian Bunting.
Mazza kicked a 36-yard field goal with one second left in the first half to give Washington State a 13-10 lead.
Thomas kicked a 46-yard field goal late in the third to tie the score at 13-13.
Cal was driving for a go-ahead touchdown when quarterback Brandon McIlwain was intercepted in the end zone by Skyler Thomas midway through the fourth. The Cougars drove to the California 13, where Mazza missed a 30-yard field goal with 3:31 left in the game.
After Cal went three and out, Minshew drove the Cougars 69 yards, ending with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Winston for a 19-13 lead.
THE TAKEAWAY
Cal: The game was a classic showdown between Washington State's Air Raid offense, which is averaging 40.8 points, and a California defense that is the best in the Pac-12 against the pass. Cal managed to play the game on its terms until the very end.
Washington State: The Cougars are the only remaining Pac-12 team with a single loss, and the Cougars almost certainly need to win out for a chance at their first playoff bid.
UP NEXT
Cal plays at Southern California next Saturday.
Washington State plays its final road game at Colorado next Saturday.
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Game Information
2024 Atlantic Coast Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| SMU | 6-0 | 9-1 |
| Clemson | 7-1 | 8-2 |
| Miami | 5-1 | 9-1 |
| Georgia Tech | 5-3 | 7-4 |
| Syracuse | 4-3 | 7-3 |
| Louisville | 4-3 | 6-4 |
| Duke | 3-3 | 7-3 |
| Pittsburgh | 3-3 | 7-3 |
| North Carolina | 3-3 | 6-4 |
| Virginia | 3-3 | 5-5 |
| Virginia Tech | 3-3 | 5-5 |
| Boston College | 2-4 | 5-5 |
| Wake Forest | 2-4 | 4-6 |
| NC State | 2-5 | 5-6 |
| Stanford | 2-5 | 3-7 |
| California | 1-5 | 5-5 |
| Florida State | 1-7 | 1-9 |
2024 Pac-12 Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Washington State | 0-0 | 8-2 |
| Oregon State | 0-0 | 4-6 |
NCAAF News