Cal quarterback (#3) Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele hands off to running back (#24) Adam Mohammed in a NCAA conference football matchup against Clemson Tigers at the California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, CA on September 25th, 2026. (Photo credits to IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

By Michael Villanueva

BERKELEY – On Friday night at the foot of the Berkeley Hills, the California Golden Bears (2-2) once again hosted the Clemson Tigers (3-1) for an ACC conference football showdown. However, the Clemson Tigers got the win Friday night and are now on a three-game winning streak. The Golden Bears and Tigers last faced off in a historic Florida Citrus Bowl in 1992, where Cal defeated Clemson 37–13. After tonight, Cal will have played its only Friday night of the season this week against Clemson.

After defeating Syracuse on the road in Week 2 on September 12, the Bears are 1-0 in ACC play in 2026. Last weekend, the team defeated Wagner 49-7, the biggest margin of victory since a road win at Oregon State on October 20, 2018. In terms of passing defense efficiency, Cal is ranked 10th nationally and first in the ACC (95.31).

Tonight’s game against Cal was Clemson’s first visit to the West Coast since the ACC’s westward expansion. It will be Clemson’s fourth game in California history on Friday. Still, one of the program’s most memorable games was Clemson’s most recent one in California. Clemson won its third national championship on January 7, 2019, when it defeated Alabama 44-16 in Santa Clara.

In the first quarter, the Golden Bears defense came up big on a play on Clemson’s quarterback, Tait Reynolds. Reynolds would throw his first and only interception to California defensive back Isaiah Crosby. This interception would be the first for Crosby in his collegiate career. Then the Tigers would prevent the Bears offense from scoring after the interception. However, Clemson QB Reynolds would get sacked by Aiden Manutai and lose the ball during the tackle. Bears Kamar Mothudi would pick up the football and run it in for a 35-yard touchdown, putting California on the scoreboard first, 7-0.

Second quarter, it would be an electric and explosive quarter for Clemson. Tigers field goal kicker Nolan Hauser would make a 30-yard field goal attempt and get Clemson their first points of the night, 7-3. After that, Clemson’s offense would have a 17-play offensive possession that would end with the Tigers scoring and taking up much of the clock in the second quarter. Tigers running back Gideon Davidson would score his first touchdown on a 1-yard rush to the end zone, giving Clemson the lead, 10-7.

At halftime, Clemson would hold over the Golden Bears 10-7. California’s offense would put up just 46 rushing yards and 47 passing yards. California’s quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele would also get sacked twice in the first half. Clemson’s offense put up 109 rushing yards and 70 passing yards.

Going into the third quarter, California’s field goal kicker Chase Meyer would make a 30-yard field goal and give Cal three more points, tying the game 10-10. This scoring possession would be the only and last scoring possession for California. On a punt return for Clemson, Tigers’ Bryant Wesco Jr. would return a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown. This gave the Tigers back the lead and changed the score to 17-10. Bryant’s punt return would be the first one for Clemson in eight years.

Late in the fourth and final quarter of the game, the Tigers were still giving it to the Bears. Both of these teams would combine for one offensive touchdown. With three minutes left, Clemson’s running back, Gideon Davidson, rushes in a 75-yard rushing touchdown. Davidson’s second rushing touchdown of the night sealed the deal as Clemson gets the win over California, 24-10.

Against Wagner, Sagapolutele finished 27 of 33 throws for a career-high 413 yards and three touchdowns. Since Jack Plummer threw for 406 yards against USC on November 5, 2022, he is the first Cal signal-caller to throw for at least 400 yards in a game. After his performance, he was named a Manning Star of the Week. But in this game, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele ended up 16 for 29 for 119 yards and two interceptions for his fewest yards.

The California Golden Bears will hit the road to Sin City. The Bears will take on UNLV Rebels (1-2) in Las Vegas, Nevada, at Allegiant Stadium on October 3rd, 2026. The game will start at 12:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live on CBSSN. The last time the Bears and Rebels faced off was on December 18th, 2024, at the Art of Sport LA Bowl, Hosted By Gronk. The Rebels would get the win over the Bears, 24-13, and the all-time series is 1-1.