Cal Bears running back Carson Perry Smith (17) makes the catch in front of the Virginia Tech Hokies safety Tyson Flowers (1) at Cal Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Sat Oct 10, 2026 (AP News photo)

Cal Bears podcast Daniel Dullum:

1. Jackson Brousseau’s performance: How important was Brousseau’s 321 passing yards and one touchdown in keeping Cal competitive, especially with starting quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele unavailable due to injury?

2. Ashten Emory’s big night: How did Emory’s two rushing touchdowns, including the decisive two-yard score late in the fourth quarter, change the momentum of the game?

3. Cal’s receiving threats: How did Ian Strong’s 97 receiving yards and Chase Hendricks’ 94 yards help Brousseau move the ball against Virginia Tech’s defense?

4. Defensive resilience: How did Cal defenders Daniel Harris, who recorded a career-high eight tackles, and Cam Sydney, who broke up Virginia Tech’s final pass attempt, help secure the five-point victory?

5. Clutch plays under pressure: How crucial was Carson Perry-Smith’s late touchdown reception, along with the contributions of Towns McGough on field goals, in setting up Cal’s dramatic finish against the Hokies?

Join Daniel for the Cal Bears podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com