Jackson Brousseau threw for 321 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Cal Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Sat Oct 10, 2026. Photo by: Brianna Ali/Cal Athletics

Cal Bears podcast Barbara Mason:

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 Barbara for the Cal Bears podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com