Cal drops Independence Bowl to end final season in Pac-12

Cal Bears quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) is hit for a fumble by the Texas Tech Red Raiders lineman Amier Washington (96) at Independence Stadium in Shreveport LA, on Sat Dec 16, 2023 (AP News photo)

Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023

Independence Stadium, Shreveport, Louisiana

California Golden Bears 14 (6-7)

Texas Tech Red Raiders 34 (7-6)

By Stephen Ruderman

Cal dropped the Independence Bowl to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, 34-14, in what was most likely their final game as a member of the Pac-12.

This was Cal’s first bowl game since 2019, as the team went 6-6 and finished in seventh place in the Pac-12 during the regular season to earn a spot in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana. Texas Tech went 6-6, and finished in seventh in the Big 12 Conference, and earned their third-straight trip to a bowl game.

Michael Luckhurst made the opening kick for the Bears, but it was fumbled by Drae McCray, and recovered by Luckhurst on the Texas Tech 25-Yard Line to put the Bears in perfect position to start the game. Then, on the very first play after the opening kick, Bears’ quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, threw a complete pass to wide-receiver, Monroe Young, who ran it 25 yards for a touchdown. After the extra point, Cal led 7-0.

Texas Tech scored a touchdown on a pass from Behren Morton to Coy Eakin, and tied it on the extra point with 4:19 remaining in the first quarter. The Bears responded with a drive of their own. With exactly three minutes remaining, Mendoza threw a 51-yard pass to get to the Texas Tech three Yard Line, and then on the next play, Mendoza handed the ball off to Jaydn Ott, who ran it in to put the Bears back ahead.

Cal led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter, but the Red Raiders scored 17 points in the second quarter, as Morton threw a pair of touchdown passes, and Gino Garcia kicked a field goal from 25 yards with just seven seconds remaining. That put Texas Tech up 24-14 going into the half, and they did not look back.

The Red Raiders scored a touchdown in the third quarter, and kicked a field goal in the fourth to put the game away.

With the loss, Cal finishes their final season in the Pac-12 at 6-7, and now they will shift to the Atlantic Coast Conference, as the focus will turn to the 2024 Season.

San Jose State Spartans Lose To Texas Tech Red Raiders 56-42 After Second Half Turnovers

Myron Amey Jr (0) walks off the floor for the San Jose State Spartans after a defeat to the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock TX on Sun Nov 12, 2023 (San Jose State Spartans photo)

Sunday, November 12th, 2023

By Troy Ewers

It’s the first road game for San Jose State and they face Texas Tech in the home of the Red Raiders. 

The 2-0 Spartans were prepared for the Red Raiders and focused on defense. Keeping Texas Tech and utilizing mismatches early. SJSU cut off the Red Raiders’ access to the paint and forced them to have to try to score from the outside.

On offense both teams weren’t hitting from the three point line, but the Spartans found a stride in the first half scoring in the paint. The game was close all first half, but Spartans Coach Tim Miles was adamant that his boys will win the battle in the key.

A battle Coach Miles wanted his team to win the most was on the boards, Adrame Diongue led the team with rebounds in the first, but the Red Raiders had 19 rebounds over the Spartans 17 rebounds and that battle shows why Coach Miles was so focused on it, because at halftime Texas Tech was up by one point, 22-21. 

The second half started with both teams trading leads. San Jose State’s ability to score on second chance points is phenomenal even though they only had six second chance points at the 11 minute mark in the second half. In the last five minutes Texas Tech had a six point lead and Spartans had to get back to what got them a lead in the first half, but turnovers were costing them and Texas Tech capitalized on the Spartans’ mistakes.

The Red Raiders went on a 13-2 run at one point and in the final minute Texas Tech was up 11 and let the clock run out, but not before hitting one last three to make it 56-42 and that was game. The Spartans main problem in this game was when they couldn’t get a run going, they tried to shoot threes and turned the ball over. The Red Raiders scored 19 points off of the Spartans 16 turnovers. 

It wasn’t easy, but Texas Tech pulled out and won making their record 2-0 and the Spartans go 2-1. San Jose State wanted this win, but they’ll get to forget about this loss in the U.S. Virgin Islands where they’ll be in the Paradise Jam tournament starting on November 17th. 

NCAAF podcast with Michelle Richardson: Utes sit on top the Pac 12 world; Freeman becomes new Notre Dame head coach; plus more

War of the Roses, Utah Utes linebacker Devin Lloyd, second from left, are jubilant with coach Kyle Whittingham, left, quarterback Cameron Rising and wide receiver Britain Covey (18) as the Utes win the Pac 12 Championship Conference game on Fri Dec 3, 2021 to advance to the Rose Bowl against the Oregon Ducks at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (AP News photo)

On the NCAAF podcast with Michelle:

#1 The No.14 Utah Utes (10-3) on Friday night left very little doubt who is the best team in the Pac 12 with a crushing win over the No.10 Oregon Ducks (10-3) 38-7 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. For Utah quarterback Cameron Rising 170 yards passing and one touchdown pass Rising kept the run game busy all evening with two touchdowns by running back Tavion Thomas.

#2 Notre Dame defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman was named head coach replacing Brian Kelly. Freeman who went through the hiring process was the highly anticipated candidate to win the job and was officially hired as of Friday. Tell us your thoughts on Notre Dame’s hiring of Freeman?

#3 Quinn Ewers who is a top ranked quarterback at Ohio State enters the transfer portal and is considering transferring to Texas, Texas A&M, or Texas Tech. Ewers has been called a trailblazer and has made over $1 million for his likeness and endorsements.

Michelle’s Final Thoughts

Join Michelle Richardson for the NCAA Football podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NCAA National Championship Game podcast with Michelle Richardson: Texas Tech-Virginia duel it out in what could be one for the ages

photo from yahoosports.com: The Texas Tech Red Raiders Jarrett Culver (23) celebrates during the second half of Saturday’s Final Four against Michigan State Spartans in a ten-point 63-53 win to advance to the National Championship on Monday night.

On the NCAA National Championship Game podcast with Michelle Richardson:

#1 It’s the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Virginia Cavaliers for the NCAA National Championship to wind down the NCAA season. Michelle sets this one up

#2 The Red Raiders got a hefty ten-point win over the Michigan State Spartans 61-51 and Matt Mooney led Texas Tech with 22 points for the win.

#3 Virginia just gets by the Auburn Tigers 63-62. How badly did the official miss Virginia’s double dribble and if they caught it would that have put the Tigers in the cat bird seat?

Michelle’s Final Four thoughts

Michelle Richardson did commentary on the NCAA for the 2018-19 season for http://www.sportsradioservice.com