# 2023 California Golden Bears football team

The 2023 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the Pac-12 Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Bears were led by Justin Wilcox in his seventh year as the head coach. They played their home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California.
This was California's final season in the Pac-12 Conference before they move to the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2024.
The California Golden Bears football team drew an average home attendance of 38,684 in 2023.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 1:00 p.m. | at North Texas* | DATCU StadiumDenton, TX | ESPNU | W 58–21 | 21,350 |
| September 9 | 7:30 p.m. | Auburn* | California Memorial StadiumBerkeley, CA | ESPN | L 10–14 | 44,141 |
| September 16 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 5 (FCS) Idaho* | California Memorial StadiumBerkeley, CA | P12N | W 31–17 | 36,810 |
| September 23 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 8 Washington | Husky StadiumSeattle, WA | ESPN | L 32–59 | 69,107 |
| September 30 | 12:00 p.m. | Arizona State | California Memorial StadiumBerkeley, CA | P12N | W 24–21 | 34,353 |
| October 7 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 15 Oregon State | California Memorial StadiumBerkeley, CA | P12N | L 40–52 | 34,930 |
| October 14 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 16 Utah | Rice-Eccles StadiumSalt Lake City, UT | P12N | L 14–34 | 52,115 |
| October 28 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 24 USC | California Memorial StadiumBerkeley, CA | P12N | L 49–50 | 43,716 |
| November 4 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 6 Oregon | Autzen StadiumEugene, OR | P12N | L 19–63 | 54,046 |
| November 11 | 1:00 p.m. | Washington State | California Memorial StadiumBerkeley, CA | ESPN2 | W 42–39 | 38,155 |
| November 18 | 3:30 p.m. | at Stanford | Stanford StadiumStanford, CA (Big Game) | P12N | W 27–15 | 52,971 |
| November 25 | 7:30 p.m. | at UCLA | Rose BowlPasadena, CA (rivalry) | ESPN | W 33–7 | 42,439 |
| December 16 | 6:15 p.m. | vs. Texas Tech | Independence StadiumShreveport, LA (Independence Bowl) | ESPN | L 14–34 | 33,071 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Pacific time ||||||||

## Game summaries
### at North Texas

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Bears | 14 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 58 |
| Mean Green | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
at DATCU Stadium • Denton, TX
* Date: September 2, 2023
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
* Game attendance: 21,350
* TV: ESPNU
| Statistics | CAL | UNT |
| First downs | 29 | 9 |
| Plays–yards | 95–679 | 53–225 |
| Rushes–yards | 56–357 | 27–41 |
| Passing yards | 322 | 184 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 27–39–1 | 15–26–3 |
| Time of possession | 39:07 | 20:53 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| California | Passing | Ben Finley | 24/34, 289 yards, TD, INT |
| California | Rushing | Jaydn Ott | 20 carries, 188 yards, 2 TD |
| California | Receiving | Jeremiah Hunter | 6 receptions, 64 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Stone Earle | 12/19, 174 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Isaiah Johnson | 6 carries, 34 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | Ja'Mori Maclin | 4 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TD |

### vs Auburn

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Golden Bears | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA
* Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
* Game time: 7:30 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 66 °F (19 °C) • Wind: NE 8 mph
* Game attendance: 44,141
* Referee: Daniel Gautreaux
* TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst), Kayla Burton (sideline reporter)
| Statistics | AUB | CAL |
| First downs | 12 | 19 |
| Plays–yards | 55–230 | 78–273 |
| Rushes–yards | 38–136 | 40–113 |
| Passing yards | 94 | 160 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 10–17–1 | 21–38–2 |
| Time of possession | 25:12 | 34:48 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Auburn | Passing | Payton Thorne | 9/14, 94 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Auburn | Rushing | Jarquez Hunter | 11 carries, 53 yards |
| Auburn | Receiving | Rivaldo Fairweather | 3 receptions, 39 yards, TD |
| California | Passing | Sam Jackson V | 14/27, 126 yards, 2 INT |
| California | Rushing | Jaydn Ott | 20 carries, 78 yards, TD |
| California | Receiving | Jeremiah Hunter | 5 receptions, 35 yards |

### vs No. 5 (FCS) Idaho

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 5 (FCS) Vandals | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Golden Bears | 0 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 31 |
at California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA
* Date: September 16, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game attendance: 36,810
* TV: Pac-12 Network
| Statistics | IDHO | CAL |
| First downs | 22 | 23 |
| Plays–yards | 72–387 | 68–370 |
| Rushes–yards | 26–108 | 43–256 |
| Passing yards | 279 | 114 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 28–46–1 | 13–25–0 |
| Time of possession | 32:43 | 27:17 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Idaho | Passing | Gevani McCoy | 28/46, 279 yards, INT |
| Idaho | Rushing | Anthony Woods | 11 carries, 56 yards, TD |
| Idaho | Receiving | Hayden Hatten | 8 receptions, 80 yards |
| California | Passing | Sam Jackson V | 12/23, 108 yards, 2 TD |
| California | Rushing | Isaiah Ifanse | 22 carries, 137 yards, TD |
| California | Receiving | Jeremiah Hunter | 5 receptions, 48 yards, TD |

### at No. 8 Washington

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Bears | 6 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 32 |
| No. 8 Huskies | 24 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 59 |
at Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA
* Date: September 23, 2023
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Cloudy, 58 °F (14 °C), Wind: S 5mph
* Game attendance: 69,107
* Referee: Chris Wiggins
* TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst), and Kayla Burton (sideline)
| Statistics | CAL | WASH |
| First downs | 28 | 23 |
| Plays–yards | 81–502 | 62–529 |
| Rushes–yards | 35–139 | 30–140 |
| Passing yards | 363 | 389 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 27–46–3 | 23–32–1 |
| Time of possession | 29:50 | 30:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| California | Passing | Ben Finley | 17/32, 207 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT |
| California | Rushing | Jaydn Ott | 14 carries, 40 yards, TD |
| California | Receiving | Trond Grizzell | 4 receptions, 86 yards, TD |
| Washington | Passing | Michael Penix Jr. | 19/25, 304 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT |
| Washington | Rushing | Dillon Johnson | 10 carries, 66 yards, TD |
| Washington | Receiving | Ja'Lynn Polk | 8 receptions, 127 yards, 2 TD |

### vs Arizona State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Sun Devils | 7 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 21 |
| Golden Bears | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
at California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA
* Date: September 30, 2023
* Game time: 12:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy, 61 °F (16 °C)
* Game attendance: 34,353
* Referee: Matthew Richards
* TV announcers (Pac-12 Network): J. B. Long (play-by-play), Shane Vereen (analyst)
| Statistics | ASU | CAL |
| First downs | 17 | 19 |
| Plays–yards | 72–430 | 77–326 |
| Rushes–yards | 29–68 | 48–196 |
| Passing yards | 362 | 130 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 27–43–1 | 12–28–0 |
| Time of possession | 30:18 | 29:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arizona State | Passing | Trenton Bourguet | 26/41, 344 yards, INT |
| Arizona State | Rushing | Cameron Skattebo | 24 carries, 59 yards, TD |
| Arizona State | Receiving | Cameron Skattebo | 4 receptions, 98 yards |
| California | Passing | Sam Jackson V | 12/28, 130 yards, TD |
| California | Rushing | Jaydn Ott | 29 carries, 165 yards, TD |
| California | Receiving | Jeremiah Hunter | 6 receptions, 89 yards, TD |

### vs No. 15 Oregon State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 15 Beavers | 7 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 52 |
| Golden Bears | 0 | 17 | 15 | 8 | 40 |
at California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA
* Date: October 7, 2023
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game attendance: 34,930
* Referee: Mark Duddy
* TV announcers (Pac-12 Network): J.B. Long, Max Browne
| Statistics | OSU | CAL |
| First downs | 24 | 22 |
| Plays–yards | 71–499 | 65–448 |
| Rushes–yards | 43–203 | 33–241 |
| Passing yards | 296 | 207 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 21–28–0 | 21–32–1 |
| Time of possession | 37:17 | 22:43 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Oregon State | Passing | DJ Uiagalelei | 19/25, 275 yards, 5 TD |
| Oregon State | Rushing | Damien Martinez | 17 carries, 89 yards, TD |
| Oregon State | Receiving | Anthony Gould | 7 receptions, 117 yards |
| California | Passing | Fernando Mendoza | 21/32, 207 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| California | Rushing | Isaiah Ifanse | 11 carries, 86 yards, 2 TD |
| California | Receiving | Taj Davis | 7 receptions, 69 yards |

### at No. 16 Utah

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Bears | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| No. 16 Utes | 0 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 34 |
at Rice-Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, Utah
* Date: October 14, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. MST/12:00 p.m. PST
* Game attendance: 52,115
* TV announcers (Pac-12 Network): Roxy Bernstein, Lincoln Kennedy
| Statistics | CAL | Utah |
| First downs | 16 | 21 |
| Plays–yards | 55–24 | 75–445 |
| Rushes–yards | 24–66 | 53–317 |
| Passing yards | 188 | 128 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 15–31–1 | 15–22–0 |
| Time of possession | 22:07 | 37:53 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| California | Passing | Fernando Mendoza | 10/17, 149 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| California | Rushing | Jaydn Ott | 8 carries, 46 yards |
| California | Receiving | Taj Davis | 7 receptions, 93 yards, TD |
| Utah | Passing | Bryson Barnes | 15/21, 128 yards |
| Utah | Rushing | Sione Vaki | 15 carries, 158 yards, 2 TD |
| Utah | Receiving | Mikey Matthews | 7 receptions, 53 yards |

### vs No. 24 USC

| Pregame line | Over/under |
| USC +10.5 | 67.5 |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 24 Trojans | 17 | 0 | 12 | 21 | 50 |
| Golden Bears | 14 | 14 | 8 | 13 | 49 |
at California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA
* Date: October 28, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
* Game attendance: 43,716
* Referee: Justin Elliott
* TV announcers (Pac-12 Network): Ted Robinson (play-by-play), Yogi Roth (analyst)
| Statistics | USC | CAL |
| First downs | 20 | 29 |
| Plays–yards | 80–506 | 81–527 |
| Rushes–yards | 40–137 | 42–235 |
| Passing yards | 369 | 292 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 23–40–0 | 25–39–1 |
| Time of possession | 32:36 | 27:24 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| USC | Passing | Caleb Williams | 23/40, 369 yards, 2 TD |
| USC | Rushing | MarShawn Lloyd | 17 carries, 115 yards, 2 TD |
| USC | Receiving | Tahj Washington | 5 receptions, 102 yards |
| California | Passing | Fernando Mendoza | 25/39, 292 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| California | Rushing | Jaydn Ott | 21 carries, 153 yards, 3 TD |
| California | Receiving | Jeremiah Hunter | 8 receptions, 96 yards |

### at Oregon

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Bears | 10 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 19 |
| Ducks | 14 | 21 | 7 | 21 | 63 |
at Autzen Stadium • Eugene, OR
* Date: November 4, 2023
* Game time: 2:30 p.m.
* Game attendance: 54,046
* TV: Pac-12 Network
| Statistics | CAL | ORE |
| First downs | 16 | 32 |
| Plays–yards | 63–286 | 82–597 |
| Rushes–yards | 29–109 | 36–153 |
| Passing yards | 177 | 444 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 18–34–1 | 35–46–1 |
| Time of possession | 23:26 | 36:34 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| California | Passing | Fernando Mendoza | 18/34, 177 yards, INT |
| California | Rushing | Jaydn Ott | 20 carries, 93 yards, TD |
| California | Receiving | Jeremiah Hunter | 5 receptions, 64 yards |
| Oregon | Passing | Bo Nix | 29/38, 386 yards, 4 TD, INT |
| Oregon | Rushing | Bucky Irving | 18 carries, 89 yards, TD |
| Oregon | Receiving | Tez Johnson | 12 receptions, 180 yards, 2 TD |

### vs Washington State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cougars | 7 | 14 | 3 | 15 | 39 |
| Golden Bears | 14 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 42 |
at California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA
* Date: November 11, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game attendance: 38,155
* Referee: Mark Duddy
* TV: ESPN2
| Statistics | WSU | CAL |
| First downs | 32 | 16 |
| Plays–yards | 97–483 | 51–327 |
| Rushes–yards | 37–125 | 36–177 |
| Passing yards | 358 | 150 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 35–60–1 | 14–21–0 |
| Time of possession | 35:45 | 24:15 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Washington State | Passing | Cam Ward | 34/59, 354 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Washington State | Rushing | Leo Pulalasi | 11 carries, 66 yards |
| Washington State | Receiving | Josh Kelly | 9 receptions, 130 yards, TD |
| California | Passing | Fernando Mendoza | 14/21, 150 yards, 2 TD, |
| California | Rushing | Jaydn Ott | 27 carries, 167 yards, TD |
| California | Receiving | Jeremiah Hunter | 3 receptions, 45 yards |

### at Stanford

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Bears | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 27 |
| Cardinal | 3 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 15 |
at Stanford Stadium • Stanford, CA
* Date: November 18, 2023
* Game time: 3:30 p.m.
* Game weather: {Cloudy, SW 9 mph
* Game attendance: 52,971
* Referee: Matthew Richards
* TV announcers (Pac-12 Network): Roxy Bernstein, Lincoln Kennedy
| Statistics | CAL | STAN |
| First downs | 29 | 12 |
| Plays–yards | 84–455 | 59–289 |
| Rushes–yards | 47–161 | 24–101 |
| Passing yards | 294 | 188 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 24–37–1 | 18–35–0 |
| Time of possession | 35:36 | 24:24 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| California | Passing | Fernando Mendoza | 24/36, 294 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| California | Rushing | Jaydn Ott | 36 carries, 166 yards, TD |
| California | Receiving | Trond Grizzell | 7 receptions, 136 yards, 2 TD |
| Stanford | Passing | Ashton Daniels | 18/35, 188 yards, TD |
| Stanford | Rushing | Ashton Daniels | 12 carries, 67 yards |
| Stanford | Receiving | Sam Roush | 4 receptions, 62 yards |

### at UCLA

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Bears | 6 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Bruins | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA
* Date: November 25, 2023
* Game time: 7:30 p.m.
* Game weather: Clear, 55 °F (13 °C)
* Game attendance: 42,439
* Referee: John Love
* TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Flemming, Brock Osweiler, Kayla Burton
| Statistics | CAL | UCLA |
| First downs | 17 | 23 |
| Plays–yards | 62–302 | 83–379 |
| Rushes–yards | 32–124 | 36–70 |
| Passing yards | 178 | 309 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 19–30–2 | 30–47–2 |
| Time of possession | 30:01 | 29:59 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| California | Passing | Fernando Mendoza | 19/30, 178 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| California | Rushing | Jaydn Ott | 21 carries, 80 yards |
| California | Receiving | Jeremiah Hunter | 8 receptions, 101 yards, 2 TD |
| UCLA | Passing | Dante Moore | 23/38, 266 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| UCLA | Rushing | Carson Steele | 12 carries, 53 yards |
| UCLA | Receiving | Logan Loya | 9 receptions, 88 yards, TD |

### Vs. Texas Tech (Independence Bowl)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Bears | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Red Raiders | 7 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
at Independence Stadium • Shreveport, Louisiana
* Date: December 16
* Game time: 8:15 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Clear, 45 °F (7 °C)
* Game attendance: 33,071
* Referee: Jerry Magallanes
* TV announcers (ESPN): Kevin Connors (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst) and Marilyn Payne (sideline)
| Statistics | California | Texas Tech |
| First downs | 15 | 24 |
| Plays–yards | 64–353 | 80–384 |
| Rushes–yards | 31–69 | 36–128 |
| Passing yards | 284 | 256 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 22–33–3 | 27–44–1 |
| Time of possession | 26:25 | 31:02 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| California | Passing | Fernando Mendoza | 22/23, 261 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| California | Rushing | Jaydn Ott | 16 carries, 45 yards, TD |
| California | Receiving | Trond Grizzell | 4 receptions, 80 yards |
| Texas Tech | Passing | Behren Morton | 27/43, 256 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Texas Tech | Rushing | Tahj Brooks | 22 carries, 98 yards, TD |
| Texas Tech | Receiving | Coy Eakin | 7 receptions, 106 yards, TD |