The 2024 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Bears were led by Justin Wilcox in his eighth year as the head coach. The Golden Bears played their home games at California Memorial Stadium located in Berkeley, California.
The 2024 season was California's first in the ACC since moving from the Pac-12 Conference.
On October 5, before playing against the Miami Hurricanes, California hosted their first College GameDay in school history.
Schedule
Game summaries vs. No. 18 (FCS) UC Davis
Statistics UCDCAL First downs 20 16 Total yards 304 281 Rushing yards 83 102 Passing yards 221 179 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–48–3 18–28–0 Time of possession 30:16 29:44 Team Category Player StatisticsUC Davis Passing Miles Hastings 24/48, 221 yards, 3 INT Rushing Lan Larison 17 carries, 62 yards, TD Receiving C. J. Hutton 7 receptions, 68 yardsCalifornia Passing Fernando Mendoza 15/22, 158 yards, TD Rushing Jaydn Ott 14 carries, 49 yards, 2 TD Receiving Nyziah Hunter 4 receptions, 47 yards, TD
at Auburn
Statistics CALAUB First downs 18 15 Total yards 70–332 57–286 Rushing yards 34–99 30–121 Passing yards 233 165 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–36–0 14–27–4 Time of possession 35:16 24:44 Team Category Player StatisticsCalifornia Passing Fernando Mendoza 25/36, 233 yds, 2 TD Rushing Jaivian Thomas 8 rushes, 53 yds, TD Receiving Jonathan Brady 4 receptions, 63 ydsAuburn Passing Payton Thorne 14/27, 165 yds, TD, 4 INT Rushing Jarquez Hunter 12 rushes, 68 yds Receiving Jarquez Hunter 3 receptions, 11 yds
vs San Diego State
Statistics SDSUCAL First downs 16 21 Total yards 65–276 71–473 Rushing yards 35–110 42–275 Passing yards 166 198 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–30–2 21–29–1 Time of possession 27:15 32:45 Team Category Player StatisticsSan Diego State Passing Javance Tupou'ata-Johnson 13/29, 156 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Marquez Cooper 22 carries, 87 yards Receiving Jordan Napier 2 receptions, 53 yards, 1 TDCalifornia Passing Fernando Mendoza 21/29, 198 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Jaivian Thomas 17 carries, 169 yards Receiving Nyziah Hunter 4 receptions, 52 yards, 1 TD
at Florida State
Statistics CAL FSU First downs 23 17 Total yards 410 284 Rushing yards 107 107 Passing yards 303 177 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22-37-1 16-27-1 Time of possession 29:19 30:41 Team Category Player StatisticsCalifornia Passing Fernando Mendoza 22/36, 303 yards, 1 INT Rushing Jaydn Ott 16 carries, 73 yards Receiving Mason Starling 5 receptions, 68 yardsFlorida State Passing DJ Uiagalelei 16/27, 177 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Lawrance Toafili 17 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ja'Khi Douglas 4 receptions, 86 yards, 1 TD
vs No. 8 Miami (FL)
Statistics MIACAL First downs 29 12 Total yards 86–575 49–370 Rushing yards 33–138 25–73 Passing yards 437 297 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 35–53–1 12–24–1 Time of possession 37:14 22:41 Team Category Player StatisticsMiami (FL) Passing Cam Ward 35/53, 437 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Mark Fletcher Jr. 11 carries, 81 yards, TD Receiving Xavier Restrepo 7 receptions, 163 yardsCalifornia Passing Fernando Mendoza 11/22, 285 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jonathan Brady 1 carry, 20 yards Receiving Jack Endries 3 receptions, 78 yards, TD
at No. 22 Pittsburgh
Statistics CALPITT First downs 23 14 Total yards 335 277 Rushing yards 63 144 Passing yards 272 133 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 27–37–0 14–28–2 Time of possession 38:30 21:30 Team Category Player StatisticsCalifornia Passing Fernando Mendoza 27/37, 272 yards, TD Rushing Jaivian Thomas 17 carries, 72 yards, TD Receiving Jack Endries 8 receptions, 119 yards, TDPittsburgh Passing Eli Holstein 14/28, 133 yards, 2 INT Rushing Desmond Reid 16 carries, 120 yards, 2 TD Receiving Konata Mumpfield 3 receptions, 37 yards
vs NC State
Statistics NCSTCAL First downs 15 23 Total yards 363 399 Rushing yards 29 117 Passing yards 334 282 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 26-37-0 30-43-0 Time of possession 32:37 27:23 Team Category Player StatisticsNC State Passing CJ Bailey 25/36, 306 yards, 2 TD Rushing Hollywood Smothers 7 carries, 25 yards Receiving Justin Joly 4 receptions, 95 yardsCAL Passing Fernando Mendoza 30/42, 282 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jaivian Thomas 9 carries, 78 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jack Endries 9 receptions, 101 yards
vs Oregon State
Statistics ORSTCAL First downs 12 28 Total yards 200 478 Rushing yards 60 114 Passing yards 140 364 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–28–1 27–37–0 Time of possession 27:39 32:21 Team Category Player StatisticsOregon State Passing Ben Gulbranson 11/20, 131 yards, TD Rushing Anthony Hankerson 16 carries, 49 yards Receiving Trent Walker 5 receptions, 58 yards, TDCalifornia Passing Fernando Mendoza 27/36, 364 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jaivian Thomas 7 carries, 33 yards, TD Receiving Trond Grizzell 5 receptions, 95 yards
at Wake Forest
Statistics CALWAKE First downs 31 26 Total yards 500 386 Rushing yards 115 112 Passing yards 385 274 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 40–56–1 19–36–3 Time of possession 34:30 25:30 Team Category Player StatisticsCalifornia Passing Fernando Mendoza 40/56, 385 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Fernando Mendoza 10 carries, 51 yards, TD Receiving Mikey Matthews 8 receptions, 83 yards, TDWake Forest Passing Hank Bachmeier 19/36, 274 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Demond Claiborne 23 carries, 113 yards, TD Receiving Taylor Morin 9 receptions, 110 yards
vs Syracuse
Statistics SYRCAL First downs 26 19 Total yards 471 391 Rushing yards 148 166 Passing yards 323 225 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 29-46-0 22-34-2 Time of possession 38:41 21:19 Team Category Player StatisticsSyracuse Passing Kyle McCord 29-46 323 Yards 1 TD Rushing LeQuint Allen 23 Carries 109 Yards 2 TD Receiving Oronde Gadsden II 8 Receptions 109 YardsCalifornia Passing Fernando Mendoza 22-34 225 Yards 1 TD 2 INT Rushing Jaivian Thomas 3 Carries 80 Yards 1 TD Receiving Jonathan Brady 6 Receptions 54 Yards 1 TD
vs Stanford (Big Game)
Statistics STANCAL First downs 14 20 Total yards 259 371 Rushing yards 118 72 Passing yards 141 299 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–29–0 25–38–0 Time of possession 33:01 26:59 Team Category Player StatisticsStanford Passing Ashton Daniels 14/26, 139 yards Rushing Ashton Daniels 21 carries, 63 yards Receiving Emmett Mosley V 6 receptions, 63 yards, TDCalifornia Passing Fernando Mendoza 25/36, 299 yards, 3 TD Rushing Fernando Mendoza 11 carries, 35 yards Receiving Trond Grizzell 4 receptions, 70 yards, TD
at No. 9 SMU
Statistics CALSMU First downs 16 20 Total yards 254 415 Rushing yards 95 115 Passing yards 159 300 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–26–1 24–34–0 Time of possession 31:17 28:43 Team Category Player StatisticsCalifornia Passing Chandler Rogers 8/15, 84 yards Rushing Jaydn Ott 13 carries, 37 yards Receiving Nyziah Hunter 5 receptions, 85 yardsSMU Passing Kevin Jennings 20/30, 225 yards, 2 TD Rushing Brashard Smith 16 carries, 68 yards, TD Receiving Brashard Smith 3 receptions, 66 yards, TD
No. 24 UNLV (LA Bowl)
Statistics CAL UNLV First downs 21 12 Total yards 348 291 Rushing yards 182 143 Passing yards 166 148 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–39–0 6–19–0 Time of possession 35:50 24:10 Team Category Player StatisticsCalifornia Passing C. J. Harris 13/20, 109 yards Rushing Jaydn Ott 11 carries, 109 yards Receiving Jack Endries 7 receptions, 61 yardsUNLV Passing Hajj-Malik Williams 5/18, 96 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jai'Den Thomas 18 carries, 72 yards Receiving Cameron Oliver 1 reception, 52 yards
Roster
References