California Loses to Oregon State, 10-38, Clinches Losing Football Season
Golden Bears failed to score an offensive touchdown
The California Golden Bears (3-7, 1-6 Pac-12) clinched a losing football season in its 10-38 shellacking in Corvallis, Ore., against the Oregon State Beavers (7-3, 4-3 Pac-12) Saturday night.
The last time California had a winning football season was in 2019 when it went 8-5, including victories at Ole Miss, No. 14 Washington, Stanford and USC.
"It is very difficult—I get that—but the performance is unacceptable," said California head coach Justin Wilcox in the post-game press conference. "We can't accept that."
California's offense failed to sustain any meaningful drives and was a non-factor against Oregon State.
In 23 minutes and 22 seconds of possession, the Golden Bears could only rack up 160 yards of offense, including a measly nine total rushing yards.
California star running back Jaydn Ott had only eight rushes, enough to contribute only 20 rushing yards.
Quarterback Jack Plummer managed to pass 151 yards, going 22-for-34, including one interception.
After the game, Coach Wilcox told reporters that he planned to put Kai Millner in the fourth quarter. However, the defense failed to hold off the Beavers to give the backup play-caller a chance to play.
"He [Millner] was going in the next series, and we didn't stop them. In order to get the offense on the field, we have to stop them," explained Coach Wilcox, referring to the Beavers offense. "We didn't do that."
California's only touchdown came from a scoop-and-score by cornerback Jeremiah Earby with 2:33 remaining in the second quarter. Earby returned the Oregon State fumble 33 yards to cut the deficit to 7-21.
The Golden Bears' other score was a 36-yard field goal by backup kicker Michael Luckhurst. The first-year's boot brought the score to 10-31 with 12:30 remaining in the game.
Luckhurst earned his first career field goal after first-string kicker Dario Longhetto missed a 48-yard field goal with 8:21 remaining in the third quarter.
California has now lost its sixth game in a row.
"We haven't played up to the standard we've set as a team. We haven't coached well enough. We haven't played well enough," noted Coach Wilcox. "It's just totally unacceptable. I don't know what else to say."
Rate the Cal v. Oregon State football game, and read the post-game reactions from the Write for California community.
I think it's time Wilcox FINALLY holds coaches accountable. He has a history of not doing this. Learn from Harbaugh: "Win with character, win with cruelty." Wilcox is all character, zero cruelty... at least for coaches. Another speech about "it's not good enough" isn't good enough. Talk is cheap. Walk the walk, stop just talking.
We have to play better. I have to coach better. It's on me blah blah blah