Justin Wilcox Commits Cardinal Sin in Cal Football's Embarrassing Loss in the 128th Big Game

Inexcusable doesn't begin to describe it

Cal WR Jacob DeJesus barely steps out of bounds on a catch attempt. Photo Credit: Rob Hwang

Its happened again. On the worst stage possible. Cal suffered a nail in the coffin, 31-10 defeat at the hands of a meager Stanford team in the 128th Big Game.

General Manager Ron Rivera and Rich Lyons have been abundantly clear that the program standard is eight wins. With yesterday’s preposterous defeat in the Big Game, Cal can no longer achieve that mark in the regular season.

While acknowledging both teams both had the bye week to prepare, this level of miscue in a rivalry game, off a bye, is inexcusable and a slap in the face to everyone who supports the program.

In one of the most stunning displays on offense in my lifetime, Cal repeatedly shot itself in the foot, fumbled away the game and couldn’t fight back in an unforeseen pasting on the farm.

The standard is the standard

As mentioned in the open, Rivera and Lyons have been consistent in their messaging about this football program at one of the finest institutions in the world.

For far too long, Cal has not been meeting the standard under Justin Wilcox. From losses to Arizona, Colorado, Florida State and now Stanford, too many times the Bears have been caught with their pants down.

We’ve heard the callings about whether Rivera has the keys to the program.

It’s now decision time. Leadership laid down the gauntlet and the staff could not rise to the task, even with one of the easiest schedules that Cal will have in quite some time.

Yesterday was a culmination of all the inconsistencies this program has faced, and now leadership has to face the music.

It’s one thing to do this at San Diego State. It’s another to do it in the Big Game at Stanford.

An offensive display of offense

Where to begin on what went wrong here. Well, just about everything.

Penalties. Turnovers. Protection. Play calls.

At no point was Cal competitive offensively in the Big Game. The Bears proceeded to commit a flurry of false start plus holding and illegal substitution penalties, illustrating at no point that they could overcome those set backs.

Cal put together a season high 13 penalty performance while also struggling to establish the run. That inability to win the line of scrimmage (56 rush yards sack adjusted) stunted the ability to string together drives.

Through the air, Cal OC Bryan Harsin had a miserable day. Stanford consistently rushed four and played zone underneath and the Bears had no answers for it. A lot of pass plays for Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele were one read passes, almost operating under the assumption that the offensive line could give no further time.

There was no rhyme or reason to anything the Cal offense did in Palo Alto. From the fumbles, ones that occurred immediately after the Bears had a chance to pounce, to the myriad of trick plays and eventually the combination of sacks/penalties, Cal put together some of the worst offense seen since 2018.

Moving forward and conclusions

Cal’s defense and special teams deserved more help than they received at Stanford. There were forced punts, blocked kicks and lifelines for the offense to take charge. But, the dam finally broke later in the second half, and the Bears went out sad.

In a game that means so much to so many people, there was a distinct lack of urgency on a stage where that shouldn’t have even crossed the top of mind.

Ron Rivera and Rich Lyons were front and center for this performance. They’ve heard the calls and angst about the trajectory of the Cal program and its now decision time for them.

There are two years left on Wilcox’s current deal. Either you extend him or move on, as you can’t have much success under a lame duck season externally.

In a rivalry game, everything is on the table. The Big Game is chief among the chaos. Rolling into the 128th Big Game, lots of permutations had Cal being the better team. However, we’ve seen both teams get upset as the favorites.

But nothing could’ve prepared Cal fans for the unmitigated disaster that unfolded at Stanford Stadium.

And in the end, it was ultimately Justin Wilcox committing the cardinal sin.