Bowers leads California past UNC 35-30 in Wilcox's debut
Ross Bowers threw for 363 yards and four touchdowns in his first college start, helping California beat North Carolina 35-30 on Saturday in the Golden Bears' first game under Justin Wilcox.
NCAA - Football
FINAL
California Golden Bears
35
North Carolina Tar Heels
30
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAL | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
| UNC | 7 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 30 |
Kenan Stadium · 49,500 att.
Match Report
Last five matches
| Date | Opp | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/31/26 | @ NC State Wolfpack | L 10-31 | NCAAF |
| 10/24/26 | @ SMU Mustangs | L 20-59 | NCAAF |
| 10/17/26 | vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons | L 7-41 | NCAAF |
| 10/10/26 | vs Virginia Tech Hokies | W 25-20 | NCAAF |
| 10/3/26 | @ UNLV Rebels | L 31-39 | NCAAF |
| Full Schedule | |||
Play by Play
-
Touchdown 0:00 35-30
Chazz Surratt 1 Yd Run
-
Touchdown 1:56 35-24
Vic Enwere 1 Yd Run (Matt Anderson Kick)
-
Touchdown 12:58 28-24
Jordan Duncan 20 Yd pass from Ross Bowers (Matt Anderson Kick)
-
Touchdown 2:02 21-24
Thomas Jackson 4 Yd pass from Chazz Surratt (Freeman Jones Kick)
-
Touchdown 4:23 21-17
Patrick Laird 54 Yd pass from Ross Bowers (Matt Anderson Kick)
-
Touchdown 1:08 14-17
Vic Wharton III 67 Yd pass from Ross Bowers (Matt Anderson Kick)
-
Touchdown 2:46 7-17
Michael Carter 9 Yd Run (Freeman Jones Kick)
-
Field Goal 8:21 7-10
Freeman Jones 39 Yd Field Goal
-
Touchdown 3:33 7-7
Michael Carter 2 Yd Run (Freeman Jones Kick)
-
Touchdown 4:57 7-0
Jordan Veasy 10 Yd pass from Ross Bowers (Matt Anderson Kick)
-
UNC
12 plays, 75 yards, 1:56 · Touchdown
-
CAL 1:56
11 plays, 70 yards, 5:16 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 0:00 35-30
Chazz Surratt 1 Yd Run
-
Touchdown 1:56 35-24
Vic Enwere 1 Yd Run (Matt Anderson Kick)
-
UNC 7:12
12 plays, 45 yards, 5:46 · Downs
-
CAL 12:58
11 plays, 75 yards, 4:04 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 12:58 28-24
Jordan Duncan 20 Yd pass from Ross Bowers (Matt Anderson Kick)
-
UNC 2:02
2 plays, 4 yards, 0:10 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 2:02 21-24
Thomas Jackson 4 Yd pass from Chazz Surratt (Freeman Jones Kick)
-
CAL 2:12
3 plays, 2 yards, 1:28 · Interception
-
UNC 3:40
2 plays, 2 yards, 0:37 · Interception
-
CAL 4:23
5 plays, 72 yards, 1:13 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 4:23 21-17
Patrick Laird 54 Yd pass from Ross Bowers (Matt Anderson Kick)
-
UNC 5:36
9 plays, 38 yards, 2:47 · Missed FG
-
CAL 8:23
3 plays, 7 yards, 2:07 · Punt
-
UNC 10:30
5 plays, 14 yards, 3:08 · Punt
-
CAL 13:38
3 plays, 6 yards, 1:22 · Punt
-
UNC
6 plays, 44 yards, 1:02 · Interception
-
CAL 1:08
3 plays, 80 yards, 1:33 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 1:08 14-17
Vic Wharton III 67 Yd pass from Ross Bowers (Matt Anderson Kick)
-
UNC 2:46
10 plays, 48 yards, 3:54 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 2:46 7-17
Michael Carter 9 Yd Run (Freeman Jones Kick)
-
CAL 6:40
6 plays, 30 yards, 1:38 · Interception
-
UNC 8:21
14 plays, 50 yards, 2:54 · Field Goal
-
Field Goal 8:21 7-10
Freeman Jones 39 Yd Field Goal
-
CAL 11:15
10 plays, 21 yards, 4:44 · Missed FG
-
UNC 0:59
3 plays, 10 yards, 1:02 · Fumble
-
CAL 2:01
3 plays, 9 yards, 1:27 · Punt
-
UNC 3:33
4 plays, 75 yards, 1:24 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 3:33 7-7
Michael Carter 2 Yd Run (Freeman Jones Kick)
-
CAL 4:57
7 plays, 85 yards, 1:53 · Touchdown
-
Touchdown 4:57 7-0
Jordan Veasy 10 Yd pass from Ross Bowers (Matt Anderson Kick)
-
UNC 6:50
5 plays, 19 yards, 1:50 · Punt
-
CAL 8:40
3 plays, 3 yards, 1:14 · Punt
-
UNC 9:54
4 plays, 2 yards, 1:31 · Punt
-
CAL 11:25
6 plays, 19 yards, 1:35 · Punt
-
UNC 13:00
3 plays, 1 yard, 2:00 · Punt
Showing the last 37 of 37 events.
Team Stats
CAL
UNC
20
1st Downs
28
8-18
3rd down efficiency
7-16
2-2
4th down efficiency
1-2
469
Total Yards
440
363
Passing
221
24/38
Comp/Att
25/44
9.6
Yards per pass
5.0
106
Rushing
219
35
Rushing Attempts
45
3.0
Yards per rush
4.9
9-57
Penalties
7-50
2
Turnovers
3
0
Fumbles lost
1
2
Interceptions thrown
2
29:47
Possession
30:13
Highlights
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