Cal-Miami Game Thread: Big Plays Help Bears Forge 21-10 Halftime Lead

No. 8 Hurricanes visit for Cal's first-ever Atlantic Coast Conference home game

Linebacker Cade Uluave (0) and the Cal defense face a stiff challenge. / Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Cal (3-1, 0-1 ACC) makes its Atlantic Coast Conference home debut against eighth-ranked Miami (5-0, 1-0).

*** Defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon talks in the video about about Miami quarterback Cam Ward, a transfer from Washington State, who entered the weekend leading FBS in touchdown passes with 18.

The Bears are chasing their first win over a Top-25 opponent since beating Oregon in 2020.

Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. -- 13 1/2 hours after Cal hosts ESPN's College GameDay program for the first time. That event, which began in darkness, drew an enthusiastic crowd of more than 3,000 fans.

Cal is expecting more than 50,000 for tonight's game, which would mark the first time they'd reached that attendance plateau for a non-Big Game since the 2016 Texas matchup, which the Bears won 50-43.

The Bears are tasked with slowing a Hurricanes offense that ranks second nationally, averaging 49.4 points per game. Cal's defense is allowing just 12.8 points per outing and has held its first four opponents to 14 points or fewer.

PERSONNEL UPDATE: No sign of OG Sioape Vatikani or ND Matthew Littlejohn, both apparently still sidelined by injuries. Both were listed this week as probable.

COIN FLIP: Cal wins the toss and defers. Will kick off.

10:41 1st Q: Cal defense gives up one first down then forces a punt. Bears will start their first possession at their own 27. Cal 0, Miami 0

6:19 1st Q: Miami forces Cal to punt after the Bears lost 10 yards on their first possession. The Canes went 63 yards in five plays, including three runs for 45 yards by Mark Fletcher Jr. Fletcher got the final 3 yards on a blast through left tackle, and Miami converted the PAT kick. Miami 7, Cal 0

3:58 1st Q: Cal answers with a seven-play, 89-yard drive, with Fernando Mendoza hitting tight end Jack Endries down the left sideline for a 57-yard touchdown. Endries got behind DB D'Yoni Hill and outran him to the end zone. Cal 7, Miami 7.

END OF 1ST Q: Miami faces a fourth-and-2 at the Cal 45 when the second quarter begins. First quarter numbers: Miami 115 total yards to 79 for Cal. Miami 63 rushing yards to minus-4 for the Bears. Cal 83 passing yards to 52 for the Canes. Miami has an 18-10 edge in total plays and a 6-3 advantage in first downs. Mendoza is 4 for 7 for 83 yards and a TD. Ward is 5 for 6 for 52 yards. Cal 7, Miami 7.

13:43 2nd Q: Miles Williams made a tackle on TE Elijah Arroyo to stop the Canes on fourth-and-2. The Bears then went 56 yards in three plays, the big one a 51-yard completion from Mendoza to Trond Grizzell to the 5-yard line. Two plays later, Jaydn Ott took a handoff, bounced outside to the right and high-stepped into the end zone. Cal 14, Miami 7.

9:07 2nd Q: The Hurricanes benefit from a personal foul against Cal LB Cade Uluave and get a first down at the Cal 26. But TJ Bollers tackles Damien Martinez for a 2-yard loss before Ward twice throws incomplete. Adres Borregales kicks a 46-yard field goal, capping the 10-playm 47-yard drive. Cal 14, Miami 10.

8:00 2nd Q: Cal stretches its lead as Mendoza uses a play-fake and drop a screen pass to Jaydn Ott in the right flat on fourth-and-1 from the Cal 34. Ott dashes down the right sideline, untouched, toying the Miami defenders as he strides into the end zone, capping a four-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Cal 21, Miami 10.

HALFTIME: Cal 21, Miami 10. The Bears' defense holds the nation's second-highest scoring team (49.4 points) to a touchdown and a field goal. Cal outgained the Canes 215 yards to 190 in the half, including 204 to 109 through the air. Mendoza is 8 for 12 for 204 yards and a touchdown and is the first Cal QB with three completions of at least 50 yards since Jared Goff in 2015 vs. Arizona State.

Miami ran 41 plays to 21 for Cal and has a massive time of possession edge: 21:44 to 8:16. But the Bears are averaging 10.2 yards per play compared to 4.6 for the visitors.

The game is officially a sellout: 52,428.

Cal will get the ball first to start the third quarter.