Cal Football: Fernando Mendoza, Barrett Miller Secure Pac-12 Player of Week Awards

Still alive for a bowl game, the Bears win two awards for the second week in a row.

Cal’s 27-15 victory over Stanford in the 126th Big Game gave the Bears more than a continued shot at bowl eligibility.

Quarterback Fernando Mendoza and offensive guard Barrett Miller won Pac-12 Conference weekly awards on Monday, Mendoza named Freshman of the Week and Miller earning Offensive Lineman of the Week honors.

The Bears had two winners a week ago, when linebacker Cade Uluave was selected as Freshman of the Week and Brian Driscoll was named Offensive Lineman of the Week.

Mendoza passed for 294 yards and three touchdowns — both season bests — as the Bears won their third straight Big Game and fourth in a span of five seasons.

Mendoza talks in the video at the top of this story about his experience playing for the first time in the Big Game. He said he now feels "enlightened."

Miller, a senior left tackle, was feted after helping Jaydn Ott rush for 166 yards. Miller played all 84 offensive snaps by the Bears, credited with six knockdowns or pancake blocks and grading out at 88 percent.

Miller played in his fifth Big Game, the first four while he was an offensive guard at Stanford. He talks in the video above about what it was like to face his old teammates.

The Bears (5-6, 3-5) play UCLA (7-4, 4-4) on Saturday night at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, needing a victory to become eligible to play in a bowl game for the first time since 2019.

Cal has won two in a row to stay on a path to possible postseason play.

UCLA, which crushed rival USC 38-20 on Saturday, is favored by 8.5 points over the Bears.

Cover photo of Fernando Mendoza and Barrett Miller courtesy of Cal Athletics

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo