DALLAS (FWAA) The California Golden Bears rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit and broke a 14-game losing streak to USC with a 15-14 road win. For winning at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the first time since 2000 and becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2015, Cal (6-4) has earned the Reveal Suits National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Nov 10.
This is the third time for Cal to earn the honor that dates to 2002, but the Golden Bears' first since 2003. The announcement came on "Off Campus with Mark Packer" on ESPNU Radio on SiriusXM. Each Monday during the season, the Reveal Suits National Team of the Week will be unveiled during the program, which airs weekdays from 4-7 p.m. ET. The FWAA's All-America Committee selects the weekly winner and all Division I FBS and FCS schools are eligible to be selected.
The game turned when an errant USC snap went into the end zone for a safety, putting Cal on the board at the start of the third quarter. The Bears struck just over a minute later on a 29-yard pass to get within 14-9. A Cal interception on USC's next drive set up the winning score, a five-yard run by quarterback Chase Garbers. The Bears sealed the win by converting a fourth-and-one play at the USC 33-yard line with two minutes remaining.
Cal held USC to 40 total yards in the second half after giving up 237 in the first half. The Bears have allowed only 50 points (12.5 average) in their last four games.
"One of our goals we set to start the season was to win a bowl game," Cal coach Justin Wilcox said. "It's great that we put ourselves in this position. That needs to be part of who we are. The guys are excited about it, and they should be."
The other National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Nov. 10 were:
Arizona State (6-4): Manny Wilkins accounted for 259 total yards and three touchdowns to lead the Sun Devils to a 31-28 win over UCLA. This is ASU's first three-game win streak since the start of the 2016 season, and the win marks just the fifth time in school history that the Sun Devils have defeated both USC and UCLA in the same season, following ASU's 38-35 win at The Coliseum earlier this season.
Northwestern (6-4): The Wildcats won the Big Ten West Division title for the first time in program history with a 14-10 win at Iowa. Northwestern is 6-1 in Big Ten play for the first time since 1996, has won 10 straight games against Big Ten West foes, has won seven straight games on the road, and has won 12 of its last 13 Big Ten games. Isaiah Bowser posted his third career 100-yard game with 31 carries for a career-high 165 yards for the Wildcats.
Tennessee (5-5): The Volunteers extended their dominance over Kentucky at Neyland Stadium to 17 straight games, taking a 24-7 win over the Wildcats in front of 95,258 fans. Tennessee led 17-0 at the half and scored 24 points against a defense that was eighth nationally, allowing only 15.3 points per game. The Vols defense also surrendered the fewest points to an SEC opponent since 2008. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jarrett Guarantano completed 12 of 20 passes for 197 yards and two scores.
UAB (9-1): Spencer Brown scored on a 17-yard touchdown run in overtime to give UAB a 26-23 win over Southern Miss and its first Conference USA West Division title. UAB held Southern Miss to 29 yards of total offense after halftime while also breaking the school record for sacks in a single season with seven on the night and now 38 on the season. Mar'Sean Diggs intercepted a Southern Miss pass in the end zone with seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. The Blazers have won eight straight, and 12 straight at Legion Field since resuming the program in 2017.
UNLV (3-7): The Rebels snapped a nine-game losing streak at San Diego State with a come-from-behind 27-24 win. Running back Lexington Thomas broke loose on a 75-yard touchdown run with four minutes left for the winning score. The second of two UNLV interceptions moments later sealed the game.
Reveal Suits provides upscale, signature branded merchandise to business professionals, celebrities, sports organizations, and a host of clientele who desire to stand out among their peers. They offer 35 measurement and suit style options, so you truly have the freedom to build your suit just for you. For more information about Reveal Suits, visit revealsuits.com.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,400 men and women who cover college football.
The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key
executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas
that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team.
For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson
at tiger@fwaa.com.