Cal 21, Syracuse 18: Orange collapse against Golden Bears
SYRACUSE, NY - SEPTEMBER 12: California Golden Bears Defensive Lineman Nate Burrell (98) and California Golden Bears Defensive Back Nate Escalada (38) pressure Syracuse Orange Quarterback Steve Angeli (9) throwing the ball during the first half of the College Football game between the California Golden Bears and the Syracuse Orange on September 12, 2026, at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesSYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse Orange missed several redzone opportunities, turned the ball over at costly times and committed numerous penalties to undo all of their hard work against the Golden Bears. A game in which the offensive numbers looked far better for Syracuse ended in a Cal 21-18 win when Golden Bears safety Kingston Lopa housed a pick six for the eventual winning score with 4:51 left in the 4th quarter.
Syracuse started the game with the ball, and fireworks showed immediately. Tylik Hill ripped a 55 yard rush on the second play of the game to immediately put the Orange in a goal-to-go situation. Syracuse couldn't convert and settled for a Tripp Woody field goal to open the scoring at 3-0.
Cal set its intentions early by playing in empty sets for much of its first drive. Although the Golden Bears got a first down, impressive pressure from Keyshawn Johnson and Dillan Fontus on 3rd down stalled the first Cal drive before midfield.
Syracuse's second drive saw the return of Justus Ross-Simmons, newly eligible after a long and nervous legal battle. He snagged the first Orange reception of the day, going 22 yards up the right sideline. Shavane Anderson Jr. also started to show that his first week performance wasn't a fluke with a pair of good eight-yard gains to move the chains. The Orange had to punt, however, to end their second drive of the day.
Cal showed more of its pass heavy offense, led by its star quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. After moving the chains with some good outside passes, JKS finally targeted his top receiver, Ian Strong on a third down play. Syracuse had Nazir Ward instead of Chris Peal covering Strong on this play, but Ward did a great job to force an incompletion and end Cal's second drive.
FAKE PUNT JUMP PASS @jimmy_gregg6pic.twitter.com/UXWytFBljx
- Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) September 12, 2026
The third Orange drive looked to be a disappointing three and out, but true freshman punter Jimmy Gregg ran a fake play and made a jump pass right before the line of scrimmage. He connected with David Omopariola to keep the Syracuse drive alive. The Orange marched their way to the red zone but stalled out at the Cal 15. A Woody 33-yard field goal made the score 6-0 a few seconds into the second quarter.
Syracuse made life for itself difficult on the ensuing Cal drive. A holding and unsportsmanlike penalty on Ward extended the Golden Bears drive. An additional offsides penalty before the snap on Tunmise Adeleye put the Golden Bears in field goal range. However, Cal kicker Towns McGough missed his 46-yard attempt to the left to keep the Golden Bears off the scoreboard.
All of a sudden, the Orange started gashing the Cal defense thanks to one man. Tight end Dante Bacheyie, a graduate of CBA Syracuse, started venturing downfield. After getting unlucky on his first target, Bacheyie hauled down an impressive catch against tight single coverage to move Syracuse close to the red zone. The very next play, Bacheyie found himself wide open for an easy 23-yard touchdown. Bacheyie caught two balls for 61 yards on the drive. Syracuse failed the ensuing two-point conversion, keeping the score at 12-0 with 8:50 left in the second quarter.
Dime to Daunte
- Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) September 12, 2026
ACCN pic.twitter.com/sTEx7AZw3l
Cal immediately answered the Syracuse score with the strength of Sagapolutele. He finally found Strong downfield after the Cal wide receiver got loose from Chris Peal. A 43 yard completion up the middle is all the momentum Cal needed, along with another Syracuse penalty, to score. JKS saw Chase Hendricks gain separation on an out route in the end zone and connected with him to give the Golden Bears their first touchdown of the game.
The end of the first half was marred with controversy as penalty flags started to pile up against Syracuse. The Orange were whistled for 9 penalties for 88 yards. Many of these penalties stopped Orange offensive drives and negated big punt returns. The score remained 12-7 at half.Syracuse had outgained Cal 214-141 in the first half.
The momentum of the game shifted significantly to the Golden Bears. Facing 3rd and 20 at the Cal 30, Angeli didn't seem to see Cal safety Kingston Lopa. The pass was easily intercepted and Lopa returned the ball 59 yards to set up Cal in prime position. Sagapolutele nickeled and dimed his way through the red zone to reach the goal line. He eventually found Jordan King after play action in the flat to give Cal its first lead of the day. The Golden Bears led 14-12.
Syracuse took a page out of Cal's book and started methodically chunking away at yards to drive up the field. A flurry of double-digit yard gains eventually pushed Syracuse into the red zone, where Ju'Juan Johnson punched the ball in from the one to put the Orange back on top. Another two-point conversion failed to give Syracuse an 18-14 lead with 1:38 left to go in the third quarter.
Penalties continued to plague both teams as the game entered the fourth quarter. Demetres Samuel had yet another punt return touchdown called back after a penalty. Cal then returned the favor with a roughing the passer penalty and facemask penalty to keep the ensuing Syracuse drive alive. Further down the field, the Golden Bears forced a fumble on fourth down, but Cal had 12 men on the field after review. Syracuse couldn't convert for a touchdown, and Woody's 31-yard field goal attempt doinked off the upright. The score remained 18-14 Syracuse.
Syracuse avoided any damage on the ensuing Cal drive, in large part thanks to the first sack of the day from the Orange thanks to Chris D'Appolonia. However, the game flipped on its head once again when Lopa jumped a deep route for his second pick of the game. This time, Lopa wouldn't be denied the end zone and his pick six sucked a lot of life and momentum out of the JMA Wireless Dome. Cal retook the lead 21-18 with 4:51 left in the 4th.
The Orange marched up the field, in large part thanks to an open catch from Umari Hatcher and a game-saving catch from Justus Ross-Simmons on a scramble third down play. However, Syracuse once again stalled in the red zone. Woody's 46-yard field goal attempt was tipped and well short, essentially ending the game. Syracuse had one more chance to drive down the field after stopping Cal, but Lopa picked off Angeli for the third time.
Syracuse outgained Cal 436-247 in yards. However, Syracuse committed 15 penalties for 134 yards. Angeli's three interceptions were the most he's thrown in his career. Justus Ross-Simmons had a good game in his return to the orange, making five catches for 82 yards. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele didn't throw any interceptions after two picks last week against UCLA. He finished with 182 yards and two touchdowns.
The Orange do not have time to feel sorry for themselves as Syracuse travels on the road for the first time this season on a short week. The Orange go to Pittsburgh to play the Pitt Panthers on Thursday. September 17 at 7:30 pm ET. The game will be aired on ESPN.