Did Cal make the ACC championship game?

No, Cal's upset victory over SMU spoiled the Mustangs' chances of making the ACC championship game.

Who is the new interim coach for California?

The interim coach for California is Nick Rolovich, who led the team to an upset win in his first game.

What was the score of the Cal vs SMU game?

California defeated SMU with a final score of 38-35.

Home / Sports / Cal Shocks No. 25 SMU in Thriller

Cal Shocks No. 25 SMU in Thriller

30 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Cal upset No. 25 SMU 38-35 with a late touchdown.
The win came in the first game under interim coach Nick Rolovich.
SMU's loss ended their hopes for a second straight ACC championship.

In a dramatic upset, the California Golden Bears defeated No. 25 SMU 38-35, with Kendrick Raphael scoring the game-winning touchdown with just 43 seconds left on the clock. This pivotal score dashed the Mustangs' hopes of reaching the Atlantic Coast Conference championship for the second year in a row.

The victory marked a significant moment for Cal, as it was their first game with interim coach Nick Rolovich at the helm, following the recent firing of Justin Wilcox. The team showed resilience, rallying after a first-quarter deficit to score 21 unanswered points, demonstrating a strong performance against a favored opponent.

SMU, who entered the game with a 2-0 all-time record against Cal, struggled to contain the Golden Bears' offense. Cal's 38 points and 452 total yards were among the most the Mustangs had allowed this season. Both teams now await invitations to postseason bowl games.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.