Cal’s upset hopes fall apart against No. 23 SMU in nightmare second half
For a half, Cal shoved aside every obstacle in its path on the road against No. 23 SMU. The Bears overcame an epidemic of injuries to offensive players, ignored the 9 a.m. PT kickoff in Dallas and emerged with a 20-17 lead halftime. Then it all fell apart in a 42-zip onslaught the rest of the way by the Mustangs. SMU scored touchdowns on its first six possessions of the second half and held the Bears to 50 total yards and two first downs over the final two quarters in a 59-20 demolition in front of 26,463 fans at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. The Mustangs (7-1, 4-1 ACC) remain perfect in 11 in conference home games since joining the ACC in 2024 along with Cal and Stanford. The Bears (3-4, 2-3 ACC), on the heels of their 41-7 home defeat to now-No. 17 Wake Forest the previous week, have surrendered 100 points in a two-game span for the first time since allowing 113 in back-to-back losses to…























































