Golden Bears Shock No. 14 Cardinals 29-26 in Overtime....

Nov, 9, 2025, 10:17pm

Blog by Walker Johnson

LOUISVILLE — In a dramatic road upset, California escaped with a 29-26 overtime win over No. 14 Louisville, handing the Cardinals a stinging defeat at home. The game set the tone early when Louisville struck first on a 1-yard run to go up 7-0. California answered just before the quarter ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, tying the game at 7-7.

In the second quarter, Louisville grabbed a slim lead via a 30-yard field goal and then extended it to 13-10 with a 49-yard field goal. California replied with a 2-yard rushing score by Kendrick Raphael right at halftime, putting the Bears ahead 17-13.

The third quarter saw California add a 45-yard field goal to lead 20-13, but Louisville roared back with a 1-yard rushing touchdown to make it 20-20. The Bears answered again before the quarter ended with a 26-yard field goal, leading 23-20 entering the fourth. Louisville tied it at 23-23 with a 39-yard field goal late in the fourth, forcing overtime.

In overtime, Louisville struck first with a 49-yard field goal, going up 26-23. But California didn’t flinch on 4th-and-goal from the 3-yard line, Sagapolutele found wide receiver Jacob De Jesus for the game-winning 3-yard touchdown — ending the thriller 29-26. Cal out-gained Louisville 427 yards to 351, including 350 passing yards to 203, highlighting Big Bear efficiency in the air and balanced attack overall.

413’s Bottomline

For California, this is a milestone victory — beating a ranked opponent on the road in overtime demonstrates resilience, poise, and a program upward trajectory. They’re bowl-eligible and playing with confidence.

For Louisville, this one stings. A home defeat to an unranked team in overtime raises questions about execution in clutch moments. They showed the ability to move the ball, but missed opportunities and a failed stop in overtime made the difference.