[4] At the end of the season, all of California's offensive stars at their skill position DeSean Jackson, Lavelle Hawkins, Robert Jordan, Justin Forsett and Craig Stevens graduated or declared for the NFL draft.

After Cal's loss to Tennessee the previous year, some observers and college football personalities such as LSU coach Les Miles had questioned the strength of the Pac-10.

[15] The game started off quickly with a Lavelle Hawkins kickoff return that went ninety yards and spotted California an early lead.

[16] Justin Forsett rushed for a total of 152 yards on twenty-three carries and three touchdowns, one of which was a score in the second quarter that gave Cal a 14–0 lead.

The Bulldogs' Zac Champion threw a two-yard pass to Joe Anderson to get Louisiana Tech on the board, but kicker Danny Horwedel missed the PAT.

Three weeks after the Bears avenged last year's season-opening loss to Tennessee, they flattened the Wildcats by taking a 25-point lead in the first 13 minutes.

Arizona pooched a 19-yard punt away from Jackson after its opening drive, and Cal quickly drove for its first score when Forsett broke four tackles on a 9-yard TD run.

Safety Thomas DeCoud blitzed Tuitama and forced the fumble Alualu recovered in the end zone with 2:12 left in the first quarter, putting the Bears up 28–3.

Arizona steadily climbed back in the second half, with Tuitama scoring on a 1-yard run and Thomas catching a 4-yard TD pass early in the fourth.

Forsett, remembering last year's loss, lobbied to get back in the game after Arizona scored a touchdown to cut the lead down to eleven.

Jahvid Best and James Montgomery also made scoring runs for the Golden Bears, whose 2006 loss in Tucson denied them an outright Pac-10 championship and a probable trip to Cal's first Rose Bowl in nearly a half-century.

Willie Tuitama set school records for pass attempts and completions, going 42-of-61 for 309 yards, but Arizona couldn't escape its huge early hole despite a strong second half.

They needed all four, because the biggest turnover for the Bears came from Marcus Ezeff's hit on Oregon's Cameron Colvin, forcing him to fumble it into the endzone for a California touchback in the game's final seconds to preserve victory.

On a day where the number-one-ranked LSU Tigers were upset by the 17th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats, the California Golden Bears had an opportunity to move to the number one spot.

According to Oregon State players after the game, Cal's presumed number ranking they were informed of during halftime motivated them in the second half.

Cal's defense could not stop Oregon State running back Yvenson Bernard during the second half when he ran for 82 yards including a crucial 4th and goal score.

Cal was 1st and 2 yards to goal to go on that drive late in third quarter but running back Justin Forsett was stopped short of the end zone on 4 consecutive plays.

With both teams suffering surprising upsets at home in their previous games, both Cal and UCLA came into their Rose Bowl matchup looking to restore their reputations and Pac-10 title hopes.

Just outside field goal range, Longshore attempted a third down with 1:33 left on the clock which was intercepted by UCLA corner back Alterraun Verner who ran for a 76-yard touchdown putting the score at 30–21 Bruins.

[30] California jumped out to a 20–7 lead in the middle of the second quarter with the help of two field goals by Jordan Kay and a DeSean Jackson touchdown pass.

Cal's defense allowed 144 yards rushing and a 4th and short touchdown run in the 3rd quarter that gave Arizona State a lead it would not surrender.

Longshore limped at times, appearing to be nursing the ankle injury he suffered at Oregon[31] Cal's offense was shut out in the second half and Arizona State won 31–20, causing California to fall out of the top 25.

Washington State drove down the field in the game final minutes and scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion, but California recovered the onside kick and escaped with a win.

Played in the Memorial Stadium in Berkeley under intense rain, the Golden Bears donned throwback uniforms honoring 1975 All-American Cal quarterback Joe Roth.

Defensive Captain Free Safety Thomas DeCoud made a mistake in the coin toss that gave Washington the ball to start at both halves.

Nate Longshore started, but was ineffective, hampered by the absence of DeSean Jackson and Robert Jordan, who with Thomas DeCoud sat out the first quarter for violating unspecified team rules.

The Falcons were limited to a pair of field goals, while Robert Jordan caught a touchdown pass from Riley and Justin Forsett ran in for another score.

Air Force was limited to field goals until they capitalized on a botched kickoff return to score a touchdown with over two minutes left, but failed to recover an onside kick.

Riley's performance in the Oregon State and Armed Forces Bowl have left an open debate about who will be Cal's quarterback next year.

[42] Center Alex Mack, the Pac-10's top offensive lineman elected to return for his senior year, which would also allow him to complete his degree.