With a fourth straight Big Game loss, the Stanford football program is at a crossroads. With the exception of junior cornerback Collin Wright, the entire secondary was manned by freshman after senior safety Mitch Leigber left the game.

Mendoza triggered a four-play, 82-yard scoring drive with a 50-yard scramble to the Stanford 32 and a penalty against the Cardinal advanced the ball to the 22. His run was the longest by a Cal quarterback in at least 25 years, according to Cal athletics.

Fernando Mendoza threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns, Jonathan Brady had two touchdown catches and the go-ahead score and California rallied to beat Stanford 24-21 in the first Big Game as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.