10. Jared Goff humbled by Utah’s stellar defense
Heading into the game, everyone wanted to see if Goff could keep up his phenomenal play against a top team, which he hadn’t had the opportunity to prove yet this year. Ultimately, he fell short in a humbling way with the worst performance of his 2015 campaign against the mighty No. 5-ranked Utah Utes.
Goff’s five interceptions sunk any chance Cal (No. 23) had of pulling off the upset, but he sure made things interesting in the end. The Bears had a shot to win the game with a touchdown and extra point, but they couldn’t quite finish the deal in the waning moments.
That Cal had a chance at all after Goff’s five-turnover performance is a testament to his character. He never quit, which is a trait that will serve him well not only the rest of the way in 2015 but also beyond as he transitions into the NFL.
On the other side, Utah quarterback Travis Wilson got off to a cold start and threw a couple of interceptions of his own in the first half before bouncing back the rest of the way. Running back Devontae Booker was outstanding, rushing for 222 yards and two touchdowns. And we’ve already covered the team’s smothering defensive performance.
Utah once again proved that a compete team effort is worth more than individual glory during win No. 5 on the season. It will be interesting to see if the Utes can gain any traction in the polls heading into Week 7, being just outside the top four.