The California football team got off to a fast start in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl on Saturday night but couldn't sustain the momentum in a 34-14 loss to Texas Tech at Independence Stadium.

The Golden Bears, who finished the season with a 6-7 overall record, recovered a Red Raiders fumble on the game's opening kickoff and scored on their first play from scrimmage when quarterback Fernando Mendoza found wide receiver Monroe Young for a 25-yard touchdown play. Cal then forced a punt on Texas Tech's first possession and drove from its own 14-yard line to the Red Raiders' 4 before turning it over on downs.

Texas Tech tied it at 7-7 but the Bears answered immediately, needing only four plays to take a 14-7 lead after Jaydn Ott's 1-yard scoring run. Wide receiver Trond Grizzell set up the score with a 51-yard catch.

"I love the guys on the team. We have really good people on the team," Travers Family Head Football Coach Justin Wilcox said. "We need to demand more of ourselves. The players need to demand more of themselves. If this doesn't build a fire for your offseason workout program, you're probably in the wrong sport ort he wrong place."

Young set career-highs with seven catches and 81 yards. Grizzell added a team-high 83 yards receiving.

Ott had 42 yards rushing to finish with 1,302 on the season - the ninth-highest all-time at Cal.

"There's obvious disappointment. The game didn't go how we wanted it to go," freshman linebacker Cade Uluave said. "We have to play better. At the same time, I'm grateful. I'm blessed to be part of this team. We need to improve, and we do that in the offseason."

The loss snapped the Bears' three-game winning streak that closed the regular season and made them bowl-eligible for the first time since 2019.