Down 25, No. 8 Miami storms back to beat Cal

BERKELEY, Calif. — For the second week in a row, Miami avoided a near-certain loss to remain undefeated, this time rallying from a 25-point second-half deficit to beat California 39-38.

Miami quarterback Cam Ward had a great fourth quarter as the Hurricanes scored the game's final 21 points, connecting with Elijah Arroyo on a 5-yard, game-winning touchdown with 26 seconds left.

“Nobody played their best ball, so we can't put ourselves in that situation to come back,” Ward said. “It's two straight games we had to do that. We had to lock in. … It's good to get a win. We're not going to complain. Better an ugly win than a good loss.”

Ward led four straight touchdown drives to end the game and spoil the most memorable day of the year for the Golden Bears (3-2, 0-2 ACC), who hosted ESPN's “College GameDay” for the first time and were there last year. On the brink of their second win over a top-10 team in 21 seasons.

Instead, Ward made sure the rare sellout crowd at Memorial Stadium went home unhappy after overcoming a 35-10 deficit in the third quarter. It gave the Hurricanes (6-0, 2-0) a second straight dramatic victory that required a replay review to hold off Virginia Tech 38-34 last week.

Cal coach Justin Wilcox, when asked about his team's mood in the locker room, said, “It's as bad as you can imagine.”

“Football is a humbling game,” he said. “We had every opportunity to win that game, obviously. We just didn't. So, every individual has to own it. I think it's an important moment for the team. I hope that all the coaches, players, administrators, at this moment Everyone involved will be proud of how they responded in a month or two months or six months or even a year.”

With 1:50 left, ACC's crew reviewed a possible targeting hit on Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza that would have set up the Bears with a crucial first down, but Crew upheld the field decision, forcing the punt.

“I'm not going to talk about it,” Wilcox said. “You can write whatever you want.”

It was the second straight week the Hurricanes benefited from an executive decision that likely would have changed the outcome of the game. Last week against Virginia Tech, the officials overturned a Hail Mary touchdown that would have given the Hokies the victory.

According to ESPN Research, in the past 20 years, ACC teams are 1-401 when facing a 25-plus point deficit at any time, with NC State overcoming a 27-point deficit in 2011. It was Miami's biggest comeback since 1999 and the biggest this season in the FBS.

Ward struggled early, including throwing a pick-six that put Cal up 28-10 in the second quarter, but his faith never wavered.

“Just keep playing,” he said. “Can't come back from 25 trying to get it on one drive. So take it game by game, have faith and when you get the right guys on a team like we have, you can do some good things.”

Ward completed 35 of 53 passes for 437 yards with a pair of touchdowns. He also scored on a 24-yard run with 4:04 left that cut Cal's lead to 38-32.

“I've said it a million times,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “I've got a complete and total faith in that guy and everything he represents and stands for.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.