Conference Pacific-10 Conference AP No. 25 | Coaches No. 25 2005 record 8–4 (4–4 Pac-10) | |
Head coach Jeff Tedford (4th year) Offensive coordinator George Cortez (4th year) | ||
The 2005 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season. They played their home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California and were coached by Jeff Tedford.
Despite losing Nate Longshore in the season opener for the remainder of the year, the Bears got off to their best start, at 5–0, since Steve Mariucci coached them in 1996. But the Bears stumbled and four of their next five games. The team ended up in the 2005 Las Vegas Bowl, where they beat BYU, 35–28.
USC
Cal then hosted the #1-ranked USC Trojans, led by head coach Pete Carroll and an offense including Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart and running back Reggie Bush. The Trojans scored first after Ayoob's first of four interceptions in the game, on a LenDale White rush. Ayoob recovered after the interception, and led the Bears to a field goal to cut their deficit to four at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Leinart rushed for a pair of touchdowns to give the Trojans a 21–3 lead at half-time. After a pair of White rushing touchdowns, the Bears scored again on a Chris Manderino rush that ended scoring in the game, with the Trojans winning 35–10. With the win, the Trojans clinched at least a share of the Pac-10 title.