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.

Cal plays its final home game of the season on Saturday when its hosts Stanford in the 127th Big Game. Cal needs to win one of its two final games to become bow

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.