The Huskies won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.
Tristan Vizcaino's kickoff was returned to the 22, and Cal's offense took the field to start the game. Cal picked up a could of modest gains with a WR screen and a run, but was unable to convert on 3rd and 2 as UW's coverage held and the DL flushed Goff out of the pocket. A penalty on Cal was declined, and after a false start on Cal on 4th down, the Bears punted to Dante Pettis, who didn't do much on the return giving the Huskies the ball on their own 31.
Ben Riva did in fact start the game at right tackle. On the opening play of the drive Cyler Miles underthrew a wide open John Ross on what would have been a touchdown. A stuffed run and a 9 yard completion to Jaydon Mickens put UW's punt team on the field to give the ball back to Cal.
Jared Goff started Cal's possession with a 10 yard pass to Bryce Treggs, and Cal followed that with a 12 yard rush. Cal converted a 3rd and 6 by throwing into a soft zone of UW's coverage on the sideline, and another run went for a big chunk to move Cal to the UW 27 yard line. The next play was a thrown rope to the 2 yard line on some pretty questionable coverage by Kevin King. Cal followed that with an illegal formation to give them 1st and goal on the 7. Daniel Lasco ran the ball to inside the 1 yard line. Jared Goff foolishly tried to stretch the ball into the endzone on a keeper when it popped out of his hands into Shaq Thompson's lap. He took it 100 yards to the kitchen and the Huskies were up 7-0.
The Bears went right back to work though, moving the ball across midfield with a combination of runs and quick passes. A second down blitz forced Goff to throw short, and Timu quickly tackled the receiver forcing a 3rd and 4 which Cal could not convert. On 4th and 4 at the UW 42 Cal brought out the punt team. The Huskies caught a huge break with Pettis muffing the punt, only to have a Cal player boot the ball out of the end zone, giving the Dawgs the ball at the 20.
Cyler Miles started the drive off with a quick completion to Pettis, and then followed it with a bubble to Mickens for a first down. UW's first successful rush of the game was at the hands of Dwayne Washington for 7 yards, and on 3rd and 3 Miles converted on a boot out throw to Mickens underneath. The next set of downs was again a power run by Washington, and a screen to Mickens to again keep the chains going. After a poor screen to Mickens, an end around to Mickens, and a swing pass to Lavon Coleman UW faced a 4th and 3. The Huskies ran a power QB keeper with Miles which came up inches short.
Cal, being the good sports that they are, gave the Huskies the ball anyway on a fumble, recovered by Danny Shelton.
UW immediately went over the top as Miles connected with Joshua Perkins for 25 yards on a corner route into the end zone to put the Huskies up 14-0.
Cal held on their return, and started at their own 16. After Hau'oli Kikaha destroyed Lasco on a run play, Goff was forced to scramble, and the Huskies strung out a rush Cal was in another 4th down situation as the quarter came to a close.