There were plenty of close college football games that came down to the wire on Saturday afternoon, including the Tennessee Volunteers’ stunning win over the Alabama Crimson Tide. But there might not have been a finish any more dramatic or thrilling than the Colorado Buffaloes‘ victory over the California Golden Bears, or Cal wide receiver Mason Starling’s near touchdown catch.
With just a few seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Cal found itself with the ball in the red zone while trailing Colorado by a score of 20-13. A touchdown and an extra point would have tied the ballgame and potentially sent it to overtime. And the Golden Bears were very close to pulling it off.
On the final play of the game, Cal quarterback Jack Plummer scrambled to the right and saw Starling wide open in the middle of the end zone. Plummer threw the ball off of his back foot and threw a pass right on target to Starling for what appeared to be the potential game-tying touchdown. But unfortunately for Cal, the ball floated just a little bit, allowing the defender just enough time to hit Starling and knock the pass loose for an incompletion.
Final: Colorado 20, Cal 13
This… pic.twitter.com/Cyc8TbFVun
— John Canzano (@johncanzanobft) October 15, 2022
It was a heartbreaking moment for Starling, Plummer and the entire Cal team, and the college football world had plenty to say about it on Twitter.
oh my god! https://t.co/LiFyt3t1fT
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) October 15, 2022
Cal not like this https://t.co/koILx3wteb
— The Solid Verbal College Football Podcast (@SolidVerbal) October 15, 2022
Helmet sticker & Skull & Crossbars sticker too! Great play. https://t.co/ntUOvGBaaH
— John Harris (@jharrisfootball) October 15, 2022
BRUUUUUHHHHHH…. That’s terribad https://t.co/2kUYBTT04J
— 'Nata Edwards (@NataTheScribe) October 15, 2022
Man, this is BRUTAL https://t.co/AOSgKF8Ajk
— Jake Winderman (@jakewinderman) October 15, 2022
Good job, good effort, Cal… 😬😬😬 https://t.co/L2Ie7yZpyP
— Jake Hatch (Yawk) jakehatch.bsky.social (@JacobCHatch) October 15, 2022
As a result of the play, the Buffaloes won the game 20-13, notching their first win of the 2022 college football season.
