Cal Football: 10 Best Bowl Game Victories in School History

Despite being a prominent football name across the nation that has produced many superstars such as Aaron Rodgers, DeSean Jackson and Marshawn Lynch, the California Golden Bears haven't always been such a big name.

Before Jeff Tedford came to Berkeley, Cal only had three coaches with records above .500 since Stub Allison left in 1944—but even he didn't have a winning record after 1938!

Despite all of that, however, Cal has been in its fair share of bowl games. Let's take a look at the best bowl game victories for the Golden Bears.

Following an undefeated (8-0) regular season in 1920, the Andy Smith-led Bears went on to the 1921 Rose Bowl.

The defense that held opponents to 14 points the entire season shut out the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl, 28-0. With that ninth victory, the Golden Bears won their first ever championship.

Behind head coach Stub Allison, the Golden Bears went 9-0-1 in the 1937 regular season and punched their ticket to the 1938 Rose Bowl to take on the University of Alabama.

Alabama had never lost at the Rose Bowl in its previous four games there but ran into a wrecking ball in Cal. Vic Bottari rushed for two touchdowns, and the Bears beat the Crimson Tide 13-0 en route to their fifth national championship.

Cal has not won the Rose Bowl since their 1938 victory.

Before 1990, the Bears hadn't been to a bowl game since losing to the Temple Owls in the 1979 Garden State Bowl.

After going 6-4-1, the head coach Bruce Snyder (pictured) and Cal got an invitation to the Cotton Bowl, now called the Insight Bowl, to face the Wyoming Cowboys.

Cal won the game 17-15 with a touchdown reception from wide receiver Brian Treggs, father of current Cal recruit, wide receiver Bryce Treggs.

In 1991, Bruce Snyder coached the team to its second consecutive bowl game. After starting the season 2-0, Cal broke into the Top 25 and stayed there, finishing at No. 7 with a 10-2 record.

On New Year's Day 1992, the No. 14 Bears took on the No. 13 Clemson Tigers in the Florida Citrus Bowl. In the game, the Bears dominated the Tigers and rang in the new year with a 37-13 victory.

The 1993 season proved to be a season of streaks for the Cal Bears.

After starting 5-0, the Bears then went 0-4 before turning the season around and ending on a four-game win streak.

That 9-4 record includes the Bears' 37-3 demolition of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Alamo Bowl. Quarterback Dave Barr threw for three touchdowns, and linebacker Jarret Willard returned an interception 61 yards for a touchdown before halftime.

Iowa only managed one field goal in the third quarter as the Cal defense was stout all game long. Sadly, it would be Cal's last bowl victory for 10 years. 

The 2003 football season was one of the best in recent Cal history. 

In Jeff Tedford's second year as head coach, he coached the team to a third-place finish in the Pac-10 with a record of 7-6—including a victory over the No.3 team in the nation, USC.

The Aaron Rodgers (pictured) and Adimchinobe Echemandu led Golden Bears entered the Insight Bowl against the Virginia Tech Hokies on a high, having won four of their final five with the offense clicking.

The game was a back-and-forth offensive battle with the Hokies taking a 21-7 lead after the first quarter. Going into halftime, Virginia Tech still held a lead, 28-21. In the second half, the Bears held the Hokies scoreless and took a 42-28 lead, thanks to Rodgers. 

In the fourth, Virginia Tech cornerback DeAngelo Hall returned a punt to tie the game at 49-49. Cal got the ball back with just minutes left and marched down the field to get a game-winning field goal as the clock expired—52-49, Cal.

Rodgers completed 25 of 37 passes for 394 yards and two touchdowns, showing just a glimpse of the skill that would eventually make him a Super Bowl MVP.

Just days before Christmas 2005, the California Golden Bears (8-4) were in the Las Vegas Bowl playing against the BYU Cougars.

BYU played well but in the end, it couldn't contend with Cal's superstar running back/wide receiver duo Marshawn Lynch (pictured) and DeSean Jackson, who combined for all five of Cal's touchdown. The Bears defense held up well on the last few drives by BYUm and Cal won 35-28.

The 2006 Holiday Bowl was one of Cal's best bowl victories ever. 

Cal (10-3) won a share of the Pac-10 title and headed to its second Holiday Bowl in three years to take on the Texas A&M Aggies.

In the game, Marshawn Lynch rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns to go along with Justin Forsett's 125 yards and one touchdown on the ground. Nate Longshore threw for 231 yards and had a touchdown in the air and on the ground. 

Lynch and Longshore were named Co-Offensive MVPs while Cal linebacker Desmond Bishop led the defense and was named the Defensive MVP in Cal's 45-10 victory.

2007 was a rough year for the 7-6 Golden Bears. After starting the season at No. 12, they climbed all the way up to No. 2 in the nation behind quarterback Nate Longshore, wide receiver DeSean Jackson and running back Justin Forsett.

However, it all changed when Nate Longshore couldn't play against the Oregon State Beavers, and backup Kevin Riley (pictured) had to play. Riley played well, but with Cal down by three, he blew the final play of the game and tried to rush for a touchdown as the clock expired. Cal dropped from No. 2 to No. 10 and has never been the same. 

Needless to say, the drop in ranking meant a drop in bowl game prestige. 

Cal faced Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl and took down the Falcons 42-36 thanks to the outstanding play of Kevin Riley (269 yards passing and three touchdowns) and Justin Forsett (140 yards rushing and two touchdowns).

Cal finished 2008 with a record of 9-4 thanks to its three-game win streak to end the season, the final win coming in the Emerald Bowl over the Miami Hurricanes, 24-17.

Quarterback Nate Longshore regained his role as starter for his final game with Cal, and he played good enough to win—completing 47.6 percent of his passes and throwing for a touchdown.

The Bears were led by star running back Jahvid Best (pictured) who rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns, pacing Cal to victory. Zach Follett sacked Jacory Harris twice and took home Defensive MVP honors.

The Golden Bears will take on the Texas Longhorns on Dec. 28 in the Holiday Bowl.