Washington State Football: Cougs spurn Cal on last-minute touchdown

2. The Cal defense is severely underrated

As good as Minshew has been this season, the Cal defense better. After a 3-0 start, Pac-12 play caught them by surprise. Once they settled down, though, the Golden Bears defense has been one of the best in the conference.

They held Oregon State to seven points, No. 15 Washington to 10 points and allowed ### points to Washington State. Those previous two weren’t the top offenses in the conference by any stretch, but they more than proved their potency by silencing a Wazzu passing attack that had dropped points in the bunches against nearly everyone else.

Cal held Washington State to 4-of-`1 on third down. They forced a fumble and intercepted Minshew once. They didn’t fill up the stat sheet with sacks or pass break ups, but they found a way to make life difficult for Washington State on offense. They don’t have the big names or a national brand emblazed on their chest, but week after week this defense finds a way to get the job done.