Sophie Goethals

It’s not that the train ride provided me with the answers to some of life’s biggest questions, but I do believe that it lessened the burden of those questions. Sitting on a train for days and being forced to become comfortable with just watching the movement of the world outside calmed me down.

Recognizing the idiocy of the saga, the two schools decided to award the Axe yearly to the winner of the Big Game, and it’s the last thing the two football programs have truly agreed upon.

This wasn’t just a win — it was also a win that came after Cal faced a 14-point halftime deficit, following arguably one of the Bears’ worst halves of football this year. It’s proof of the grit that resides within this Cal team.

After trading possessions, the pivotal play came with 2 minutes, 10 seconds on the clock. It was fourth-and-1 on the USC 33-yard line, and Chase Garbers gave the ball to Patrick Laird, who more than earned the necessary yard.

This weekend, among the Pac-12 mush, USC (5-4, 4-3) is eager to break free of its proverbial pack, and Cal (5-4, 2-4) will be seeking to ascend its own ranks.

In their win against the Huskies, the Bears proved they have an offense that can move the chains. Now all they’ve got to do is channel some of Petersen’s brazen play-calling and inject themselves with some fourth-down swagger.

On his first drive back, Jake Browning led the Huskies to beyond midfield before being forced to punt the ball away by a downright methodically frenetic Cal defense.

Though his collegiate football career began with an injury, it has by no means been defined by one. In fact, that experience has taught him a lot about himself and the game — he probably wouldn’t be the Jaylinn Hawkins he is today without it.

If the win against Oregon State has truly pushed Cal back on the right path, this game against Washington will be the main determinant.