Austin saved the Bears by punching the ball out of the grasp of a Tar Heels receiver who was about to score a late, go-ahead TD. Austin then recovered the fumble in the end zone.

The North Carolina Tar Heels and Cal Golden Bears meet Friday at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California.

And at times, UNC was unable to stop California on third down as it allowed six conversions, compared to its five. Head coach Justin Wilcox's team had 294 total yards, 214 passing yards, 80 rushing (on 31 attempts) and two rushing touchdowns.

The North Carolina Tar Heels are playing the California Golden Bears in a Week 8 college football game. Follow live updates.

It was a chance the Bears — led by now-Indiana quarterback and Heisman frontrunner Fernando Mendoza — failed to take last season when ESPN’s College Gameday came to town for the game against Miami; a game the Bears were controlling, up 20, until it all unraveled in the fourth quarter.

College Football News, a respected site published by Pete Fiutak, this week predicted the wins and losses of every ACC team over the second half of the season,

Bill Belichick's tenure at North Carolina has been challenging, with the team still seeking its first victory against a power opponent.

UNC football showed progress at Cal, but the Tar Heels were hindered by a trio of hiccups, including a bizarre play in the fourth quarter.

Jayden Crowder, a 3-star cornerback from Rancho Santa Margarita, California, has flipped his commitment from Cal to USC.