After getting snubbed by the BCS and Mack Brown, the 10-1 California Golden Bears traveled to San Diego to face the Texas Tech Raiders.  The 4th ranked Golden Bears were looking to prove they were deserving of a BCS bid.

The Bears played well at first, finishing the first quarter with a 14–7 lead. However, the second and third quarters belonged to the Red Raiders, who outscored the Bears 31-3 in those periods, going on to score the biggest upset of the bowl season with a 45-31 win. Raiders QB Sonny Cumbie torched the Bears defense for 520 passing yards, going 40-for-60 with three TDs and no interceptions. The brightest spot for Cal was running back J.J. Arrington, who ran for 173 yards and a touchdown, making him only the third Pac-10 runner to reach 2,000 yards rushing in a season.