Regardless of whether it’s his final game as Cal’s quarterback, Jared Goff can rest easy knowing he has the Bears back on the winning track. A lifelong Cal fan, Goff led his team to its first bowl game since 2011 and its first bowl win since 2009 with a 55-36 Armed Forces Bowl win over Air Force.
Jared Goff adds a 6-touchdown bowl hammering of Air Force to his NFL Draft resume
Goff fell one touchdown short of tying the record for most passing touchdowns in a bowl game, and broke multiple records in the process.
Tom Pennington/Getty Images
He can also rest easy knowing that he put his best foot forward for NFL scouts. He was already second in SB Nation’s latest mock draft, and he has the potential to be the No. 1 pick after a great final performance that reminded everyone why he’s so highly regarded.
A junior, Goff is expected to leave Cal after this season for the NFL Draft, and he's a consensus first-round pick. He came to Cal with a lot of promise, as a four-star recruit and the 15th-ranked pro style quarterback in the 247Sports composite ratings. His physical tools were obvious from the beginning, as well. He stands 6-foot-4, and he's comfortable in the pocket, making him a dream for NFL teams.
The stats were just as impressive. He began his career as a raw true freshman, showing off his arm strength with 450 yards on 64 passes in his first ever game, a 44-30 loss to Northwestern, and improved every year.
| Year | Completion percentage | Yards per attempt | Rating | TD/INT |
| 2013 | 60.1 | 6.6 | 122.95 | 18/10 |
| 2014 | 62.1 | 7.8 | 147.59 | 35/7 |
| 2015 (regular season) | 64.2 | 8.6 | 156.36 | 37/13 |
First team All-Mountain West Air Force DB Weston Steelhammer was ejected for targeting early in the game, and Goff took full advantage. With six touchdowns in the bowl game, Goff broke former Oregon and current Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota’s Pac-12 record with 43 passing touchdowns on the season. He also broke the Pac-12 record for single season passing yards (previously held by Sean Mannion) and Cal’s record for passing yards in a bowl game (breaking Aaron Rodgers’ mark).
Goff completed 25 of 37 passes for 467 yards and six touchdowns without any interceptions in the game. He fell one touchdown short of tying the record for most passing touchdowns in a bowl game.
But Goff’s real draw to NFL teams goes beyond those gaudy numbers. He throws some beautiful passes, and he threw plenty of them against the Falcons. As scouts like to say, they’re NFL throws. This was just one of his touchdown passes:
Because Cal was rebuilding when he got there, Goff was never able to play in big games or on elite stages. But the Armed Forces Bowl is a step up from where Cal was before he got there, and it was a great forum for him to make some money if it’s the last time he suits up in college football.
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