The best QB of the first half came from Miami but plays for the Cal Bears.

Fernando Mendoza looked like a Heisman candidate in the first half. Cam Ward was just a pedestrian. The Canes trailed 21-10 at halftime. They have to find a way to get the vertical passing game going or it's going to be a long flight back to Miami.

Mendoza, a graduate of Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, the same school Miami coach Mario Cristobal attended, tore apart the Miami defense with the long ball. He led three touchdown drives in the first half. They all contained a great drama.

Ward couldn't get much going in the first half. Instead of looking like a Heisman candidate, he looked like a rookie making bad decisions. He threw the ball off his back foot, causing the ball to sail over the sideline. His timing was off on most of his throws.

It didn't help Ward's cause when Isaiah Horton dropped a touchdown pass on a long ball. Horton had both hands on the ball and didn't make the reception.

The offensive line has already given up four sacks to a Cal defense, which was spectacular. Everything Shannon Dawson calls has been answered by Cal.

To say Miami needs to regroup at halftime is an understatement.

After halftime, the Bears get the ball first. Miami needs a stop.

Miami began the second quarter trailing 14-7.

On their first drive of the second quarter, the Canes drove to the Cal 28-yard line. On 4th and 12, Miami elected to kick the field goal. Andy Borregales converted the 46-yard shot and Miami cut the lead to 14-10.

Miami needs to stop relying on Borregales' field goals and find the end zone. Miami constantly leaves points on the field.

The field goal would hurt several plays later.

The Bears struck again when Mendoza threw a pass in the flat to Jaydn Ott, who raced 66 yards for a Cal touchdown with 8:00 left in the half. The play took place on 4th-and-1 from Cal's 34-yard line. Miami is 21-10.

Miami had eight players in the box to stop the run, and Mendoza went to the front and found Ott, who had nothing but green grass in front of him. He was wide open and no one was there to make a tackle before he reached the end zone.

Miami really misses Damari Brown and Darryl Porter, Jr. at the cornerback slot.