All it took was one bounce. The ball hit the turf, caromed off the right foot of Minnesota’s punt returner, and Cal pounced — on the ball, the game and perhaps its season. Three plays later, the Golden Bears were in the end zone to take control of what became a 27-14 victory Saturday night.

Last year, they would not have gotten the bounce.

Or they would not have converted the muff into a touchdown.

Or they would have scored the touchdown but relinquished the lead late in the game in some gut-wrenching fashion.

But it feels different this season, doesn’t it? It feels like there’s more opportunism to come, like the Golden Bears are capable of building on their undefeated start and barging through doors that did not exist a month ago.

Everything is in front of them after taking down Minn

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