For a brief moment during Saturday’s game against undefeated Miami, Memorial Stadium felt like “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
Chander Rogers, who transferred to Cal from North Texas last spring to compete for the starting quarterback position, lost that contest to returning starter Fernando Mendoza by the end of fall camp. However, when the Bears needed an offensive spark and wanted to keep the Hurricanes off balance, Rogers stepped in and delivered.
“It felt great to be back on the field, contributing to the team and trying to win,” Rogers shared. “I know I can bring value by expanding the playbook with different types of runs. I’m willing to do anything to help the team win.”
Rogers made an immediate impact, scoring a 9-yard touchdown on his first snap in the third quarter, increasing Cal’s lead to 35-10. He later completed a pass to Jaydn Ott for a first down, setting up a field goal that made it 38-18 early in the fourth quarter.
Though Cal ultimately lost 39-38, Rogers valued the opportunity to play after limited action in the first four games. “It was a confidence booster for me. It reassures me that I can still play at a high level,” he said. “Especially against a strong team like Miami.”
Offensive coordinator Mike Bloesch clarified that Rogers’ involvement wasn’t due to an injury to Mendoza. “Fernando was fine. It was a strategic decision. We wanted to incorporate Chandler because we knew running the ball would be tough,” Bloesch explained. “Chandler gives us versatility and did a great job moving the chains and scoring.”
Bloesch expressed confidence in both quarterbacks, acknowledging that Rogers brings different strengths. “I have a lot of confidence in both Fernando and Chandler. They’re both excellent players with unique skillsets,” he said. “When the run game struggles, sometimes you need to get creative, and that’s part of our game plan every week.”
Mendoza, for his part, welcomed the change. “It was great to see him score that touchdown. It adds another dimension to our offense. As long as we’re putting points on the board, I’m happy,” Mendoza said.
Rogers, who had a productive career at North Texas and Louisiana-Monroe, where he threw for nearly 7,100 yards, 53 touchdowns, and rushed for 900 yards and 10 more scores, knows the difficulty of being a backup in a position typically dominated by one player. “I’m a quarterback, and I can run the entire playbook,” Rogers emphasized. “My running ability adds a different element, making defenses cover the field horizontally.”
Despite recent losses by narrow margins, Rogers remains confident in the team’s potential. “We truly believe we can finish 10-2, compete for the conference title, and make the playoffs,” he said. “We know we’re close. As Coach Wilcox said, we can beat anyone, but we can also be beaten by anyone.”