Pac-12 football: Colorado kicks field goal as time expires to beat Stanford; Cal holds off Washington State

Freshman kicker Evan Price made a 37-yard field goal with no time remaining as Colorado beat Stanford 16-13 on Saturday to snap a five-game skid and keep its flickering bowl hopes afloat.

Price was promoted this week with James Stefanou dealing with an injury. Price was instantly mobbed by teammates, falling to the ground and losing his helmet. It was Colorado’s first game-winning field goal as time expired since Sept. 29, 2007, against Oklahoma.

The Buffaloes (4-6, 2-5 Pac-12) need to win their final two games to become bowl eligible.

Stanford (4-5, 3-4) must win two of its final three contests to extend its bowl streak to 11 straight seasons.

Both teams have already been eliminated from Pac-12 title considerations.

California 33, Washington State 20

Devon Modster passed for a career-high three touchdowns and rushed for a fourth in his first game back from injury, California’s defense made a pivotal stop late in the fourth quarter, and the Golden Bears beat the Cougars 33-20 on Saturday night to end a four-game losing streak.

Chris Brown Jr. rushed for 95 yards and scored twice to help California (5-4, 2-4 Pac-12) win for the first time since Sept. 21. The Bears outgained the Cougars 196-16 on the ground.

The win keeps California on track to become bowl eligible for the third time in three seasons under coach Justin Wilcox.

Washington State quarterback Anthony Gordon was 45 of 58 for 407 yards passing and threw two touchdown passes and one interception. Gordon, who entered the day leading the nation in passing yards and attempts, completed 19 consecutive throws during one stretch to help make up for a rocky start when his first throw of the night was picked off.

Modster did not play in Cal’s 35-0 loss to No. 8 Utah on Oct. 26 but was cleared earlier this week. He completed 16 of 24 passes for 230 yards and had a pivotal 26-yard scramble prior to his 52-yard touchdown pass to Makai Polk. Modster also had scoring throws of 9 and 13 yards, then sealed the game with a 13-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Washington State (4-5, 1-5) never led and lost for the fifth time in six games.