California starting QB 2024: Who will start for Justin Wilcox’s team this week?

The California Golden Bears' difficult 2024 season has culminated in a Bowl Game. They face the UNLV Rebels in this year's Art of Sport Bowl at SoFi Stadium.

Let's look at the Golden Bears' projected starting quarterback and potential depth chart ahead of the game.

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California Golden Bears' starting QB against UNLV this week?

Chandler Rogers started the Golden Bears' most recent game. Barring any late coaching decision, Rodgers will likely start the Bowl Game against UNLV.

Rodgers joined the Golden Bears via the transfer portal before the 2024 college football season. Before joining the Bears, he had started for the Blinn Buccaneers, Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks and North Texas Mean Green. His experience could prove crucial as the Golden Bears attempt to beat a much-favored UNLV team.

Rodgers is one of the modern collegiate quarterbacks who has embraced the transfer portal. He will have the chance to potentially end his collegiate football career with a surprise win over an opponent that was close to qualifying for the expanded collegiate football playoffs.

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California Golden Bears' QB depth chart

The next player on the Golden Bears depth chart is C. J. Harris, who's in his fifth year of college football, having spent four seasons with the Ohio Bobcats.

As a career backup, Harris has been featured in just 10 games at the collegiate level but is yet to play for the California Golden Bears since transferring to the program ahead of the 2024 season. He wouldn't have been a factor to feature in the Bowl Game if not for the absence of Fernando Mendoza.

Fernando Mendoza started the first 11 games of the 2024 college football season and guided the Golden Bears to Bowl Game eligibility. However, he missed the SMU game due to illness. He subsequently announced his decision to enter the transfer portal at the end of the regular season.

Hence, Mendoza likely has played his last game for the Golden Bears. The program will now search for a quarterback who can mirror Mendoza's impressive productivity this season.