California Golden Bears 2026 Preview
California are 0-1 in 2026. They went 7-6 (4-4 in the ACC). Here is what changed on the roster, the full 2026 schedule, and where they rank going into the season.
What changed for California in 2026
- New head coach in Tosh Lupoi (Oregon Defensive Coordinator)
- New offensive coordinator in Jordan Somerville (Tampa Bay Buccaneers Assistant QB Coach) and new defensive coordinator in Michael Hutchings (Minnesota Vikings Safeties Coach)
- Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele returns at QB after a freshman season of 3,454 yards, 18 TDs, and 9 INTs.
- Starting RB from last season is gone. Washington RB Adam Mohammed is expected to start (523 yards, 5 TDs)
- Top three players in terms of receiving yards are gone. All three projected starting WRs are transfers in Rutgers transfer Ian Strong (762 yards, 5 TDs), Ohio WR Chase Hendricks (1,037 yards, 7 TDs) and Oregon transfer Cooper Perry (25 yards, 0 TDs)
- Returning two starting offensive lineman with two transfers expected to start
- Returning three starters on defense, and five transfers are expected to start
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Fact checking by Brady Kommes; cover art by Pace Maier.
California Golden Bears 2026 schedule
| Game | Opponent | Site | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UCLA | Home | L 24-45 |
| 2 | Syracuse | Away | — |
| 3 | Wagner | Home | — |
| 4 | Clemson | Home | — |
| 5 | UNLV | Away | — |
| 6 | Virginia Tech | Home | — |
| 7 | Wake Forest | Home | — |
| 8 | SMU | Away | — |
| 9 | NC State | Away | — |
| 10 | Virginia | Away | — |
| 11 | Syracuse | Home | — |
| 12 | Pittsburgh | Home | — |
Get the printable California Golden Bears 2026 schedule with kickoff times and TV, sized for one page.
More ACC previews
Boston College Eagles
Clemson Tigers
Duke Blue Devils
Florida State Seminoles
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Louisville Cardinals
Miami (FL) Hurricanes
NC State Wolfpack
North Carolina Tar Heels
Pittsburgh Panthers
SMU Mustangs
Stanford Cardinal
Syracuse Orange
Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia Tech Hokies
Wake Forest Demon DeaconsRelated reading
California Golden Bears betting FAQ
California Golden Bears play 12 games in 2026, 7 at home. They open against UCLA. The full schedule is listed on this page.
California is outside Kyle Kommes's preseason Top 25 for 2026.
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