California Golden Bears is 0-0 on the season, 0-0 against the spread, and holds a power rating of +0.6. California Golden Bears enters the season with a power rating of +0.6, placing them above average relative to the FBS midpoint. The California Golden Bears host UCLA next in Week 1. In 2025, California Golden Bears went 7-5 overall, 5-7 against the spread, and 4-8 on totals.
In Week 0 of 2026 the California Golden Bears Power Rating of +0.6 is 0.4 points above the FBS average according to Blue Chip Analytics. California Golden Bears have logged 0 miles of travel so far, out of a season total of 18,142 miles, ranking 6th heaviest in the FBS.
| Week | Opponent | Distance | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | — | Bye | |
| Week 1 | UCLA | Home | 0 mi |
| Week 2 | Syracuse | 2,426 mi | 4,851 mi |
| Week 3 | Wagner | Home | 4,851 mi |
| Week 4 | Clemson | Home | 4,851 mi |
| Week 5 | UNLV | 410 mi | 5,671 mi |
| Week 6 | Virginia Tech | Home | 5,671 mi |
| Week 7 | Wake Forest | Home | 5,671 mi |
| Week 8 | SMU | 1,475 mi | 8,620 mi |
| Week 9 | NC State | 2,395 mi | 13,410 mi |
| Week 10 | — | Bye | |
| Week 11 | Virginia | 2,366 mi | 18,142 mi |
| Week 12 | Stanford | Home | 18,142 mi |
| Week 13 | Pittsburgh | Home | 18,142 mi |
| Week 14 | — | Bye | |
| Week 15 | — | Bye | |
| Week 16 | — | Bye | |
First-year head coach Tosh Lupoi has quickly reshaped the roster, most notably convincing star quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele to return. The Bears are building around JKS with a revamped receiving corps featuring Chase Hendricks (second-team All-MAC), Ian Strong, and tight end Dorian Thomas (first-team All-Mountain West). The offensive line has been supplemented with transfers like Jimothy Lewis Jr. and Kahlee Tafai, but protection remains a key question.
Cal has assembled one of the ACC's deeper tight end rooms with Mason Mini, Rico Walker, and Dorian Thomas, while adding proven wideouts. If the offensive line can give Sagapolutele time, the Bears could field one of the conference's better passing attacks. The running back room, headlined by Washington transfer Adam Mohammed, adds balance.
Lupoi and his staff are transforming the defense, adding length up front with transfers like Jericho Johnson (Oregon) and edge rushers Solomon Williams and Emmanuel Okoye. However, the linebacker corps lost All-ACC selection Cade Uluave and ACC Defensive Freshman of the Year Luke Ferrelli, leaving Aaron Hampton and Jayden Wayne to anchor a unit that must fill gaps.
Cal's secondary has been dramatically upgraded with 6-foot-3 cornerbacks Ricky Fletcher (Ole Miss) and Daniel Harris (Georgia), plus returning nickel Cam Sidney. This new-look group aims to improve on last year's back-end performance and could be a strength as the season progresses.
Kicker Chase Meyer returns after a solid 10-of-13 season, and punter Angus Davies arrives from Tulsa. The Bears must replace Jacob De Jesus on returns, with Chase Hendricks and others expected to step up. Special teams coordinator Zach Tinker will look to maintain consistency in the kicking game.
California Golden Bears is 0-0 against the spread in the 2026 season.
California Golden Bears holds a Blue Chip Analytics power rating of +0.6, representing their expected point margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field.
California Golden Bears's home field advantage rating is 2.6 points, the venue adjustment Blue Chip Analytics applies for games at their home stadium.
California Golden Bears travels 18,142 miles in the 2026 season, ranking 6th heaviest in the FBS.
Cumulative travel distance counts both the outbound and return journey for every away game. For example, if a team travels 374 miles to play an away game, Blue Chip Analytics counts 748 miles (374 miles there, 374 miles back) toward the cumulative total. Home games and bye weeks add zero miles. The per-week Distance column shows the one-way distance only, as the return trip happens after the game is played.
California Golden Bears: 0-0 overall, 0-0 ATS, power rating +0.6.
