Cal had a mediocre season last year but had a few bright spots, none bigger than their win over SMU in the final week of the regular season. Cal made big offseason moves as Tosh Lupoi takes over head coaching duties, coming over from defensive coordinator at Oregon. QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele returns as the projected starter. The Golden Bears will have a new running back room with Adam Mohammed coming over from Washington, Ashten Emory from UTEP, and Carter Vargas from UC Davis. It will be a tough ask for them to fill the shoes of Kendrick Raphael. The Cal receiving group lost their top two pass catchers, Jacob De Jesus and Trond Grizzell, but return 4 of their top 8 catchers from a season ago and are excited to see Rutgers transfer Ian Strong in action. The interior of the offensive line returns from a year ago, and they have high hopes for tackles Jacob Arop and Jimothy Lewis. The young 29-year-old offensive coordinator Jordan Somerville faces the challenge of installing a new scheme.

Another fresh face will run the defense in 30-year-old Michael Hutchings, who has significant work ahead as the top 5 tacklers from a year ago have departed, and just 3 of the top 11 tacklers remain on the roster from the 2025 team. The Golden Bears brought in a few transfers, including Daniel Harris from Georgia, but none with significant experience. We will know if the potential is there in the first few weeks.

Special teams coach Zach Tinker is happy to have a big-legged punter in Angus Davies from Tulsa. Washington transfer Adam Mohammed has a lot of experience at returning kicks and could be a big asset if he can keep up the same 26.3 average he had last season. With extensive roster and staff turnover on both sides of the ball, 2026 shapes up as a transition year for the Golden Bears.