Three reasons why Cal football will be better than you think

Three reasons why the California Golden Bears football team will be better than you think in the 2026 season.

Firstly, the team will be led by head coach Tosh Lupoi for the first time. Lupoi, a former NFL defensive line coach, is making his head coaching debut at his alma mater, California. He brings a wealth of experience from his stints at Oregon, the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, and Jacksonville Jaguars. With a two-time national championship pedigree under his belt, Lupoi is a proven recruiter who brings an impressive list of transfers to the program, including key players who were part of the 2025 team that lost a close game to Hawai i.

Secondly, the team boasts a rising star quarterback in sophomore Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. Despite being only a sophomore, Sagapolutele has shown flashes of greatness, completing 316 of 492 passes for 3,454 yards, 18 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in the 2025 season. His performance was second-best among Cal freshman quarterbacks in terms of total completions, attempts, and passing yards in a season.

A strong coaching staff, including offensive coordinator Jordan Somerville and defensive coordinator Ike Hilliard, will help guide Sagapolutele to further success.

Finally, the transfer portal class coming into the 2026 season is one of the best in the nation. Lupoi's recruitment efforts have resulted in the addition of several high-profile transfers, including defensive stars and offensive weapons. These players, who were part of successful programs in the past, will provide a much-needed boost to the team's overall performance. If these three factors come together, the Golden Bears could surprise their opponents and deliver a memorable season.