California and Stanford 2026 College Football Previews

California Golden Bears

General Outlook

In a weird way, everything’s different at Cal, but still pretty much the same.

The Golden Bears parted ways with Justin Wilcox and brought in former Cal defensive line coach and UCB defensive lineman Tosh Lupoi to lead the squad.

The Bears are one of the more intriguing teams nationally this year; they have the potential to win the conference, but could also “Cal it up.” Again.

Everyone is excited about the return of quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, and rightfully so, but the key to the Bears’ season is improving their rushing attack and defense.

The schedule also lines up favorably for the men from Berkeley, as they miss games against Miami, Louisville, and Florida State.

Offense

The jump that Cal takes this year will likely be predicated on the flow of their offense.

When Sagapolutele shined last year, the Bears were a tough out. But there are a few things to consider in Offensive Coordinator Jordan Somerville’s system.

Somerville emphasizes playing with ill intent and an explosive mentality—and that feels like what Cal’s been missing. It’s his first job as a coordinator, and he may lean on Assistant Head Coach Nick Rolovich for guidance.

The Golden Bears also brought in a slew of transfer wideouts, most notably Ian Strong. Another get in the portal is halfback Adam Mohammed, who should instantly spark a rushing attack that was one of the worst in the nation in 2025.

UCB is also breaking in two transfer tackles, which could hurt Sagapolutele’s mobility. Other key playmakers include tight end Dorian Thomas and wideout Chase Hendricks.

Defense

Cal’s defense should improve this year. The Bears ranked 82nd in the country in points allowed per game last season, which felt off for a Wilcox-led team.

The defensive foundation laid by Wilcox, infused with Lupoi’s spirit, feels like an Arnold Palmer mix.

However, the Bears also have to replace their top six tacklers, including linebackers Cade Uluave and Luke Ferrelli. The backers will likely take a step back, but the secondary bolstered their unit through the portal.

Cornerbacks Daniel Harris and Ricky Fletcher are coming in from the SEC, and they could prove to be impact players from the start. Safety Kingston Lopa is also a notable transfer from Oregon.

Even if things go wrong, the linebackers and secondary should be able to hold their own. But if the pass rush doesn’t get better, neither will the team. They ranked near the bottom of the nation in both sacks and TFL’s in 2025.

• Best Case Scenario: 10-2
• Worst Case Scenario: 5-7
• Key Player: Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele

Stanford Cardinal

General Outlook

Stanford is in a transitional state, but there’s new life in the program with the hiring of Tavita Pritchard. General Manager Andrew Luck and Pritchard are hoping to restore a program that feels like it’s lost some oomph.

If the Cardinal could finish 6-6, it’d provide vital confidence for the program moving ahead; they hadn’t won more than four games in a season since the pandemic.

At the minimum, they need to generate some buzz on offense. The Tree finished 122nd in points scored per game last season.

They brought in enough pieces that this unit should get better, but they’ll probably still be one of the weaker units in the ACC.

Offense

If Stanford can find an electric wideout, this offense could prove better than expected. Quarterback Davis Warren transferred in from Michigan, and he has plenty of experience leading a high-level program.

Warren’s stats are pedestrian, but he’s already attempted over 200 passes at the collegiate level. If he can limit turnovers, he could be a stud on The Farm.

Complementing him is Micah Ford at halfback. Ford, a solid playmaker and probably the best returner the Cardinal have on offense, rushed for 643 yards and four touchdowns a year ago. If the Tree had a better resume, he’d likely get some national attention.

Stanford also returns two offensive linemen at key positions in Niki Prongos and Fisher Anderson. This center/left tackle combination should protect the middle, and on Warren’s blindside.

Nico Brown will likely catch a ton of passes, but he lacks elite speed.

Defense

Stanford had the worst pass defense in the nation a year ago. They need to fix this unit, and they have some of the weapons needed to do so.

The Cardinal return Brandon Nicholson at cornerback, who led the squad with two interceptions, and Jay Green is an undervalued player. This duo should keep the secondary formidable, but a third player on the back end needs to step up.

If the secondary can hold their own, it will free up linebacker Matt Rose, a clutch in the middle, who finished with 106 tackles, eight sacks, and three TFL’s last year. He’s the best player on their roster this season.

The team would also benefit from more consistent pressure on the quarterback. They were okay in 2025, but edge Tevarua Tafiti will have to channel his inner David Bailey.

Due to the unknowns on offense, guys like Rose and Nicholson should take a few extra chances.

• Best Case Scenario: 7-5
• Worst Case Scenario: 1-10
• Key Player: Micah Ford