With their arrival into the ACC, Cal football has a chance to instantly compete.
Welcome To the ACC
The California Golden Bears embark on a new journey heading into this upcoming season. With the aftermath of realignment this past year, Cal finds itself in the ACC. This will be an entirely new challenge for the Bears as they will now play opponents they are unfamiliar with. Sadly, this is the end of the Pac-12, but Bears fans should be excited to watch Cal compete against high-level football opponents. Let’s take a look at some of the expectations I have for Justin Wilcox’s squad.
Players to Watch
Long gone are the days of the Bears being a top team in college football. Aaron Rodgers and DeSean Jackson are not walking through that door anytime soon, but there’s hope. Entering his junior year, standout running back Jaydn Ott is already making waves amongst the media.
After an outstanding 2023 season, Ott was named a preseason fourth-team All-American and second-team All-ACC by Phil Steele. Ott has been sharing the load for the past few seasons but is expected to become the main focal point of the offense this season. The returning first-team All-Pac-12 running back should have an electric junior year.
The news of Jackson Sirmon’s season-ending injury last season shocked Cal football fans. Many wondered who would step up and fill the glaring hole the team’s leader left. Cade Uluave did just that.
The freshman standout entered the game against Oregon State and impressed coaches and fans instantly. Uluave, an inside linebacker, displayed his athleticism last season by making plays all over the field. His most noticeable play was a 51-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown against Washington State. The freshman ended the season earning high accolades as he was voted the Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year after he led all Pac-12 freshmen in tackles. The Golden Bears expect to lean heavily on Uluave to lead the defense as they prepare to face off against explosive ACC offenses this season.
Cade Uluave’s scoop and score is this week’s #TUMSworthy moment 🐻@TUMSOfficial pic.twitter.com/a8nczxh8fm
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) November 16, 2023
Coaching Matters
There’s no secret about it, Cal has struggled to be a competitive football team for years. The last time they were relevant, Jared Goff was throwing bombs to Bryce Treggs in shootouts every week. It can take years to turn a team around and head coach Justin Wilcox is starting to run out of time.
Wilcox, now entering his seventh season as head coach, needs to put wins on the board this season. Wilcox received a contract extension before the 2022 season keeping him at Cal till 2027 and earning him $28.5 million in total. His record as Cal’s head coach has been unimpressive, to say the least.
In seven seasons at Cal, his overall record is 36-43 while only playing in a total of three bowl games where he is 1-2 overall. It’s fair to say that the University needs to see a return on investment soon.
The good news for coach Wilcox? The team is one of the top schools in the country for returning starters. That’s great news in today’s world of college football with how crazy NIL and the transfer portal have become. Cal was also productive in the transfer portal as they brought in good players from outstanding programs. This will make coach Wilcox’s life much easier as the Bears head into the ACC.
Under his tenure, the team either plays good defense or offense, but hasn’t been able to put it all together at the same time. Coach Wilcox certainly has his hands full this season, but hopefully, the continuity and influx of talent on both sides of the ball will help him lead the team to more wins and a bowl game at the end of the season.
Cal Football Schedule & Projected Record
Let’s be honest, a lot of us are going to miss the Pac-12 and the memories it provided, I know I am. That being said, time goes on and this season is going to look very different than years past. There will be some familiar foes for the Golden Bears that they are accustomed to, but most are new faces.
The first two games will be at home against U.C. Davis and on the road against the Auburn Tigers. Those two teams couldn’t be more different in prestige. The Bears should be favorites against the Aggies and slight underdogs against the Tigers after the team lost a close game at home to them last season. San Diego State rolls into town Week 3 and I expect the Bears to handle them.
Week 4 will be much more challenging as they get their first taste of the ACC. This will be the first time Cal plays Florida State and this will certainly be an experience for fans watching the infamous “War Chant.” The next two games are no cupcakes either.
A physical Miami will be in town the following week, then the Bears will take a long flight to Pittsburgh. I like the Bears’ chances against Miami, especially if the game is at night, and they should keep it a tight game against Pitt. One of the tougher games on the schedule will be when NC State comes into Strawberry Canyon. The Wolfpack have been getting a lot of buzz as of late, and are expected to compete for the ACC title.
Cal will take on familiar foe Oregon State before they head into their bye week. After their much-needed break, the Bears should be favored in their next three games. Wake Forest, Syracuse, and Stanford are schools the Bears must beat if they want to get to a bowl game. For the final game of the season, the team will take on SMU. This game will more than likely be a major determining factor in the Bears’ bowl hopes.
My Prediction: 7-5 overall and a bowl game.
Conclusion
It’s exciting to be a California Golden Bears fan right now. I know we can’t get our hopes up too much because of all the pain we have been through the past years, but I feel confident about their first season in the ACC. It won’t be easy, but I have faith the team can easily string together wins and provide a foundation for future success. The 2024 season is all about one thing: winning games. Winning games is only going to keep the money rolling into the program for a school that desperately needs it. This fan base desperately needs it. I’m hopeful the Bears will have a winning season that will propel them into a fruitful future. Roll on you Bears.
Cody Henderson
I root for teams that only let me down. Talking all things Las Vegas Raiders and Cal Bears football. Follow me on X where I post my dramatic takes.