Cal vs. Virginia 2025 Preview: Can Golden Bears Upset Cavaliers in Week 10?

After an embarrassing loss last weekend against the Hokies, Cal is back home to take on the No. 15-ranked Virginia Cavaliers. Although it seems like this has been the stereotypical Justin Wilcox season (and in many ways, it is), Cal has a chance to get back in the win column against a ranked team. It’s the second-to-last home game of the year for Cal, and a win on Saturday will solidify the team’s chances of playing in a bowl game. The Bears take on the Cavaliers this Saturday at 12:45 pm PST, so let’s dive into this Cal vs. Virginia 2025 preview.

California Golden Bears vs. Virginia Cavaliers: Matchup History

For the first time ever, these two programs are playing one another. This will be the inaugural matchup between Cal and Virginia, two schools with a rich history and a strong sense of pride in their football programs. Much like with the rest of the ACC, a lot of these matchups for Cal are unfamiliar. With this being their first-ever game against one another, the winner will come away with all the bragging rights.

Cal vs. Virginia 2025 Preview: Keys, Players, and Predictions

Key Players for Cal

Following their game against Virginia Tech, there were many Cal players on the defensive side of the ball who needed to take a hard look in the mirror, especially in the secondary. One of those players is Hezekiah Masses.

Masses dominated the headlines early in the season with his impressive play in coverage. He was getting interceptions left and right, and always seemed to make a play on the ball one way or another. Now, he’s in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Fans watching on television and those who attended live saw the cornerback make one business decision after another against Virginia Tech. Is that too harsh to say? I’m not sure, but the effort he displayed when trying to tackle opposing ball carriers was disturbing to say the least. This isn’t something that’s been a one-time occurrence, either. However, it’s a new week, and Masses has the chance to change the hearts of the fans. Hopefully, we see a much better effort out of the cornerback against Virginia.

At this point, Cal is desperate for any wide receiver to step up, as the unit’s play has been inconsistent this year. Everyone, from the fans to the players and coaching staff, can feel the frustration from all of the dropped passes this season. There are too many to count at this point. That being said, one wide receiver who has more and more playing time is wide receiver Jordan King.

King’s production has ramped up over the weeks, and he has certainly earned it. On the season, King has 18 catches for 228 yards and two touchdowns. With how things are going, don’t be surprised if he continues to see the field more. He could end up being the difference-maker for the Cal offense in this contest.

Key Players for Virginia

Virginia has raised a ton of eyebrows this season. They didn’t necessarily have huge expectations coming into the year, but the Cavaliers have been impressive; and one player who can wreck a defense is wide receiver Trell Harris.

The senior wideout has been sporadic with his big performances this season, but can scorch defenses if he’s not covered. Harris has great speed and footwork, making him a challenge to cover if he gets off the line freely. This season, he has 32 catches for 477 yards and four touchdowns. He practically leads the Cavaliers’ offense in all receiving statistics. Keeping him from getting loose will be a tough task for this Cal defense.

Once again, opposing pass rushers have been having their way with the Cal offensive line. Virginia has a stout defense, and one player in particular who can cause havoc up front is defensive lineman Daniel Rickert. Virginia will line Rickert up everywhere on the line where they think he will have the advantage. He’s not really a tackling machine, but he does have 5.5 sacks on the season. And, there’s a sense Virginia will line him up on the right side of the defensive line, given Cal’s struggles there recently. Still, they can put him anywhere, and Cal must be prepared for that.

2025 Game Preview: This One is Going to be Close

Even though Virginia is ranked and playing good football, they play in a lot of close games. And, Cal surprisingly matches up well against them. This is the ultimate test for Justin Wilcox and his staff, who have undoubtedly started to feel their seats warm after multiple embarrassing losses this season.

There’s a part of me that thinks Cal can win this game, but after watching Virginia Tech run the read option and quarterback power 30+ times last weekend, it’s hard to say Cal is physical enough to hang with them. Yet, this is college football, and anything can happen. The oddsmakers definitely think Cal will be in this game, and they should. Football is a complex, but simple sport, and right now, Cal can’t catch or tackle. If they want to win this game, both of those areas need to improve mightily.

Final Prediction: Cal 23, Virginia 27