Justin Wilcox just can’t get this thing going.
Going into his ninth season as the head coach at Cal, Wilcox has game to four games, came up with two winning seasons in his first three years, none in his last five, and he just can’t seem to buy any luck.
But 1) WOW, the 2025 Cal schedule – more on this at the end – and 2) his program is bringing in the transfers to help change that.
His Bears shocked Auburn on the road early last year, but lost at Florida State – that was one of four straight losses by five points or fewer.
There were a few late injuries, going to SMU turned out to be far tougher than it looked before the season, and now he and the staff are loading up with a redo from the portal to try one big refresh.
The move is also out of necessity. This would’ve been a whopper of a team had everyone stayed around.
But on the plus side, the schedule could not be reasonably nicer for a Power Four program, there’s enough talent around to push for another bowl, and Cal football is way overdue for a break.
Cal Golden Bears College Football Preview 2025
Aug 31, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears linebacker Cade Uluave (0) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass against the UC Davis Aggies during the third quarter at California Memorial Stadium.© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Cal Golden Bears Preview 2025: Offense
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– There are a few ways to look at this. You don’t get better by losing running back talent like Jaivian Thomas (UCLA) and Jaydn Ott (Oklahoma), but it’s not like the rushing offense did much with them.
The running backs went flying out of the portal, and now the attack that averaged just 3.56 yards per carry needs Kendrick Raphael (NC State) and Brandon High (UTSA) to bring the power.
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– Yes, of course the problem was the offensive front. It was a disaster in pass protection – it tied with Oklahoma for the most sacks allowed – and only Southern Miss and Stanford gave up more tackles for loss per game. All five starters up front are brand new with four coming from the portal.
– The quarterback situation will be fun. Fernando Mendoza had a break-through that was just good enough to probably land him the starting gig at Indiana. Former Ohio State star prospect Devin Brown has potential but true freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele – a massive recruit for Oregon – is now in Berkeley.
The receiving corps caught a break getting back Trond Grizzell, but lost star tight end Jack Endries (Texas) and receivers Nyziah Hunter (Nebraska), Jonathan Brady (Indiana), and Mikey Matthews (UCLA). The portal exchange wasn’t great, but Cal has some quick new guys, particularly UNLV’s Jacob De Jesus.
Cal Golden Bears Preview 2025: Defense
– The defense did a great job of taking the ball away, was the second best in the ACC in scoring D, and for the most part, did got the job done allowing 24 points or fewer in all but four games. There’s less help from the transfer portal on this side, but …
– With Nohl Williams now a Kansas City Chief, Craig Woodson a New England Patriot, and the rest of the top parts of the secondary gone, the new guys will play a big role. A few backups from last year will have to step up, but it’s about the transfers.
Hezekiah Masses (FIU) and Jaden Mickey (Notre Dame) will likely take over the corners. The safeties still need to come together around former backup Ryan Yaites.
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– The front three is fine. Nate Burrell is a 285-pound veteran end who can get into the backfield, and 320-pound Aidan Keannaaina is a big tackle who hates up the run.
Top tackler Teddye Buchanan is gone from the linebacking corps after leading the way with 114 stops, but Cade Uluave should be a force again inside. Ryan McCulloch should rise up into more of a pass rusher on the outside, but it’s JUCO transfer Odero Okaka who has the potential to be the new star of the D.
Cal Golden Bears Key to the Season
The offensive front has to keep defenses out of the backfield.
The front five has a ton of work to do to get the starting lineup together. But after allowing close to four sacks and 8.5 sacks per game, everything about the season revolves around letting the skill guys work, especially …
Cal Golden Bears Key Player
Devin Brown, QB Jr.
Or Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. Either way, the quarterback play has to be strong after losing the solid Fernando Mendoza. Brown was a super-recruit for Ohio State, but he never broke through.
Worse yet, when Brown got his chance in the 2023 Cotton Bowl, he was hurt right away. The size and mobility are there. Now the promise and potential have to come through.
Cal Golden Bears Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss
Top Transfer In: Hezekiah Masses, CB Sr.
While he might not get the attention of some of the other key Cal transfers, he should be the steadiest. A three-year producer at FIU, he left with 105 tackles, two picks, and 12 broken up passes from his corner spot.
Top Transfer Out: Jayden Ott, RB Sr.
A whole slew of top backs left, and QB Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) might be the biggest-name transfer, Ott was a heart-and-soul guy when he was rolling in 2023. He had a rough 2024, but when he was on over his first two years – over 2,200 yards and 20 scores – he was special. Now he’s at Oklahoma.
Cal Golden Bears Key Game
Minnesota, Sept.13
If Cal is merely okay, it should be able to get by Oregon State to start the season, and it shouldn’t have a problem at San Diego State. Beating Minnesota in Berkeley would be a giant moment in a likely 4-0 start. With no sure-thing loss in ACC play, get going early, and all of a sudden Cal might be in play for something large.
– 2025 Cal Golden Bears Schedule Breakdown
Cal Golden Bears Top 10 Players
1. Cade Uluave, LB Jr.
2. Nate Burrell, DE, Sr.
3. Aidan Keanaaina, DT Sr.
4. Hezekiah Masses, CB Sr.
5. Devin Brown, QB Jr.
6. Kendrick Raphael, RB Jr.
7. Jordan Spasojevic-Moko, OG Sr.
8. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, QB Fr.
9. Odera Okaka, EDGE Jr.
10. Leon Bell, OT Jr.
Cal Golden Bears 2024 Fun Stats
– Opponent Points Allowed: 3rd Quarter: 32, 4th Quarter 101
– Field Goals: Cal 25-of-37, Opponents 10-of-16
– Fumbles: Opponents 14 (lost 5), Cal 11 (lost 4)
Cal Golden Bears 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
Can Cal be the SMU of the ACC?
It’s going through a total overhaul, the talent level is down from a team that went 5-7, but … the schedule.
There’s no Clemson or Miami – SMU missed those two last year, at least until playing the Tigers for the ACC Championship. There’s no Florida State, NC State, Pitt or Syracuse, either.
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SMU is a home game meaning the most dangerous games are at Virginia Tech, at Louisville, and at Boston College. Cal has GOT to take advantage of this slate. It has to catch fire, catch a few breaks, and it has to own Memorial Stadium.
Nah, it’s asking for too much to be as good as last year’s SMU, but there’s absolutely no excuse – again, even with the lack of proven playmakers and talent – to be any worse than a bowl team that wins more than six games for the first time in five years and the third time in 15.
Set The Cal Golden Bears Win Total At … 6.5
Likely Wins: at San Diego State, Texas Southern
50/50 Games: at Boston College, Duke, Minnesota, North Carolina, at Oregon State, SMU, at Stanford, Virginia, at Virginia Tech
Likely Losses: at Louisville
