Mar. 23—***
In the next two weeks-ish, I will be ranking each Big Ten team’s best nonconference game.
Quick recap: No. 1 Ohio State at Texas, Sept. 12.
2. Michigan vs. Oklahoma, Sept. 12
3. Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame, Sept 6
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4. Michigan State at Notre Dame, Sept. 19.
5. Purdue vs. Notre Dame, Sept. 26.
6. Oregon vs. Boise State, Sept. 5.
7. Illinois vs. Duke, Sept. 12.
8. Iowa vs. Iowa State, Sept. 12.
Seems silly to label a game between the Bruins and Bears: nonconference.
The schools, after all, have been playing since 1933 and last met all the way back in 2023.
The renewed rivalry is set for Sept. 5 at Cal’s picturesque Memorial Stadium. So much has changed since they met in ’23. Like they are both in new conferences, UCLA joined the Big Ten and Cal is part of the ACC.
And they have new coaches. The Bruins hired Bob Chesney away from James Madison and the Bears picked former Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi, who played defensive back at Cal from 2000-20025.
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The 2026 matchup won’t be the last between the schools, who agreed to a four-year deal through 2029.
Chesney is in position to get off to a good start in Westwood thanks mostly to a soft schedule. Yes, the Bruins play Oregon and Michigan. But defending national champion Indiana and Ohio State aren’t on the schedule.
Beyond the trip to Oregon, the most difficult game might to Illinois’ Rose Bowl visit on Nov. 14.
