I'm very excited about the upcoming Cal football season, with our new coach, Tosh Lupoi, many new assistants, and a team of enthusiastic and talented players. However, I'm disappointed that so many games start at night. I'm an 80-year-old lifelong Cal football supporter and a decades-long season ticket holder, and I much prefer day games, even if they start in the late afternoon. Getting home at midnight after a night game is difficult for me. I realize we must conform to ACC scheduling priorities, television broadcast times, and the overshadowing financial concerns, but hey, wouldn’t it be wonderful to watch Cal play its longtime rival, UCLA, on a warm, sunny afternoon at Memorial Stadium? I hope the Big Game will be played in the afternoon this year, but I’ll be there no matter what time it starts. Go Bears!
I'm so with you Bob, the 7:30pm start times are a no op for me too (going to bed after midnight ruins the experience). College football is about enjoying strawberry canyon in the afternoon. Let's hope Cal punches people in the face early in 2026 and earns those afternoon slots...
This comment has the full endorsement of Oski Disciple. I will also reiterate that I know and know of lots of people who won't/can't go to night games but have yet to meet or hear of anyone who can't/won't go to afternoon kick-offs. (Note: I still go to night games but I don't know for how much longer.)
Start time, shmart time…I want to see Cal push ucla up one side of the field, and down the other, scoring TDs in the red zone. Let the defense strangle ucla’s offense into many 3-and-outs. In short, punish the Bruins for being the Bruins, and set the tone for the beginning of a new era of Cal football. That’s what I’m talkin’ about.
I'm a little upset our season opener hosting UCLA is being played at 7:30pm at night, that's a game that deserves to be played in 75-80 degree weather in full sun. At the very least the second half of this game should be played as the sun is setting, but it looks like the kickoff time will be shortly after sunset.
On the other hand, 7:30pm Friday night kickoff for hosting Clemson is diabolical and I absolutely love it.
Getting geeked for the start of the Tosh Lupoi Era! We roll through the opening five and we’re on our way. Thinking ACC top-four this year, ACC champion the second year, national champion the third year. Hey, if the IU Hoosiers can do it (with a Cal QB!), why can’t we (with a Cal QB!)?!? #GoBears!
It's kinda cool that our FCS body-bag game (Wagner) is on regular ACC Network this time, not tossed to ACCNx (streaming-only) like all the previous ones.
Re: UCLA. I think we Cal fans should wear our Joe Roth gear regardless. (Please see my avatar for an example.) I doubt the team(s) will wear throwback gear, though.
I'm very excited about the upcoming Cal football season, with our new coach, Tosh Lupoi, many new assistants, and a team of enthusiastic and talented players. However, I'm disappointed that so many games start at night. I'm an 80-year-old lifelong Cal football supporter and a decades-long season ticket holder, and I much prefer day games, even if they start in the late afternoon. Getting home at midnight after a night game is difficult for me. I realize we must conform to ACC scheduling priorities, television broadcast times, and the overshadowing financial concerns, but hey, wouldn’t it be wonderful to watch Cal play its longtime rival, UCLA, on a warm, sunny afternoon at Memorial Stadium? I hope the Big Game will be played in the afternoon this year, but I’ll be there no matter what time it starts. Go Bears!
I'm so with you Bob, the 7:30pm start times are a no op for me too (going to bed after midnight ruins the experience). College football is about enjoying strawberry canyon in the afternoon. Let's hope Cal punches people in the face early in 2026 and earns those afternoon slots...
This comment has the full endorsement of Oski Disciple. I will also reiterate that I know and know of lots of people who won't/can't go to night games but have yet to meet or hear of anyone who can't/won't go to afternoon kick-offs. (Note: I still go to night games but I don't know for how much longer.)
Start time, shmart time…I want to see Cal push ucla up one side of the field, and down the other, scoring TDs in the red zone. Let the defense strangle ucla’s offense into many 3-and-outs. In short, punish the Bruins for being the Bruins, and set the tone for the beginning of a new era of Cal football. That’s what I’m talkin’ about.
I'm a little upset our season opener hosting UCLA is being played at 7:30pm at night, that's a game that deserves to be played in 75-80 degree weather in full sun. At the very least the second half of this game should be played as the sun is setting, but it looks like the kickoff time will be shortly after sunset.
On the other hand, 7:30pm Friday night kickoff for hosting Clemson is diabolical and I absolutely love it.
Given the time of year and the teams involved, I'd expect a steady stream of After Dark start times for that UCLA series.
Syracuse at 12:30 EDT is pretty diabolical too
You had me at diabolical
"You can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning."
- Fire Starkey, talking about our trip to the Syracuse game that has a 9:30 am PDT kickoff
Getting geeked for the start of the Tosh Lupoi Era! We roll through the opening five and we’re on our way. Thinking ACC top-four this year, ACC champion the second year, national champion the third year. Hey, if the IU Hoosiers can do it (with a Cal QB!), why can’t we (with a Cal QB!)?!? #GoBears!
I have a great feeling that UCLA, no matter the start time, is not going to know what hit them and everyone on the Cal bench will see snaps!
It's kinda cool that our FCS body-bag game (Wagner) is on regular ACC Network this time, not tossed to ACCNx (streaming-only) like all the previous ones.
Re: UCLA. I think we Cal fans should wear our Joe Roth gear regardless. (Please see my avatar for an example.) I doubt the team(s) will wear throwback gear, though.
Note the times listed above are technically PDT and EDT.
Good catch, I edited to PT/ET to match the graphic
ACC After Dark might still start in daylight.