If this was year 3 of Tosh then I’d say bring it on BYU. We needed an easier, first year schedule to build momentum and confidence. Still it’s a challenging schedule.
As one of about 12 Cal alumni living in Utah, this is a disappointment, but I'll manage. BYU games are an unique cultural experience. The fan base is incredibly passionate and loyal, but very respectful to visitors. A BYU football game was the only event I have ever heard the entire crowd sing the Star Spangled Banner at full volume.
Attended a game there a zillion years ago. Ditto everything you said. Favorite moment was in the 3rd quarter, the rally squad walked in front of the stands with a long banner reading "Smite them Brethren".
Would have preferred to keep BYU - if you're good, show it, if not, it'll show.
Well, so much for my trip through Canyonlands, Arches, Bryce et al. But happy the Bears will have less travel in ‘26. Schedule looked brutal, so this helps that..
I hear ya and support it - the pup and I banged out those two on 1 trip, and then the Capitol Reef/Canyonlands/Arches trifecta on another.
Surly, critical-of-Wilcox Jimmy C loved a debaucherous, alcohol-fueled/gambling filled trip to LV…this new sunshine-pumping one is only looking to go for a Cal game, and would likely AirBnB it off the Strip. ;-)
BYU plays rugby at Cal this season, they'll probably play in Provo in '27. Cal could very well have a playoff game there in April. It's an intense atmosphere.
I like the rugby angle. I remember a playoff (or final) that was televised from Provo like fifteen years ago, and Cal prevailed in a great game in front of what looked like the biggest college rugby crowd in the U.S. I’d ever seen, at least that’s how it appeared on tv.
Cool idea. Cal should expand the seating at Witter, BTW. Just imagine the crowds in Provo if the Cougars had been this dominant for as long as Cal has.
Like I stated on a previous substack post. They should have kept BYU. This would show the CFP committee that Cal is a serious player in making the playoffs and keeping another Group 4 conference on the schedule would be important.
The opponents for 2026 have been finalized. However, the schedule has yet to be finalized. Only some of the games have a date. And, presumably, the Big Game will be on November 21 (Saturday before Thanksgiving) pending confirmation from the ACC. EDIT: calbears.com has not yet posted the 2026 FB schedule.
Check out the ACC's announcement from Tuesday, December 16 -
ACC Announces 2026 League Opponents as Move to Nine-Game Conference Schedule Begins
There are 17 teams in the ACC; it is not possible for a 17-team league to schedule 9 conference games for all teams. In order for all ACC teams to play a 9-game conference schedule, the conference membership must be an even number of teams (for example, 18 or 16 teams would satisfy this condition).
An even number less than 17 (in this case 12 teams) will play a 9-game schedule. Those teams are Cal, Duke, Louisville, Miami, NC State, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, VA Tech, and Wake Forest. A total of 54 conference games within this group.
Five ACC teams will play an 8-game conference schedule: Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and North Carolina. A total of 20 conference games within this group.
I'm gettin kinda antsy. When do we get to post about the Hawaii game? Next week is a short week you know. Maybe you guys should start with some Hawaii game stuff tomorrow. C'mon, say yes Write for California staff, you know you want to. And we want to read it.
In the 1960s, a chef in Canada created a pizza topping that swept the world. So why is it so widely loved – and hated?
It's not Hawaii you should thank – or indeed blame, depending on your viewpoint.
The man popularly credited with giving the world the ham and pineapple pizza was neither Hawaiian, nor in fact Italian. Sam Panopoulos was a Greek immigrant to Canada who ran a restaurant with his brothers in the city of Chatham, Ontario. Panopoulos had recently visited Naples – the birthplace of pizza – and was inspired to start adding the Italian staple to the restaurant's usual line-up of burgers and pancakes. But what to put on it?
Interesting. I am actually not even a fan of the "traditional" pineapple and ham combo known as Hawaiian, but my favorite combo is pineapple + jalapenos, for a hot and sweet treat. One of my friends, while at Cal actually, introduced me to this combo in the early aughts.. and I carry this pairing with me to this day, though we've long since lost touch. (miss you Maggie!) Sometimes I'll add pepperoni to the mix if i'm feeling extra indulgent, to add some savory to the hot and sweet.
This was the logical choice. No need to go get pummeled by a bunch of 27yo dads
If this was year 3 of Tosh then I’d say bring it on BYU. We needed an easier, first year schedule to build momentum and confidence. Still it’s a challenging schedule.
On balance, clearly the right move...Go Bears Forever!
Smart.
Smart move!
As one of about 12 Cal alumni living in Utah, this is a disappointment, but I'll manage. BYU games are an unique cultural experience. The fan base is incredibly passionate and loyal, but very respectful to visitors. A BYU football game was the only event I have ever heard the entire crowd sing the Star Spangled Banner at full volume.
Attended a game there a zillion years ago. Ditto everything you said. Favorite moment was in the 3rd quarter, the rally squad walked in front of the stands with a long banner reading "Smite them Brethren".
Would have preferred to keep BYU - if you're good, show it, if not, it'll show.
After further review, it was tentatively scheduled for Rosh Hashana so I wouldn't have been able to go anyway.
But but but... I had so many jokes I was gonna make. 😢
…such little time…
Well, so much for my trip through Canyonlands, Arches, Bryce et al. But happy the Bears will have less travel in ‘26. Schedule looked brutal, so this helps that..
Strut….Zion and Bryce Canyon are not too bad a drive from Vegas if you wanna tack them onto the front or back end of UNLV?
Not a bad idea. I thought about doing that. But I’ve never been to BYU, whereas I’ve been to Vegas too many times. Just whining here.
I hear ya and support it - the pup and I banged out those two on 1 trip, and then the Capitol Reef/Canyonlands/Arches trifecta on another.
Surly, critical-of-Wilcox Jimmy C loved a debaucherous, alcohol-fueled/gambling filled trip to LV…this new sunshine-pumping one is only looking to go for a Cal game, and would likely AirBnB it off the Strip. ;-)
Yeah, not a Vegas fan is all.
BYU plays rugby at Cal this season, they'll probably play in Provo in '27. Cal could very well have a playoff game there in April. It's an intense atmosphere.
I like the rugby angle. I remember a playoff (or final) that was televised from Provo like fifteen years ago, and Cal prevailed in a great game in front of what looked like the biggest college rugby crowd in the U.S. I’d ever seen, at least that’s how it appeared on tv.
We were there in 2013 for a final that we lost. It was a huge crowd, highly knowledgeable and engaged and just as nice as could be.
Cool idea. Cal should expand the seating at Witter, BTW. Just imagine the crowds in Provo if the Cougars had been this dominant for as long as Cal has.
There isn't much room left for adding seating, as I recall.
Like I stated on a previous substack post. They should have kept BYU. This would show the CFP committee that Cal is a serious player in making the playoffs and keeping another Group 4 conference on the schedule would be important.
The opponents for 2026 have been finalized. However, the schedule has yet to be finalized. Only some of the games have a date. And, presumably, the Big Game will be on November 21 (Saturday before Thanksgiving) pending confirmation from the ACC. EDIT: calbears.com has not yet posted the 2026 FB schedule.
Check out the ACC's announcement from Tuesday, December 16 -
ACC Announces 2026 League Opponents as Move to Nine-Game Conference Schedule Begins
https://theacc.com/news/2025/12/16/football-acc-announces-2026-league-opponents-as-move-to-nine-game-conference-schedule-begins.aspx
There are 17 teams in the ACC; it is not possible for a 17-team league to schedule 9 conference games for all teams. In order for all ACC teams to play a 9-game conference schedule, the conference membership must be an even number of teams (for example, 18 or 16 teams would satisfy this condition).
An even number less than 17 (in this case 12 teams) will play a 9-game schedule. Those teams are Cal, Duke, Louisville, Miami, NC State, Pitt, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, VA Tech, and Wake Forest. A total of 54 conference games within this group.
Five ACC teams will play an 8-game conference schedule: Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and North Carolina. A total of 20 conference games within this group.
74 conference games in total.
gotta extricate ourselves from this mess
we're signed in blood, for better or worse, no?
I'm gettin kinda antsy. When do we get to post about the Hawaii game? Next week is a short week you know. Maybe you guys should start with some Hawaii game stuff tomorrow. C'mon, say yes Write for California staff, you know you want to. And we want to read it.
In the meantime we can debate pineapple on pizza. I'm a fan of it.
Always remember that the Ham and Pineapple combo was "invented" by a Greek-Canadian!
A pizza topping that divides the world
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220818-why-is-ham-and-pineapple-pizza-so-controversial
In the 1960s, a chef in Canada created a pizza topping that swept the world. So why is it so widely loved – and hated?
It's not Hawaii you should thank – or indeed blame, depending on your viewpoint.
The man popularly credited with giving the world the ham and pineapple pizza was neither Hawaiian, nor in fact Italian. Sam Panopoulos was a Greek immigrant to Canada who ran a restaurant with his brothers in the city of Chatham, Ontario. Panopoulos had recently visited Naples – the birthplace of pizza – and was inspired to start adding the Italian staple to the restaurant's usual line-up of burgers and pancakes. But what to put on it?
Interesting. I am actually not even a fan of the "traditional" pineapple and ham combo known as Hawaiian, but my favorite combo is pineapple + jalapenos, for a hot and sweet treat. One of my friends, while at Cal actually, introduced me to this combo in the early aughts.. and I carry this pairing with me to this day, though we've long since lost touch. (miss you Maggie!) Sometimes I'll add pepperoni to the mix if i'm feeling extra indulgent, to add some savory to the hot and sweet.
I might have to try that combo sometime (pineapple and jalapenos).
Do it!
It’s coming, don’t worry!
I noticed Cal has sold out their allocation of tickets
Wow, that is great news. I can't get over there for the game. Grandkids won't allow it, something about family Christmas traditions.
Too bad. As a Cal alum and convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I was looking forward to it. Oh well.
You've got Pitt listed under both home and away
Updated, thanks!
I seen a few articles about the cancellation, but haven’t seen what it cost Cal to cancel the series at this relatively late date.
The costs will likely be paid by the Conference, since they're the ones requiring a game cancellation to fit their new (crazy) scheduling.