I won't commit to the w/l record until after the UNLV game. If the GBs are 4-1 or 5-0 after that game, then they will gain confidence for a possible 9-10 win season. If they go 3-2 or worse, then another 7-5 or 6-6 season is in store. I will be very disappointed if the latter happens, as I want Tosh to transform the program, not finish in the middle or bottom half of the putrid ACC. GO BEARS!
I have UCLA as a toss-up, mostly because I’ll be attending which is often a death knell for The Bears (except when it isn’t…).
SMU will be out for blood after last year, and I’ve been watching too much ACC Huddle where they keep talking up UVA and VT (and everyone else not named Cal or Stanfurd). If we can steal one of those, then…..
Also, I have us more likely to beat ‘Furd than UNLV on the road (lol). I gotta shake my “Wilcox vulnerability” mindset…. Maybe after we dominate the teams we’re supposed to….
I expect growth this season, but it's hard to expect immediate results. I've too often over-expected going into a season, and the entirely new coaching staff and structure, even with some important player additions, has me concerned about our ability to break out of the Wilcox mediocrity immediately.
But I welcome a pleasant surprise, and starting with a crushing defeat of fucla would be a damn fine way to get that underway. Reminds me of the POTENTIAL for how it felt when Tedford arrived and we dropped 70 on Baylor.
If the Tosh Lupoi experience sputters and fails (which it won't) the floor is 4 wins. If Tosh has successfully changed the culture at Cal (and he has thus far), then the ceiling is 10 wins.
9-3 (because the culture still needs more time and to be tested by adversity, injuries, etc.)
I think UNLV is in the toss up category. Assume they split the tossups and you get 7 wins, very Wilcox-ish. Tosh recruiting will yield an additional win or 2, it always does and has everywhere; that's what he does, and why people keep hiring him,
But a rookie head coach, especially one with inexperienced coordinators, will lose a couple of games to a more experienced coaching staff. Almost always does, almost everywhere. And Tosh & Rolo & company will get outcoached at some/several points.
The loss of experience and system change means numerically treading water will probably actually be progress. Year 2 will be much more indicative of things to come.
I'm only slightly above what I would have predicted last year. After nearly 10 years, I still haven't completely purged Wilcox from my brain. Hope the team is doing better than that!
I say 8-4 and a bowl win!
Very coin flippy season. I thought was being a bit too sunshine pumper, but still ended up at 7 wins because of how close every game feels.
I was very unrealistic at 9-3 but it feels good to have a little hope at this juncture.
I won't commit to the w/l record until after the UNLV game. If the GBs are 4-1 or 5-0 after that game, then they will gain confidence for a possible 9-10 win season. If they go 3-2 or worse, then another 7-5 or 6-6 season is in store. I will be very disappointed if the latter happens, as I want Tosh to transform the program, not finish in the middle or bottom half of the putrid ACC. GO BEARS!
Well shoot, I only came up with 7 wins….
I have UCLA as a toss-up, mostly because I’ll be attending which is often a death knell for The Bears (except when it isn’t…).
SMU will be out for blood after last year, and I’ve been watching too much ACC Huddle where they keep talking up UVA and VT (and everyone else not named Cal or Stanfurd). If we can steal one of those, then…..
Also, I have us more likely to beat ‘Furd than UNLV on the road (lol). I gotta shake my “Wilcox vulnerability” mindset…. Maybe after we dominate the teams we’re supposed to….
Go Bears!
I agree with Finn……8 wins and 4 loses and a bowl appearance! Go Bears!
9 wins. Or 10.
I expect growth this season, but it's hard to expect immediate results. I've too often over-expected going into a season, and the entirely new coaching staff and structure, even with some important player additions, has me concerned about our ability to break out of the Wilcox mediocrity immediately.
But I welcome a pleasant surprise, and starting with a crushing defeat of fucla would be a damn fine way to get that underway. Reminds me of the POTENTIAL for how it felt when Tedford arrived and we dropped 70 on Baylor.
If the Tosh Lupoi experience sputters and fails (which it won't) the floor is 4 wins. If Tosh has successfully changed the culture at Cal (and he has thus far), then the ceiling is 10 wins.
9-3 (because the culture still needs more time and to be tested by adversity, injuries, etc.)
Prediction markets favor the over on a 6.5 regular-season win total for Cal's 2026-27 season. 7 W's. Zoltar agrees?
W: Wagner, UNLV, Wake, Stanford, Syracuse
Toss up: UCLA, VTech, NC State, Pitt, Clemson
L: SMU, UVA
8 wins should be the floor and if a couple things go our way then maybe 10 or 11.
I think UNLV is in the toss up category. Assume they split the tossups and you get 7 wins, very Wilcox-ish. Tosh recruiting will yield an additional win or 2, it always does and has everywhere; that's what he does, and why people keep hiring him,
But a rookie head coach, especially one with inexperienced coordinators, will lose a couple of games to a more experienced coaching staff. Almost always does, almost everywhere. And Tosh & Rolo & company will get outcoached at some/several points.
The loss of experience and system change means numerically treading water will probably actually be progress. Year 2 will be much more indicative of things to come.
I think we will do much better than we have for many years this season, so that makes this year's Zoltar manifestation thing way more fun! Go Bears!
I'm only slightly above what I would have predicted last year. After nearly 10 years, I still haven't completely purged Wilcox from my brain. Hope the team is doing better than that!