Modest rise in the preseason poll
In the latest Associated Press preseason college football media poll, the Golden State Bears captured two voting points, a modest but meaningful increase from the single point they earned the previous week. One voter positioned them at No. 24, while another placed them at No. 25, underscoring the team's subtle rise in the national conversation.
The Bears' 2026 slate appears unusually accommodating. They will not face any opponent ranked in the top fifteen, and the only team from that tier on their schedule is SMU, currently listed at No. 19. SMU will travel to Dallas to meet Cal on October 24, a matchup that could shape early conference standings. In the same week, Clemson, just outside the top twenty‑five at No. 26, awaits in a home ACC showdown on September 25, offering an early test of Cal's mettle.
A schedule that rewards ambition
Nonconference games open with a home contest against UCLA on September 5, followed by a road trip to face UNLV on October 3. Both opponents enter unranked, though the Rebels did collect a couple of additional points in the poll. Cal closed the previous season at 7‑6 overall and 4‑4 in ACC play, marking their first non‑losing conference record since 2009, and they now aim to build on that foundation.
With nine conference games on the horizon instead of the traditional eight, the Bears have a chance to push for a winning league record for the first time in more than a decade. The combination of modest rankings, a manageable slate, and the experience gained last year creates a narrative of cautious optimism as the season unfolds.