California and Stanford College Football Previews 2026



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  By Nick Bartlett, SuperWest Sports

tThe 2026 college football season is just weeks away and we’re starting our previews for the best teams in the West.

We start with two legacy Pac-12 teams that switched coasts to compete in the ACC during realignment.

Neither has achieved the kind of success they once enjoyed in their previous conference.

Both California and Stanford enter the season with new head coaches and, with them, renewed hope to turn around their historic programs.

Here’s a quick look at both teams’ prospects in the upcoming season.

California golden bears

Tosh Lupoi — José Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group

General perspectives

YoIn a strange way, everything is different at Cal, but it’s still pretty much the same.

The Golden Bears parted ways with Justin Wilcox and hired former Cal defensive line coach and UCB defensive lineman Tosh Lupoi to lead the team.

The Bears are one of the most intriguing teams nationally this year; they have the potential to win the conference, but they could also “qualify” it. Again.

Everyone is excited about the return of quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, and rightfully so, but the key to the Bears’ season is improving their run offense and defense.

The schedule is also favorable for the Berkeley men, as they will miss games against Miami, Louisville and Florida State.

Offense

tCal’s jump this year will likely depend on the flow of its offense.

When Sagapolutele shined last year, the Bears were a tough out. But there are a few things to consider in Offensive Coordinator Jordan Somerville’s system.

Somerville emphasizes playing with bad intentions and an explosive mentality, and that seems to be what Cal was missing. It’s his first job as a coordinator and he may depend on assistant head coach Nick Rolovich for guidance.

The Golden Bears also added a host of wide receivers, most notably Ian Strong. Another entry in the portal is running back Adam Mohammed, who should instantly spark a rushing attack that was one of the worst in the country in 2025.

UCB is also making two transfer entries, which could hurt Sagapolutele’s mobility. Other key players include tight end Dorian Thomas and receiver Chase Hendricks.

Defense

doAl’s defense should improve this year. The Bears ranked 82nd in the country in points allowed per game last season, which didn’t feel good for a team led by Wilcox.

The defensive foundation established by Wilcox, infused with the spirit of Lupoi, feels like an Arnold Palmer mix.

However, the Bears also have to replace their top six tacklers, including linebackers Cade Uluave and Luke Ferrelli. The sponsors are likely to take a step back, but the secondaries reinforced their unity through the portal.

Cornerbacks Daniel Harris and Ricky Fletcher come from the SEC and could prove to be impact players from the start. Safety Kingston Lopa is also a notable transfer from Oregon.

Even if things go wrong, the linebackers and secondary should be able to hold their own. But if the pass rush doesn’t improve, the team won’t either. They ranked near the bottom of the nation in both sacks and TFL in 2025.

Best scenario: 10-2
Worst case scenario: 5-7
Key player: Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele

Stanford Cardinal

General perspectives

YesTanford is in a state of transition, but there is new life in the program with the hiring of Tavita Pritchard. General manager Andrew Luck and Pritchard hope to restore a program that appears to have lost some steam.

If the Cardinal could finish 6-6, it would provide vital confidence for the program moving forward; They had not won more than four games in a season since the pandemic.

At the very least, they need to generate some excitement on offense. The Tree finished 122nd in points scored per game last season.

They brought in enough pieces for this unit to improve, but they will likely remain one of the weakest units in the ACC.

Offense

YoIf Stanford can find an electric receiver, this offense could turn out better than expected. Quarterback Davis Warren came over from Michigan and has plenty of experience leading a high-level program.

Warren’s stats are mediocre, but he has already attempted more than 200 passes at the college level. If he can limit turnovers, he could be a stud at The Farm.

Complementing him is Micah Ford at running back. Ford, a solid playmaker and probably the best returner the Cardinal has on offense, rushed for 643 yards and four touchdowns a year ago. If the Tree had a better resume, it would probably attract national attention.

Stanford also returns two offensive linemen at key positions: Niki Prongos and Fisher Anderson. This middle/left tackle combination should protect Warren’s middle and blind side.

Nico Brown will probably catch a lot of passes, but he lacks elite speed.

Defense

YesTanford had the worst pass defense in the country a year ago. They need to fix this unit and they have some of the weapons needed to do it.

The Cardinal return Brandon Nicholson at cornerback, who led the team with two interceptions, and Jay Green is an underrated player. This duo should keep the secondary formidable, but a third player in the backfield needs to step up.

If the secondary can hold its own, it will free up linebacker Matt Rose, a key player in the middle who finished with 106 tackles, eight sacks and three TFLs last year. He is the best player on his team this season.

The team would also benefit from more consistent pressure on the quarterback. They were fine in 2025, but edge Tevarua Tafiti will have to channel his inner David Bailey.

Because of the unknowns on offense, guys like Rose and Nicholson should take advantage of some additional opportunities.