Bear Territory : California CF25

**redsox907** · 11-11-2024, 12:14 AM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

would have been cool for USC to win and have old Pac-12 rivals face off in the Natty.

Hope you drop 100 on Notre Dame

**bayers3** · 11-11-2024, 12:06 PM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

HOUSTON, TX - After two rounds of tight games, the semifinal matchups would be one-sided blowouts. #6 Notre Dame would put an end to #11 Tulane’s Cinderella story with a 56-17 drubbing in the Capital One Orange Bowl. NRG Stadium would host quite the final matchup, with a traditional superpower facing an upstart. Neither team has won a national title in the lifetime of their players, whoever won this game would be able to shelve some title demons.

Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman would be well aware of the challenge set before him.

“We’ve seen it twice now, and all season with them, we need to focus on ball security.”

After the last two games, it was unmistakably fatal to give the ball away. Unfortunately for Notre Dame, that part of the game was out of their hands before the 1st quarter was finished.

Cal received the opening kickoff and promptly scored on the first play, a 78-yard TD pass from QB Duane Dinson to WR George Cheeseman. A quick three-and-out would add more pain for the Fighting Irish, but a 46-yard TD pass to WR Darryl Hawkinson would make it even worse.

Notre Dame QB Kenny Mincey, probably caught up in the moment, would try to hit a receiver on an out rout but instead find LOLB Taylor Webb for his first interception of the game. Starting on Notre Dame’s 45, it would just take two plays for Dinson to hit Hawkinson for a 35-yard TD.

By this point Mincey was clearly rattled, and Cal’s defense was playing extremely tough. Notre Dame was going nowhere fast, and Mincey had little time to make his reads. The pressure would force him to make a terrible pass on their next drive, throwing the ball well over the head of his intended receiver. It was so bad that SS Nyshawn Sapp didn’t even have to move, he just stood there and caught it to put Cal on their own 49.

Luckily for the Fighting Irish, their defense would be up to the task of stopping Cal from scoring on a turnover. Two consecutive sacks, both from DT Loghan Thomas, would end Cal’s drive.

The Golden Bears would score two more times before the half, a short run from HB Deuce Linwood and a TD catch by TE Vai Bush would make it 35-0 with halftime looming. The Fighting Irish wouldn’t have much time to get down the field, with 2:05 left in the half, but one of their better drives of the game would set up a 28-yard FG by K Joe Astell.

Notre Dame would get the second half kickoff, but head right back off the field with a three-and-out. Cal would go to their running game, finishing their first possession of the half with a 2-yard TD run by Dinson.

Dinson celebrates opening the second half with a rushing TD.

The Fighting Irish had absolutely nothing left in the tank after halftime. They continued to stick with a running game that could barely cross the line of scrimmage, and all of their pass attempts were short to TE or HB underneath. Mincey would attempt one more shot downfield, but that would end with his third interception. CB Jamison Dyer would cruise over and grab the ball, ending yet another poor drive by Notre Dame.

Dyer’s catch ended Notre Dame’s chances of scoring a TD in the 3rd quarter.

Cal, for the first time all year, would significantly slow their offense down for the 4th quarter. Notre Dame looked tired and beaten, and could do little to stop Cal from running the ball. With the game well in hand, they would grind out the clock and finish off the Fighting Irish with little fanfare.

THE TAKEAWAY

The long drought is over, the Golden Bears are national champions.

UP NEXT

California : Championship parade in Berkeley.

**bayers3** · 11-11-2024, 03:37 PM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

The perfect end to the perfect season has many wondering “what next?” for a Golden Bears team that is highly likely to see some turnover on their staff. In fact, they’ve already lost their offensive and defensive coordinators to head coaching positions. OC Justin Burke, winner of the Broyles Award, was announced as Baylor’s new head coach immediately after the title game. DC Scott Symons, who finished just behind Burke for the Broyles Award, is off to SMU to take over their program. All of that is a 2028 problem, for now the Golden Bears have reached the pinnacle of college football.

2027 ACC FINAL STANDINGS

2027 FINAL RANKINGS

CALIFORNIA TOP PERFORMERS

Offense : QB Duane Dinson - Normally this would be a tough choice, the Cal offense was so prolific that there are a number of players to pick from. Dinson takes this though thanks to his Heisman worthy season that saw him shatter a number of single season records in just his first year starting. Fernando Mendoza took over a number of Cal’s career records over the course of four years, but Dinson has an opening to wipe those out if he has more seasons like this one. Winning the national title, Cal’s first in 90 years, elevates this performance to Legendary status among the Golden Bear faithful.

Defense : LE Karl Haggan - This was close, with SS Tremayne Landman having another fantastic season, but Haggan was a dominant force in the backfield. He’s taking home three prestigious award for his efforts, and Lupoi will be lucky if the Junior decides to stay at Cal for another year.

2027 CALIFORNIA AWARD WINNERS & ALL AMERICANS

Absolutely enormous haul of silverware, Cal is going to need to ask their donors to pay for a new trophy case. It’s no surprise that their offense is well represented in the All American team, but disappointing to see so many defenders left off.

Heisman Memorial Trophy : QB Duane Dinson
Chuck Bednarik Award : LE Karl Haggan
Ted Hendricks Award : LE Karl Haggan
Lombardi Award : LE Karl Haggan
Davey O’Brien Award : QB Duane Dinson
Fred Biletnikoff Award : WR George Cheeseman
Doak Walker Award : HB Deuce Linwood
John Mackey Award : TE Vai Bush
Jim Thorpe Award : SS Tremayne Landman
Rimington Trophy : C Jesus Crespo
Dick Butkus Award : LOLB Taylor Webb
Broyles Award : OC Justin Burke

First Team All Americans
QB Duane Dinson
HB Deuce Linwood
WR George Cheeseman
WR darryl Hawkinson
TE Vai Bush
LG Noah Dunham
C Jesus Crespo
RG Jordan Jose

Second Team All Americans
ROLB Jabari Uwaezuoke

Freshman All Americans
RE Marvin Wile
LOLB Taylor Webb

2028 OUTLOOK

Needs Improvement - Almost nothing, but if we need to pick something it might be the run game. Burke’s offense heavily favored a spread passing attack that nearly resembled an Air Raid offense at times, if it wasn’t for Dinson’s mobility their rushing attack would have dropped off quite a bit from 2026. There was a bit of balance thanks to Dinson’s legs, but quite a bit of that came on scrambles during a passing play instead of a called run play. Cal could reclaim their ability to grind down opponents late in the game, but if they keep scoring 70 it won’t matter.

On The Right Track - Almost literally everything, but the offense under Burke has become a monster with Duane Dinson under center. The talent on hand is almost unfair, with the amount of speed Cal is able to put on the field it’s nearly impossible to defend against them. The defense is also continuing to improve, they rank around the middle in yards allowed thanks to their offense scoring so quickly, but they are no longer prone to giving up big plays. The bend-don’t-break approach worked very well, if they do even less bending in 2028 they could take back-to-back national titles.

**bayers3** · 11-11-2024, 09:09 PM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

Welcome to Four Downs With where I get time to wrap up the season with each ACC head coach. Today I was able to sit down with Cal’s Tosh Lupoi after piloting the Golden Bears through an undefeated season and a national championship.

Cal are national champions again after nearly a century, does this make the program a perennial contender or is this a once-in-a-lifetime achievement?

I don’t think I’m in a position to accurately predict that, but a single national title doesn’t magically transform a program. After the last few years I don’t think we can call it a Cinderella Story, but there’s so much more work to do to be considered at the level of a Michigan or Alabama.

Your award winning offensive coordinator and nearly-award winning defensive coordinator have left for head coaching jobs, how are you going to approach replacing them?

We are going to get the best guys possible for those positions, we are in the process of selecting replacements so I can’t really name names. We are looking at guys outside the program, and inside the program, we aren’t counting anyone out.

Cal produced its third Heisman winner this year, pulling level with legendary programs like Michigan and Nebraska, how have you suddenly found so much success?

I have to credit the coaching staff and the players for working so hard to get so much out of their seasons. It was amazing to see Ricky [Correia] kinda cut through the position bias, but for Cheese and Dinson they are just incredible players. We are lucky to have them, they could be winning anywhere but they chose to come here and be a part of our program, be apart of what we’re building.

The Golden Bears have completely taken over the ACC, you haven’t had to sweat a slot in the title game since you surprised everyone in 2024. What do you think is behind this dominance?

There are a lot of things going on there, but I think for us it’s just everything coming together at the right time. Our program, through two coaches and different coordinators, has managed to remain consistent while the rest of the conference is in flux. I wouldn’t count any of the big names out, like Clemson or Miami, but having Florida State going through what they are going through has certainly helped us.

**bayers3** · 11-12-2024, 01:13 PM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

The recruiting season has come to a close with some familiar names taking root at the top of the list, it’s starting to become a case of the usual suspects with Georgia and Miami reaping the benefits of their pipelines. The Golden Bears, now a national champion, do not look like they will be leaving the Top 5 anytime soon.

The biggest riser in this cycle was Miami, the Hurricanes used their South Florida pipeline to have a strong close to the recruiting season. Their #4 finish is the highest in nearly a decade.

The most surprising program to remain further down the list is Oklahoma (24). The Sooners had an excellent season by finishing 2nd in the SEC, but they failed to parlay that into a higher ranked class.

2028 TOP RECRUITING CLASS

ESPN 300 Commits : 27
Top Offensive Prospect : WR Tremaine Mayweather
Top Defensive Prospect : DT Matt Gastineau

Final Ranking : 1

Kirby Smart wasn’t going to let Cal get away with the top recruiting class, even as the Golden Bears sat #1 coming into the last few weeks there was an opening for the Bulldogs to knock them off their perch. It turns out that two teams had enough of a late surge to do that, with Alabama also closing strong to take #2, but Smart’s signing of 5-star WR Tremayne Mayweather and Wake Forest QB Jeremy Hecklinski in the last week managed to hold off their SEC rivals and stay on top.

ESPN 300 Commits : 25
Top Offensive Prospect : QB T.J. Gold
Top Defensive Prospect : DT Richard Calcaterra

Final Ranking : 3

This would be an impressive haul just with Gold and Calcaterra, two Top 10 talents, but Lupoi managed to sign four 5-star prospects along with a slew of players that look like real gems. Signing fast and physical corners in Darryl Wyrick, Jordan Rosewood Jr., Xamarion Cherry, along with hard-hitting SS Harrison Jump could give Cal one of the top secondaries in the nation. Tupoi was so close to finishing with the #1 class, but he’s going to need to sign more than four 5-star prospects if he’s going to beat Georgia.

**bayers3** · 11-13-2024, 11:25 AM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

The California Golden Bears are National Champions for the first time in over a hundred years, and with that comes unique challenges for a program that hasn’t been close to this situation in the modern era. A rapid rise to prominence might be a long term status, or it might be an Icarus situation, the next few years will determine which one as Cal continues to navigate a tight financial situation.

Despite missing out on a full media share, which will continue until the 2030 season, Cal has managed to spin what they have into one of the nation’s best programs. This season may be the litmus test for those moves, primarily the change in coaching staff. After landing offensive coordinator Justin Burke and defensive coordinator Scott Symons, and both of them leading vastly improved units, it was more of a matter of when they would leave than if. It was a miracle they stayed on for a second season, with head coach Tosh Lupoi admitting they nearly left but felt there was ‘unfinished business’ in Berkeley. The national championship closed out that business, and both were reported to have accepted head coaching positions immediately after the title game. Burke moved on to Baylor after the dismissal of Dave Aranda, and Symons went back to SMU as their head coach. The financial restrictions took the form of a substantial raise for Lupoi, who was also heavily targeted in the coaching market, and internal promotions throughout the coaching staff. QB Coach / Passing Game Coordinator Marshall Claremont has been elevated to Offensive Coordinator and Tre Watson, who’s been the Defensive Backs coach since 2021, has been elevated to Defensive Coordinator. Cal’s financial grip on Lupoi is running on fumes, but that doesn’t seem to be affecting Lupoi’s plans for 2028.

SPRING ANSWERS

1 - Duane Dinson is the best QB in the nation. It’s nearly impossible to come to the conclusion that Dinson didn’t have an all-time great season last year. 8,101 passing yards with 89TD to 7INT is mind boggling, and it gets worse when you realize he had 814 rushing yards to go along with 20TD. He did it with his arms and his legs, and that was just his first season as a starter. Barring a serious injury, Dinson has the opportunity to convert his All-Time Great season into All-Time Great player. Look for GOAT signs and chants if a second Heisman looks to be in his grasp.

Dinson could be the second two-time Heisman winner in history.

2 - Cal has the best receiving corps in the nation. Speaking of winning the Heisman twice, Cal has two players with an opening to make history there. George Cheeseman would have won it last year if it wasn’t for the man throwing the ball to him, and it also didn’t help his case that another Cal player was right behind him in the voting. Darryl Hawkinson made a very convincing argument that he should be considered the nation’s top receiver in his first year as a starter, combined it’s going to be nearly impossible for teams to slow down Cal’s passing attack. If that wasn’t bad enough, the conversion to track meet is complete with Andre Onwenu earning a starting spot as WR3 over the summer. Even the backups are fast, there isn’t going to be much of a break for defenses this year.

3 - Cal’s defense is the deepest in the nation. Lupoi and Justin Wilcox did some marvelous recruiting over the past few years, and this is the year all of that hard work has blossomed into one of the best units in the nation. They might not have the best player in the nation at any position, but no team has the quality they have across the entire lineup and the backups. The defensive line is two-deep, and redshirt sophomore Marvin Wile proved himself more than capable as a freshman last year. The starting linebackers are essentially the best unit in the country, with Pitt making a run for that title, with three returning starters and a quality backup moving into the starting lineup after the summer. ROLB Jabari Uwaezuoke opted not to leave early for the NFL, and it’s likely his draft position (and bank account) will thank him for it. He figures to be called on Day 1 along with redshirt senior MLB Josh Sanford. The secondary is also deep, especially as SS and FR, the days of teams gashing Cal through the air are a thing of the past.

FALL QUESTIONS

1 - How will Cal’s players navigate national stardom? George Cheeseman was the first to break through after winning the Heisman, he’s now the face of Kraft Mac & Cheese, Cheez-It, and has appearances in Nissan Heisman House ads. He handled it well, but now it’s hard to turn on a game without seeing a Cal player. More concerning is Dinson’s addition to Fansville, a now popular “curse” that often portends an injury or severe drop in production. It’s more likely that the departure of Burke will have more of an effect, but it’s hard to ignore the added pressure the players are facing.

It’s the Cheeseman-iest!

2 - Can Lupoi do it again with a new staff? 2027 was insane, the defense was much improved but the offense was historic. Burke seemed to ease the offense away from running the ball last year, and when they had trouble running the ball they tripled down on the pass. This led to some outrageous scores, over 10,000 yards of total offense, and nearly every game was a massive blowout. Early indications are that Claremont will try to reestablish the run, similar to what Mike Bloesch did, but their spread offense was so effective it seems like it would be foolish to change too much.

3 - Who will be head coach next February? Lupoi and the players appear really sick of this line of questioning, but Cal is not in a position to compete with a number of other programs if a bidding war opens up for Lupoi’s services. He signed a new contract through 2032, but he isn’t even the highest paid coach in the ACC, the bar is low for a bigger program in the SEC or Big 10 to throw money at him and his staff. Lupoi also has the luxury of waiting for the right opening, he certainly has the roster to make another run at a national title, with all of the biggest jobs taken there isn’t an obvious landing spot if he decided to leave.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONS

Lupoi has been amazing on the recruiting trail, and his new coordinators have learned a lot under his tenure. Cal has had an embarrassment of riches on both sides of the ball, they have depth to go along with high end talent and it doesn’t look like that’s going to end anytime soon. After bringing in the 3rd ranked class, Lupoi’s second Top 10 class in a row, it’s getting harder and harder for True Freshman to break into the starting lineup.

Transfer Portal

RT Braylon Bagent (JR, Fresno State) - When Lupoi has dipped into the transfer portal it’s been for depth, and last year was more of the same. Bagent opens the season as a backup RT and figures to bring even more experience to a very experienced line that’s in the running for the nation’s top unit.

WR Kwazi Gilmer (SR, fUCLA) - Another depth signing that joins a young and talented receiving corps, he’s fast but not nearly as fast as the speedsters making up the starting lineup. He’s a solid possession option in an offense built around blazing speed, his toughness and run blocking ability could make him a popular option late in the game when Cal is trying to run out the clock.

SS Carter Schultz (SR, SD State) - Schultz is in an odd position, but figures to play an important role as backup to All-World starter Tremayne Landman. Schultz likely never had a chance at starting, barring a serious injury, but SS is the position with the weakest depth on defense. Freshman Harrison Jump is highly rated, and very talented, but he’s raw and will benefit from a year of learning under Landman and Schultz.

2028 Recruiting Class

DT Richard Calcaterra - The 2nd ranked player in the nation is an absolute mountain of a man at 6’4 340, and he will be the future of Cal’s defensive line, but Lupoi has decided to redshirt him due to the depth available. He could easily start for a number of schools in the nation, but Cal fans will need to wait a year to see if he can be as good as Ricky Correia.

QB T.J. Gold - Another Top 10 signing who would be in the running to start at just about any other school in the nation, for obvious reasons, has also been redshirted for 2028. The Las Vegas native is the best QB prospect the Golden Bears have ever signed, but fans will need to wait a year to see if he can live up to the standards set by Dinson.

CB Jordan Rosewood Jr. - He isn’t the highest rated signing, but he’s the only freshman (true or redshirt) slated to get serious playing time in 2028. Cal figures to play out of the nickel quite a bit, and Rosewood Jr. emerged from the summer as Watson’s first choice for the nickelback position in what looks to be a loaded secondary unit.

DEPTH CHART

Lupoi couldn’t have asked for a better roster to weather the transition between coordinators. Only one starter on the offensive line returns, RT Linvas Sturgis, but five upperclassmen with significant experience step right in to form one of the best lines in the nation. Dinson returns for what could be his final year if he decides to leave for the NFL early, and he will have some of the best receivers in the nation to throw to along with an unchanged depth chart at HB. Deshaun Peters steps into the starting TE spot, with some serious expectations to live up to, but depth behind him was thin enough that Lupoi moved top 2027 signing WR Tyler Pounds to TE. Pounds has added some bulk to his frame, but he figures to be a vertical threat compared to the more traditional role that most Cal TEs have filled.

Defensively, there aren’t very many changes as Cal returns a solid unit full of experienced starters and backups. DT Ben Nicholson takes over the starting spot at DT and provides enough upside that Calcaterra was redshirted, and Enrique Ordonez takes over at MLB after Jack McGhee graduated. Watson’s defense should continue to lead the nation in interceptions, especially with a crop of highly touted signings coming through the ranks.

SCHEDULE

The Golden Bears have one of the toughest schedules in the nation, but get a bit of a break in ACC play. They open the season against #23 Tennessee in the Camping World Kickoff, then host #20 Utah, UCF, and #22 Tulane.

They open conference play against #24 Miami, travel to Clemson and Florida State, and get #15 Georgia Tech. A very manageable conference slate that should see them make the ACC title game once again.

**redsox907** · 11-13-2024, 08:30 PM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

quality write ups as always

One thing that I wish I saw more was freshman who came in with an immediate impact. I've seen redditt posts of true freshman recruits at 85+, but have never seen one myself. I've had a few guys start right away in a mostly platoon role or because there was no depth at the position, but like you I end up redshirting most of my recruiting classes because of the depth I've had

**bayers3** · 11-14-2024, 11:34 AM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

Originally posted by redsox907

quality write ups as always

One thing that I wish I saw more was freshman who came in with an immediate impact. I've seen redditt posts of true freshman recruits at 85+, but have never seen one myself. I've had a few guys start right away in a mostly platoon role or because there was no depth at the position, but like you I end up redshirting most of my recruiting classes because of the depth I've had

I've ended up with some 4-Star gems that were able to step in due to existing depth (SS Landman, FS Scoot Henderson) but I haven't landed a 5-Star Gem yet.

**bayers3** · 11-14-2024, 11:37 AM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

The ACC is Cal’s to lose as they separate themselves from the pack, the Golden Bears are the ACC’s first national champion since 2018 when Clemson won it. The rest of the conference has shown little ability to unseat them, and the 2028 version of Cal has a chance to be even better than last year. Can anyone put together a season good enough to push them for the ACC title? There is so much chaos outside of Cal, with a number of new coaches stepping into bad situations, and a number of coaches that have long tenures looking like they might be out of a job soon.

Can any of the traditional powers get their programs back in order? The NIL era has caused the gap between the haves and have-nots to widen, but none of the ACC teams have been able to take advantage. Will the ACC sink below the Big 12 in the conference prestige standings?

BIG MEN ON CAMPUS

QB Duane Dinson (California) - The defending Heisman Trophy winner isn’t just a big man on campus at this point, he might be THE big man on campus. Dinson and his WR1 are now national figures, national champions, and the most productive QB-WR pairing in college football history.

QB K.C Kilgo (North Carolina) - After struggling to produce high-end QB the ACC has finally produced a number of them, and Kilgo might be the best behind Dinson. He’s becoming North Carolina’s most recognizable player, and could be the key to getting them back into the ACC title picture.

TE Kevin Gono (Louisville) - The redshirt sophomore is a bit of an unconventional pick, but the ACC is starting to become TE country with Louisville as the Capital. With Cal’s Vai Bush leaving for the draft, the door for Gono is wide open to be the ACC’s next TE to be selected in the 1st round of the NFL Draft.

DT Jelani Chunn (Georgia Tech) - With the Yellow Jackets making a surprise run at the ACC title, the 6’3 301 DT is starting to get a lot of attention from the media and NFL scouts. He’s been compared to Aaron Donald, but Jalen Carter might be a better comp. Either way, if he continues to improve he could start his NFL career as a Top 10 pick.

QB Eric Cookus (SMU) - The redshirt junior doesn’t appear to have the ceiling Kilgo does, but his arms and his legs are going to help SMU try to get back into contention. There are reports that SMU’s Boulevard Collective raised an NIL deal that’s one of the most lucrative in the conference.

SEASON PREDICTIONS

Conference Title / CFP Contenders

Head Coach : Tosh Lupoi (3rd Year)

The ACC is Cal’s to lose, and it isn’t even close. Lupoi returns so much starting talent that going 16-0 again seems more likely than losing a single conference game. They have one of the best and deepest offensive lines in the country, they have two Heisman trophy winners on offense, and they have depth and talent at HB and WR. If you really want to find an issue with their offense, the loss of TE Vai Bush might hurt. His replacement, Deshaun Peters, is more of a blocking TE and they might not be as dangerous with passes up the middle. Their defense is also very good, there is an opening for the transition between Scott Symons and Tre Watson to be rough, but “rough” for Cal would probably still be a Top 25 defense.

Can Lupoi keep Cal on top?

The Golden Bears have a tough ACC slate, facing #24 Miami, at Clemson, and #15 Georgia Tech.

Head Coach : Dabo Swinney (18th Year)

Aside from Cal, it’s getting harder and harder to populate this tier, but it’s also hard to count Clemson out just yet. Swinney hasn’t put his team in the title game since 2022, but they continue to be very tantalizing on paper. Unfortunately for Clemson, paper doesn’t win games, and Swinney is starting to feel his seat get hot. A decent 8-5 season looks much worse with a 4-4 record in their conference, so Swinney is running out of runway despite how talented his roster is. Complicating issues for 2028, long time DC Wes Goodwin left for an NFL position during the winter and was replaced by Georgia’s secondary coach Derron Marshall. It isn’t quite Swinney firing staff to save his job, but he desperately needs some kind of turnaround or an extended run at the ACC title game.. The roster remains talented, with Junior WR Daniel Sundberg one of the fastest and most NFL-ready receivers in the nation. Senior HB Braydon Cantu also looks destined to play on Sunday, along with an offensive line and secondary that will keep this team competitive in just about any game. This year, Swinney’s roster issue is going to be at QB where his refusal to dip into the transfer market has created an ugly four-way battle for the starting spot. Redshirt Sophomore Duke Nagy is leading the race, but redshirt Juniors Hugh Singletary and Ben Tye bring similar skill sets and slightly more experience. If Clemson remains outside the Top 25, this could easily be the reason.

The Tigers have one of the toughest schedules of anyone in the ACC, if Swinney can’t get his team to 10 wins he can point at their schedule and nobody will fault him. Non-conference games against #2 USC and #7 South Carolina will push them to their limits, and then a tough four week stretch of NC State, #1 Cal, #15 Georgia Tech, and #24 Miami will put their ACC title credentials to the test.

Head Coach : Mario Cristobal (7th Year)

Cristobal is another poor season away from falling out of this tier, but his roster is so talented and he’s recruiting so well that it’s just so hard to count them out for a place in the ACC title game just yet. Of the more senior coaches in the conference, his seat might be the hottest, a 7-6 finish will not sit well in Coral Gables year after year. Cristobal and Swinney could have a lot to talk about this year in terms of their roster, with Miami sporting an excellent offensive line and a deep defensive depth chart. Redshirt Junior WR Richard Stewart should fuel their passing game, but once again the Hurricanes lack a high end passer. Since Cam Ward’s single season, Cristobal has been unable to recruit a real long term solution under center. Senior redshirt QB Judd Anderson is the assumed starter, but his leash could be very short with redshirt Junior Bryan Provo and high-upside redshirt Freshman Tyrell Carney waiting in the wings. The Hurricanes will be able to run the ball, but they won’t fare well in a shootout unless their secondary can shut down the opposition.

Miami’s schedule is fairly lenient, but a game against Northern Colorado might hurt their strength of schedule if things go well. An opening game against #13 LSU will be a good litmus test, they also get USF and a road game at Liberty. In the ACC they face #1 Cal early, #15 Georgia Tech, and road trips at Clemson and Florida State.

Top 25

Head Coach : Hank Springer (4th Year)

Pitt is a difficult team to read for 2028, but they start with the benefit of the doubt. Springer managed to parlay a mid-conference roster into a 10-2 regular season, just barely missing out on the ACC title game, and a #5 ranking heading into the College Football Playoff. By virtue of sitting out the title game, they were primed to walk into the playoffs. Their appearance did not go well, losing 31-28 to #11 Tulane, but Tulane would go all the way to the semi-final before losing 56-17 to #6 Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. On paper, this does not look like a 10-win team anymore, but Springer could pull it off again. All of their strength is on defense, specifically their linebackers, with redshirt Senior MJ Johnson tipped to be the top linebacker taken in the NFL draft. They retain a solid offensive line, which they are going to need because Pitt is another team trying to decide between four QB to start the season. Redshirt Senior QB Julian Dugger has the slight lead, but redshirt Junior Imani Dzubar is more of a traditional pocket passer and could get the call if the passing game falters.

The Panthers may have hit on a secret to winning 10 games; have a super easy schedule. They open the season against #6 Notre Dame, but then manage to avoid all of the ranked ACC teams aside from a final game against #19 Boston College. The chances that Boston College is not ranked by then are good.

Head Coach : Peppo Mueller (1st Year)

NC State, despite a solid roster, fell flat in 2027 and it cost Dave Doeren his job. This is another program that recently won the ACC but now finds themselves lost in the good-roster-bad-results limbo. Mueller will take over a team that just barely qualified for a bowl game, then promptly lost it, while finishing 4-4 in conference play. Mueller inherits a solid roster with depth on both sides of the ball, but he’s going to need to make some schematic changes or risk falling flat again. One thing pointing to potential success, but danger in 2029, is the number of upperclassmen forming the core of this team on both sides of the ball. Redshirt senior WR Terrell Anderson leads yet another offense without a high end QB1, but at least Mueller has a definite QB1 in redshirt senior Brayden Casey. Doeren left the QB in decent shape for 2029, with four freshman waiting once Casey graduates, but that means heading into a season with zero starting experience under center.

NC State will get a nicely balanced schedule with some tough games, but also enough fixtures where they should be favorites unless things really fall apart. #8 Auburn, East Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Troy fill out a good non-conference slate. In the ACC they get #24 Miami, Clemson, #5 Pitt, and close out the season against North Carolina.

Head Coach : Ian Liberty (3rd Year)

The Tarheels are right there with NC State in the grouping of schools with roster talent but no results. Liberty, just a year removed from playing in the ACC title game, struck out in Year 2 with a 7-6 finish. They were 5-3 in the ACC, but were beaten up 1-3 in non-conference play. They did manage to win their bowl game, but 2027 was clearly a step backwards. Liberty will need to make more of North Carolina’s strength, with one of the most talented defenses outside of Berkeley. Redshirt senior RE Daniel Anderson leads a tough defensive line along with redshirt senior DT Ken Whittington, this is definitely a defense based on a tough defensive line that can stop the run and create pressure. Amazingly, we’ve gone this far down the list before hitting an elite QB not named Duane Dinson. Redshirt sophomore K.C. Kilgo looks like the future in Chapel Hill and should be able to raise the floor on this offense.

The Tarheels have landed a schedule that should cap their ceiling, but there’s no reason they can’t win 8 games if they can go on a hot streak. They open the season at #7 South Carolina, and get Eastern Washington, James Madison, and Washington State outside the ACC. In conference they face #15 Georgia Tech, Clemson, #24 Miami, and #5 Pitt.

Going Bowling

Head Coach : Matt Ashley (1st Year)

In one of the oddest coaching changes of the offseason, a disagreement between HC Richard Sykes and the AD boiled over and Skyes was fired after only a single season. Ashley takes over a team that looked ready to be competitive , finished 8-5, but really fell apart with a 3-5 record in the ACC. Whatever happened, Ashley can boast one of the best TE in the nation in redshirt sophomore Kevin Gono. Ashley is going to be able to field one of the best receiving corps in the conference, Gono is joined by redshirt senior WR Tyrus Wheeler and junior WR Kelvin Tiffin, and a second very good TE in Harrison Bolan. Their weakness, like so many teams in the ACC, is getting someone to throw the ball to them. The Cardinals are looking at four lackluster QBs, with redshirt junior George West the favorite to take the job. It’s going to be frustrating to see Louisville send out four really good receivers with no high end HB or QB to really open up the passing game. This roster should be good enough for 6-6 to be the bare minimum.

The Cardinals schedule is another one that’s going to test a first year HC. They open the season at Texas A&M, get a visit from #11 Illinois, and finish their season against Kentucky. In the ACC, they open conference play at Florida State before facing #19 Boston College, #1 Cal, NC State, Clemson, and #15 Georgia Tech.

Head Coach : Marcus Coleman (2nd Year)

Much like Pitt, Coleman may have managed to punch above his weight class. It’s hard to pick them to repeat their 10-4 2027, particularly the 7-1 conference record, but a bowl game should feel like the bare minimum for this team. Much like North Carolina, they have a very good defensive line that’s going to make everyone struggle against their front. Redshirt sophomore DT Jelani Chunn exploded onto the scene in 2027 and has been tracked by ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. as a potential early entry into the NFL draft. Making things worse for opposing offenses are redshirt senior RE Camden Hardy, another NFL prospect, and redshirt junior LE Craig Hendricks. On top of the tough defense, the Yellow Jackets enter the season with a very good QB in redshirt senior Graham Knowles. Knowles passing could make or break this Georgia Tech team, he’s going to need to elevate what talent he has around him or there’s no chance they get to 10 wins again.

Georgia Tech’s schedule is not conducive to getting back to 10 wins, they might just be happy to make a bowl game. Non-conference games against #4 Oklahoma and a rivalry game against #12 Georgia will make 10-2 their ceiling, and ACC games against #24 Miami, #19 Boston College, Clemson, and #1 Cal will cut into their win total.

Head Coach : Chad Butters (3rd Year)

The Hokies took further steps backwards last year and limped to a 5-7 finish that saw them go 3-4 in the ACC. Butters’ team could be interesting, with a roster built around strength in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and their top offensive weapon redshirt senior HB Tyler Mason. Their top receiver, redshirt senior WR Keylen Adams, has been successful recently but tends to be most dangerous as a kick returner. This team should be better than 6-6, but it’s all going to come down to redshirt junior QB Matt Sulak’s ability to make things happen on offense. He’s beaten out redshirt senior Davi Belfort based solely on the strength of his legs, but Virginia Tech is going to need more from it’s offense than scrambling to keep it bowl eligible.

The Hokies find themselves in a good spot in terms of their schedule, but it isn’t easy my any metric. Non-conference games against Liberty, Old Dominion, Maryland, and #6 Notre Dame will be a challenge. They also manage to dodge most of the tough matchups in the ACC, getting just #19 Boston College and #24 Miami late in the year.

Head Coach : Bill O’Brien (5th Year)

O’Brien is a coaching wizard, that’s the only way to explain their run of recent success. They finished 8-5, 5-3 in the ACC, with a roster that you would not pick to finish much above 6-6. They open the season at #19, so the AP doesn’t believe it’s all smoke and mirrors, but this is probably the least talented roster among the teams likely to make a bowl game. Their best player is redshirt junior RE Elliot Kush, and then it’s just a decent offensive line and some minor defensive standouts like redshirt senior CB Bradley Joyner. Redshirt junior HB Kevin Sash carries the offense while O’Brien, like so many ACC teams, wades through an unexciting collection of QBs. Redshirt junior QB Zach Strong, nearly by default, is getting the nod over freshman Jared McGann to start the season. If things so south, O’Brien might want to cut bait on Strong and give McGann starting experience headed into 2029.

A non-conference opener against #12 Georgia probably won’t end well, but games against FCS Merrimack, Army, and UMass should put them in a position to get to a bowl game. In conference they face #15 Georgia Tech and #5 Pitt while avoiding all of the traditional powers outside of (spiraling) Florida State.

Down & Out

Head Coach : Dom Bragg (1st Year)

Mike Norvell’s seat has been scorching hot for some time now, and a 5-7 season that included a 2-6 mark in conference play was enough to get him fired. One issue keeping him in Tallahassee was the massive extension handed to him in 2024 by AD Michael Alford, who was also fired this offseason, which locked him up through 2031. Things were bad enough last year for Florida State to eat a $42.2M buyout and hire Dom Bragg as his replacement. Bragg inherits a talented roster, but no team has managed to do less with so much than the Seminoles and they finally find themselves in this tier for the time being. This roster is a bit of a mess, but still has a selection of very talented players. They just have oddities like three starting caliber HB (Redshirt junior Lionel Ford, redshirt senior Kam Davis, and junior Jerome Devoe), but a fairly thin offensive line. They also have one of the least effective defensive lines in the conference, but have some very talented players in their secondary. Bragg will have a good, not great, selection of QB. The frontrunner is redshirt senior Trever Jackson, but he could easily lose his spot to redshirt junior Jalen Rawlings or redshirt freshman De’Angelo Maybin. No team in the ACC has a wider spread between their floor and ceiling, they could finish 4-8 or 8-4 (4-8 is more likely, see their schedule below).

Bragg isn’t going to have an easy time in Year 1, road trips to Iowa State and #12 Georgia will likely put them in a hole before getting into their ACC schedule. In conference, it’s almost as bad. They face #5 Pitt in Week 4, and then go on a brutal run starting in Week 9. #1 Cal, #19 Boston College, #24 Miami, Clemson, and then finish the season against Florida.

Head Coach : Scott Symons (1st Year)

SMU has turned into the “they were how bad?!” team in the ACC, now on their third HC since joining the conference. Jim Walters, who reportedly barely lasted two years, was not the answer after Rhett Lashlee. A good roster with talent on both sides of the ball, and a very good QB, but they just imploded last year and finished 4-8. That 4-8 looks much worse considering they were 1-7 in the ACC, so a 3-1 start turned into a dumpster fire. In comes former SMU and Cal DC Symons, and he has too many good players to finish 4-8 again. The Mustangs defense is loaded with linebackers and talent in the secondary, but Symons is going to need to hit the recruiting trail hard to find answers for his anemic defensive line. He has offensive line issues as well, but he might be able to paper over that thanks to the talent available under center. Redshirt junior QB Eric Cookus is one of the best QBs in the conference, and his legs make him even more dangerous despite not having the best weapons to work with.

SMU, much like Pitt, have discovered that an easy schedule can help you recover from a brutal season. Symons will have a few tough games, mainly #5 Pitt and #1 Cal, but their non-conference schedule is very manageable beyond a road trip to Ole Miss.

Head Coach : Jon Carroll (4th Year)

The Cardinal have been bad under Carroll, but it’s hard to pinpoint a reason why. They finished 5-7, 4-4 in the ACC, but they have a roster that should at least be able to get them to 6-6. A good offensive line, and a few solid weapons on offense should be enough to elevate them, but it hasn’t yet. They do boast one of the better receivers in the conference, redshirt senior WR Emmettt Mosley, and a talented passer to get him the ball in redshirt senior QB Elijah Brown. They also have a good HB in redshirt senior Trent Parrish, perhaps this iteration will be enough to get over .500.

Stanfurd get one of the more balanced schedules in the ACC, with their locked in rivalry games representing their hardest contests. Non-conference games against Fresno State, Sacramento State, South Alabama, and #6 Notre Dame should give them a shot at being 3-1. In the ACC they only get #5 Pitt, #19 Boston College, and #1 Cal.

Head Coach : Wyatt Emmett (2nd Year)

Syracuse is moving quickly in the wrong direction, and on some level it isn’t hard to see why. Emmett hasn’t recruited all that well, and while they sport decent units in both trenches the squad has been hollowed out in terms of skill positions on offense. Redshirt junior Rashaun Hay is their best receiver, but he’s all by himself and it makes it easier for teams to scheme for them. Under center, it’s nearly as bad, with redshirt senior QB Peter Kingsbury the best option from a middling QB depth chart. This isn’t necessarily a bad roster, but they could very easily be 4-8 again this year.

The Orange will likely start the season 0-2, thanks to games against Kansas State and #10 Penn State. They dodge all of the traditional ACC powers, but draw three ranked opponents in #1 Cal, #5 Pitt, and #19 Boston College.

Head Coach : Bryan Warren (4th Year)

Warren has a mess on his hands after somehow getting this team to 7-6 last year. Virginia falls into the archetype of rosters with serious weaknesses on the offensive and defensive lines, but a smattering of talent at receiver and in the secondary. Warren is blessed with one of the better QB options in the ACC, redshirt junior QB Kareem Rugamba is an undersized scrambler with a single weapon available to him (redshirt senior WR Kameron Courtney). It would be very impressive for Warren to get this roster to a bowl game again in 2028.

A tough non-conference schedule balances a much easier conference schedule, but this team isn’t going to escape trouble via their schedule. Games against #4 Oklahoma, Indiana, and Nevada will probably leave them hurting for wins. In the ACC they only get Clemson, #19 Boston College., and #15 Georgia Tech.

Bottom 10 Material

Head Coach : Dave Clawson (15th Year)

Things are looking bleak for Wake Forest after a 3-9 season saw their starting QB leave for Georgia in the transfer portal. Clawson continues to get farther from his appearance in the 2021 ACC title game, and it’s hard to see them out performing this tier. All of their best players are on defense, and their offensive line might be the worst in the conference. Redshirt sophomore HB Emeka Rust is now their best player on offense, but without a solid QB that isn’t saying much. Clawson is starting all over again under center after QB Jeremy Hecklinski bolted for the portal, redshirt sophomore QB Clayton Davis has the leg up at taking over. Clawson either needs a miracle or more time to turn things around.

Being one of the worst teams in the ACC may have some scheduling advantages, and they will need all the help they can get. They open with a rough run of non-conference games against #3 Michigan, Purdue, UConn, and East Carolina. In the ACC they dodge all of the ranked teams aside from #15 Georgia Tech and get a home game against Florida State.

Head Coach : Chris Cooper (1st Year)

Another 4-8 finish, this time they weren’t the worst team in the ACC, and Duke decided to fire HC Will Cutler. In comes Chris Cooper to try and salvage a roster that shouldn’t be Bottom 10 material on paper. Duke is stuck in this tier because they keep finishing as one of the worst teams in the ACC no matter who they have available. What they do have, is a solid offensive line, at least at the interior, and one of the more exciting QBs in the conference. Redshirt sophomore QB Terrance Kush is reminiscent of Eric Cookus at SMU, he’s a tall mobile QB with a strong arm who could carry an offense under the right conditions.

Cooper is really getting thrown in the deep end thanks to their schedule. A visit from #18 TCU in Week 2 would be bad enough for this team, but they also get a road game at #13 LSU in Week 8 to make things worse. In the ACC, it’s no better, with a stretch of games against Florida State, #5 Pitt, the LSU game, and #24 Miami. The only game they are favored in is their opening game against FCS Western Carolina.

FIVE BEST ACC GAMES OF 2028

Here are the five conference games that feature (a) the highest combined SP+ ratings for both teams and (b) a projected scoring margin under 10 points, or a must watch / unique matchup.

Pitt at Florida State (Week 4) - A bad team with a great roster against a good team with a bad roster? This has to be interesting, plus it will be an early test for a Pitt squad entering the season ranked #5. This could be a statement of intent for the Panthers, keeping themselves above the Seminoles and heaping more misery on a program in distress.

California at Miami (Week 5) - This could either be a preview of the ACC title game, or Cal giving everyone more proof of how wide the gap is between them and the rest of the conference. Ranked matchups between ACC teams have been rare in recent seasons.

Georgia Tech at Miami (Week 6) - This isn’t just a potential ranked matchup, it could show us how Miami reacts after a likely loss to Cal. If Miami loses to Cal and then folds against Georgia Tech it could knock them out of the ACC title race and put Georgia Tech in a position to get back to it.

California at Clemson (Week 8) - Same as the Miami game, but deeper in the season with more info on both teams. Either way, the #1 team visiting Death Valley should be fun.

Miami at Clemson (Week 10) - If everything works out well, this could decide who makes it to the ACC title game, or at the very least put one of these teams in the driver’s seat. Both of these teams have the rosters to be #2 & #3 in the ACC, but past seasons have shown it doesn’t always work out like that.

Boston College at Pitt (Week 12) - This looks fun on paper right now, with Pitt and Georgia Tech two of the few ranked teams in the ACC. Will they both be ranked by this point? Probably not, but it could also be a win-and-you’re-in type game with the ACC title game.

**bayers3** · 11-15-2024, 01:32 PM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

The ESPN 300 for college football's 20296 recruiting class has debuted, as our scouts have spent the past several months evaluating prospects at multiple camps, combines and workouts. While we prioritize our rankings off game tape, our supplemental spring evaluations are instrumental in showing physical and athletic development from the fall.

A very balances Top 10 sees a wide array of prospects, only WR shows up more than once. We also see a bit of a shift after the Southeast dominated last year, now it’s the Midwest making a strong showing. A strong year from Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan balance out several players from Texas.

Top Prospects

LT Gage Quarshie

Ranking : No. 1 (LT No. 1)
Uncommitted

At 6’6 309 the Bentonville HS product certainly looks the part of a top LT prospect, and he’s got a number of SEC schools after his signature. Coming from Centerton, it’s no surprise that Arkansas is strongly linked with him.

WR Tye McConnell

Ranking : No. 2 (WR No. 1)
Uncommitted

There is some debate as to his future position, at WR or TE, but the 6’5 200 receiver should excel no matter where he lands. It’s more likely he stick at WR unless he puts on some weight, but the Colleyville TX pass catcher will have plenty of options next year. LSU and SMU are currently the frontrunners to sign him.

WR Marcus Washington

Ranking : No. 3 (WR No. 2)
Uncommitted

There is an argument that Washington should be the top rated WR, but in the end he fell behind McConnell due to an injury that held him out for a few games. That shouldn’t diminish what Washington has done for Seattle powerhouse Bellvue, at 6’4 with game breaking speed he has drawn comparisons to Cal’s George Cheeseman. Those comparisons might be more about Cal being massive favorites to land the receiver. Initially Oregon, Ohio State, and USC had their hats in the ring but recent reports have them moving on.

LE Marques Busby

Ranking : No. 4 (LE No. 1)
Uncommitted

Coming out of Loyola Academy in the Chicago area, Busby has attracted interest from across the country. Cal, Michigan, USC, and Georgia have opened up the season as favorites to bring in this bruising 6’3 304 defensive end. He has excelled in a 3-4 system this year, and at his size he could move into a DT position if needed at the next level.

QB Khari Boothe

Ranking : No. 5 (QB No. 1)
Uncommitted

Boothe enters the season as the top signal caller in a cramped Top 15, and he has a number of schools in the Carolinas after him. Clemson, South Carolina, NC State, and North Carolina are in a tough contest to sign the Charlotte native. Georgia is also in the race, and knowing Kirby Smart he might be able to steal him away from his home state.

**bayers3** · 11-16-2024, 05:46 PM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

ESPN 300 Commits : None
Top Offensive Prospect : None
Top Defensive Prospect : None

Previous Ranking : N/A

Tosh Lupoi is coming out swinging on the recruiting trail with an incredibly ambitious class. Early indications are that he’ll be able to claim at least one five-star prospect, WR Marcus Washington seems to be a lock for Berkeley. Outside of that, the Golden Bears are going heavy on defense and the offensive line at the top of their potential class,

Lupoi has really spoiled Cal since taking over, and their roster is solid enough that they aren’t desperate to fill any positions or patch up some depth with freshmen. It’s likely they lose a lot of players to graduation or the NFL after this season, but they have enough talented depth that few of these prospects will be pushed into a starting role. Anyone starting will have to earn it, and with the talent on hand anyone starting will have to be an elite prospect.

TOP TARGETS

**bayers3** · 11-17-2024, 06:39 PM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

The 2028 Heisman race is not a mystery, in theory it comes down to three players and the voters seem to have forgotten who they are. What’s even more confusing is that the preseason favorites are almost all WR, but not the ones that should be included. Once the season starts this list will change rapidly, it’s more likely we will have a repeat winner than a new one.

TOP CONTENDERS

Alabama WR Ryan Williams

An excellent player with the speed to stretch defenses deep, but unlike the next two players on this list he’s playing for a team that doesn’t open the season ranked. Alabama has been struggling the past few seasons under HC Kalen DeBoer, even if Williams has a good season he might be hurt by an underperforming Crimson Tide..

Notre Dame WR Cam Williams

This Williams has the benefit of being on a highly ranked team that has been playing well over the past few years, losing to Cal in the national title game hasn’t hurt the Fighting Irish brand one bit. It’s been 40 years since they last won it, but everyone loves to see them succeed. A deep run combined with a great season might see Williams stay on this list, but he’s got two guys in Berkeley waiting to knock him off.

Georgia WR Nitro Tuggle

Same situation as Williams, but a MUCH better name. Tuggle lives up to his name with excellent speed and great hands, he’s definitely going to be playing on Sunday next year.

USF HB Alvon Isaac

Isaac is in the Ashton Jeanty zone, and it’s likely he’ll have serious competition as the season starts. Isaac probably needs to have a historic Barry Sanders-esque season to overcome playing for USF.

NC State WR Terrell Anderson

Another excellent receiver who’s quick in and out of routes and good at contested catches. It’s a bold pick by the voters considering who else is in the ACC.

OBLIGATORY MENTION

California QB Duane Dinson

Dinson is the defending Heisman winner, he still has two years of eligibility left, and he could easily throw for over 5000 yards again. He’s a heavy betting favorite to win it again, and as long as he has WR George Cheeseman and WR Darryl Hawkinson to throw to he’s going to be hard to beat.

**bayers3** · 11-18-2024, 10:24 AM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

**bayers3** · 11-18-2024, 09:41 PM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

ORLANDO, FL - It took a national title, but the Golden Bears are finally an opening weekend headliner. The defending champs would head to Florida to participate in their first Camping World Kickoff in a regular season neutral site game. The last time the Vols played Cal they lost 45-31 in 2007, this threatens to be a very different experience for the SEC powerhouse.

“Everyone is exciting to face the champs,” said Tennessee HC Josh Heupel, “but we are all back to zero right now. It’s time to stake our claim.”

The Vols ‘claim’ moved so quickly in the wrong direction for them, helped along by their hurry-up offense, that their fans barely knew what was happening.

A very rapid three-and-out, that saw the Vols gain a single yard, yielded to a Cal offense that only needed two plays to go 81 yards for a TD. QB Duane Dinson would hit a wide open WR George Cheeseman for a 70-yard TD that would leave half the Vols team trailing behind him.

Cheeseman is back in form already.

Heupel would have more to be concerned about than being down 7-0 after their second possession, another three-and-out that featured a single completed pass for 4 yards would leave the Vols searching for ways to keep Cal off the field. They would get an immediate reminder of why that’s important, with Dinson hitting WR Darry Hawkinson with a deep ball for a 71-yard TD on their first play.

They would get two more reminders after some minor success moving the ball, but ultimately their punter would be very busy. A 4-play 96-yard drive would result in another long TD pass to Cheeseman, and their next possession would be a single play for 64 yards to Cheeseman for a TD.

Heupel would see the 1st quarter end with his side down 28-0, but more concerning was Cal outgaining Tennessee 383 to 58. If they couldn’t get things going, there might be a triple digit scoreline to deal with. At least the Vols managed to avoid any turnovers to start the game.

The 2nd quarter wouldn’t be much better, but they would manage to keep Cal from scoring another 28. Dinson would hit Hawkinson for his second TD of the game, and then HB Deuce Linwood would score his first of the season with an 8-yard run. With the Vols trying to limit the Golden Bears prolific wide receivers, it would take them a little longer to make their way down the field in the 2nd, but it would open them up down the middle. Dinson would close out Cal’s first half scoring streak with a 34-yard TD to TE DeShaun Peters.

Tennessee QB Larry Ahmed would have his best drive of the half after getting the ball just at the 2-minute warning. It wouldn’t be enough time, but they would get on the scoreboard thanks to K Dwayne Ali hitting a 39-yard FG as time expired.

The 2nd half would be the best example of how things will change under OC Marshall Claremont compared to Justin Burke. A 49-3 lead might have seen Cal continue throwing the ball until the 4th, but for this game they went right to the running game. It did help that Ahmed opened the 3rd quarter with a strip sack courtesy of DT Quincy Crocker, giving Cal the ball on their own 31.

Dinson would log two rushing TD in the 3rd quarter before being replaced by QB Walt Ricci. Linwood would also take a seat after a solid 156 yards on 21 carries. HB Larry Hall, a nearly forgotten man under Burke, would take over and lead the scoring in the 4th quarter with 138 yards and 2TD on 17 carries.

THE TAKEAWAY

Dinson looks like he’s just bringing his 2027 Heisman campaign with him. 609 passing yards and 6 passing TDs to go with 118 rushing and 3TD of his own is unbelievable. The Vols walked into a buzz saw today, it will be hard to deny Cal is a favorite to repeat as national champions.

UP NEXT

California : Home against Utah.

**redsox907** · 11-19-2024, 09:44 AM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

the train's still rollin after the natty win and of course cheeseman is the cheeziest still

Scary times for the ACC having to face your trio of playmakers

Bear Territory : California CF25

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