Bear Territory : California CF25

**bayers3** · 09-11-2024, 09:24 AM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

Another great season for Cal falls short of their first outright conference title in 67 years, but that’s hardly a reason to mark it as a disappointment. Having the best offense in the nation while adding their first Heisman Trophy is certainly something to celebrate, Justin Wilcox will need to work hard to keep them at the same level for 2026.

2025 ACC FINAL STANDINGS

2025 FINAL RANKINGS

CALIFORNIA TOP PERFORMERS

Offense : QB Fernando Mendoza - Byron Cardwell made a run at this, thanks to his record setting season, but Mendoza managed to improve on 2024 and kept the team moving. Even with his interceptions, which cost them dearly in both games against Louisville, he was one of the nation’s top QB. On top of all that, he enters 2026 with the opportunity to blow past Jared Goff (12,200 yards) as Cal’s all-time leading passer. After passing for 4,470 yards this year and 4,411 last year he sits at 10,590. He’s also a single passing TD away from Goff’s career mark (96), so it won’t take him long to walk away with both of those records.

Defense : DT Ricky Correia - Improving on 2024 and bringing home Cal’s first Heisman makes him an easy choice. For a team that doesn’t blitz and rarely gets pressure on the QB, Correia was able to do it when teams made the mistake of trying to block him one-on-one. Winning the Heisman puts Correia in the running as Cal’s best defender of all time, not just the season.

Special Teams : K Ryan Coe - Once again Coe escapes his FG kicking troubles by preventing opponents from returning the ball.

2025 CALIFORNIA AWARD WINNERS & ALL AMERICANS

Correia did not leave any awards left for anyone else, he leaves Cal as the most decorated player in program history. Cardwell and Endries dominated in their categories as well, and Crosby also managed to repeat as the nation’s top defensive secondary. Somehow the All-American voters were not nearly as impressed with Cal, leaving off the Heisman Memorial and Jim Thorpe Award winners.

Heisman Memorial Trophy : DT Ricky Correia
Chuck Bednarik Award : DT Ricky Correia
Lombardi Award : DT Ricky Correia
Doak Walker Award : RB Byron Cardwell
John Mackey Award : TE Jack Endries
Jim Thorpe Award : SS Isaiah Crosby
Rimington Trophy : C Jake Mills

First Team All Americans
RB Byron Cardwell
TE Jack Endries
LT Xavier Gregory
C Jake Mills

Second Team All Americans
RE Ethan Saunders

2026 OUTLOOK

Needs Improvement - Peter Sirmon has his work cut out for him, Cal’s defense wasn’t great but it did improve. The loss of Correia is going to leave a substantial hole at DT, but the addition of Tanuvasa should help Wilcox develop a long term successor. The defense is also low hanging fruit for this topic because it’s hard to imagine the offense getting any better, in comparison the defense is Cal’s Achilles Heel. If Sirmon can work out a way to keep opponents under 30 every week, there is a chance nobody could stop Cal.

On The Right Track - This segment is starting to sound like a broken record, but the offense is right where it needs to be. Mendoza will be back for his senior year while the Cardwell-Hall backfield remains intact, Mike Bloesch just needs to keep doing what they did this year. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it is likely the approach here.

**bayers3** · 09-11-2024, 10:47 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 Justin Wilcox after his second season in the ACC and discuss the 2025 as well as next season.

You had a long run of East Coast road games, losing the final one to Louisville, how do you think that affected your team?

Well it wasn’t good, I’d like to avoid four straight road games, but I don’t control the schedule. I’m not going to blame our loss on that, we just didn’t execute in that game and Louisville is too good to let that slip by. You can see what happened in the title game, we aren’t going to blame the schedule for losing.

Did you ever think Ricky Correia would be Cal’s first Heisman winner?

I would be lying if I said ‘yes,’ and I think anyone would be lying if they said that just based on how voting has gone. [Charles] Woodson winning it was wild when it happened, but he took snaps on offense and returned punts as well. I don’t think a DT winning it was ever really considered until he started piling up sacks and taking over games. He had some real Heisman moments, but I think the four sacks in the first half of the Big Game did it, really won it for him. He’s a great player, I think he’ll do big things in the NFL.

You set a new school record with 12 wins this year, but you missed the College Football Playoff. How did you and your players handle that?

We were a little disappointed to miss out on the playoff, but it was one of the best seasons in school history on and off the field. We are loving it, we aren’t yet at a level where you get driven out of town if you don’t win the National Title, that’s where we would like to be! We had so many players recognized this year, everything is moving in the right direction.

How do you see the team developing in 2026?

At the moment it’s hard to say because we are losing quite a few players to the draft or graduation, but we feel really good about the players we’ve brought in. Lots of open competitions on both sides of the ball, plus we have some important transfers coming in. I’m very optimistic about next year, I think we can take the next step as a program and make some noise in the playoff or with the conference.

**bayers3** · 09-12-2024, 02:45 PM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

It looked like business as usual for a while, with Georgia holding the top class for most of the year, but they fell away as the window closed and the Fighting Irish take the top spot. Miami and Oregon continue to loom, with both teams keeping themselves in the Top 5 thanks to a rich recruiting ground (Miami) and an expanding national reach (Oregon).

The biggest risers in this cycle were Cal, who managed to top their 17th ranked class from last year, and North Carolina (14th). The Golden Bears continue their march toward the top and don’t look to be slowing down.

The most surprising programs to fall in the rankings were Texas (20th) and Oklahoma (28th), Brent Venables needs to start being concerned after the Sooners second straight year outside the Top 25. A program of their size, with the SEC to sell, should be fighting for a spot in the Top 10.

2026 TOP RECRUITING CLASS

ESPN 300 Commits : 20
Top Offensive Prospect : WR Chester Duff
Top Defensive Prospect : DT Isaac Whitehead

Final Ranking : 1

It was close, but in the end Marcus Freeman managed to pip Kirby Smart and Mario Cristobal to the title. Signing six 5-star prospects, including the nation’s top QB in Plano, TX product Bryan Roche, is a good way to put yourself on top. Freeman invested heavily on offense, adding three 5-star HB to go along with Duff and Roche.

ESPN 300 Commits : 15
Top Offensive Prospect : WR Darryl Hawkinson
Top Defensive Prospect : FS Ben Gattis

Final Ranking : 8

Very solid class, the highest ranked class of Wilcox’s tenure as well as Cal’s best since the ESPN300 was started. With a number of important starters on defense leaving, Wilcox went to the transfer portal and landed three immediate starters along with a vet who figures to play regularly in the secondary. DT Keanu Tanuvasa might be the most important portal signing, thanks to the departure of Heisman winner Ricky Correia. This class is most notable for the number of highly ranked defenders signed, but Cal managed to go out and land three very fast receivers that could fix their depth issues on offense.

**redsox907** · 09-12-2024, 09:23 PM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

nice recruiting class to keep the momentum going.

also, how is Correia not a AA after winning the Heisman??? Love this game, but clearly theres some stuff to work out in their algorithms

**bayers3** · 09-13-2024, 12:43 AM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

Originally posted by redsox907

nice recruiting class to keep the momentum going.

also, how is Correia not a AA after winning the Heisman??? Love this game, but clearly theres some stuff to work out in their algorithms

I was wondering that as well, I have zero clue what the AA voting is unless it's purely based on OVR. I know the Heisman / preseason stuff just (mostly?) goes off OVR, but at least that changes based on performance.

*Edit : Cardwell is not a top player by OVR, but he had a great season... and made AA?

**bayers3** · 09-13-2024, 12:45 AM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

The spinning of the Coaching Carousel has hit California with the announcement that Justin Wilcox is leaving to fill the head coach vacancy at Wisconsin.

After a perfect season and a National Championship in 2024 the rumors around Ryan Day reached fever pitch, but nothing came of it despite taking some interviews with NFL teams. Nick Sirianni was fired in Philadelphia after an 8-8 season, and according to inside sources Day, who was the QB under Chip Kelly in 2015, was at the top of their list. Reports that Day had spoken to Eagles owner Jeffrie Lurie prior to the firing of Sirianni made his interviews and announcement as head coach a poorly kept secret.

With Day leaving Ohio State, AD Ross Bjork moved quickly and brought in former interim head coach and current Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell. All of these steps were obvious, the moment news leaked about Day’s conversation with Lurie rumors started to fly regarding Fickell as a likely choice. The next domino to drop was less obvious.

Wilcox, the Wisconsin DC in 2016, was rumored to be in the running for the Oregon opening that eventually went to Dan Lanning. The Golden Bears have been up and down during his nine year tenure, but primarily hovering around mediocrity prior to the 2024 season. An 11-3 season followed by a 12-2 one made him a hot commodity, one that Cal could not hold on to.

“The University of California is disappointed to lose Wilcox, but we wish him well on his future ventures. We would also like to thank him and his coaching staff for all of the hard work, care, and steady leadership over the past nine years,” said Cal AD Jim Knowlton in a press release following the announcement.

While Knowlton did not make an announcement about their next moves, the rumors are swirling on that front as well. Current Cal coordinators Mike Bloesch and Peter Sirmon have been mentioned along with Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein, former Cal player and coach Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi, and current betting favorite former Cal QB and Stanfurd head coach Troy Taylor.

**redsox907** · 09-13-2024, 09:44 PM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

so how did that happen? Cause you aren't moving as Wilcox since its a Cal dynasty, I'm assuming.

**bayers3** · 09-14-2024, 07:37 AM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi has agreed to become California’s new head coach. Lupoi, a Cal graduate and former position coach, has spent time at Washington and Alabama where he was eventually promoted to defensive coordinator in 2018 under Nick Saban. Since leaving Alabama he has spent time in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, and Jacksonville Jaguars before returning to college football with Oregon.

“We are excited to announce Tosh Lupoi as the Travers Family Head Football Coach at the University of California. We welcome back a former Golden Bear and look forward to continuing the progress our program has made as a member of the ACC,” announced AD Jim Knowlton in an introductory press conference.

Lupoi brings extensive knowledge on the defensive side of the ball, and probably more importantly for Cal he’s known as a top recruiter. There is hope he can continue to keep Cal in the Top 25, if not higher, of recruiting classes. Just this past season he was instrumental in beating Cal to five star ROLB Austin Wayne, who had seemed like he was headed to Berkeley.

Knowlton also announced the hiring of Scott Symons as defensive coordinator and Justin Burke as offensive coordinator. The firing of Rhett Lashlee at SMU and Jeff Traylor at UTSA left Symons and Burke on the coaching market and open to a move to Berkeley. Burke has served as UTSA’s offensive coordinator since 2023 and worked with current Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein during his time at UTSA.

The hiring of Symons and Burke is a bigger surprise than Lupoi, both have been pegged for head coaching opportunities or coordinator positions at bigger schools. Cal’s success in the ACC has elevated the program, but until they have an equal revenue share it will be hard for them to keep coaches of this caliber.

**bayers3** · 09-14-2024, 05:46 PM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

Originally posted by redsox907

so how did that happen? Cause you aren't moving as Wilcox since its a Cal dynasty, I'm assuming.

You are correct!

**bayers3** · 09-15-2024, 12:33 AM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

A surprise coaching change has brought quite a bit of excitement to Berkeley, even after two great seasons by their standards it’s starting to feel like anything is possible. The hiring of Tosh Lupoi after Justin Wilcox left for Wisconsin is the first time in decades that Cal swung for the fences, and on some level it’s hard to believe they landed Lupoi. It’s even harder to believe that he was able to bring in some buzz-worthy coordinators, but that’s probably because they were attached to programs that took a dip and cost them their jobs.

Aside from the hype, Lupoi and Wilcox are fairly similar on the surface. Both have defensive backgrounds, so Lupoi won’t suddenly be calling plays or delving too much into the offense. The biggest change might come on offense, the hiring of Justin Burke signals a shift in offense that might see the Golden Bears move away from running the ball and becoming more like a spread offense.

Cal fans are also looking forward to a potential boost in recruiting, there’s some drama with Tupoi and Cal going back to his time at Washington that he could erase by bringing in some bigger name prospects. He was behind Oregon beating Cal to five-star ROLB Austin Wayne last year, now it’s time for him to land those recruits for his Alma Mater.

SPRING ANSWERS

1 - Cardwell / Hall could finish 1 & 2 in rushing yards… again. The change from Mike Bloesch to Burke might tip the offense more toward passing from spread formations, but the strength of their offense still remains the ground game. Cardwell led the nation with 2,173 yards while Hall finished 2nd with 1,201, there is no reason that can’t happen again with the way the Golden Bears can move the ball. The only thing that might stop them is on their own team…

2 - Fernando Mendoza is a Heisman contender, but his heir is right behind him. Mendoza opted not to test his draft stock, instead deciding to try and get Cal into the College Football Playoff. He opened the season as a Heisman hopeful, and if he can cut down on the interceptions he might be Cal’s second winner. Burke’s new offense might suit his chances, but it’s really going to suit his backup. Duane Dinson is probably the most exciting QB Cal has ever signed, and after redshirting last year Tupoi is going to have trouble keeping him off the field. Dinson is likely to get more opportunities late in games where he can do damage with his arm and his legs; he might eat into Hall’s late game carries.

Dinson could be Cal’s best QB since Jared Goff (or Mendoza).

3 - Cal’s defense is coming around. Wilcox did most of the recruiting, but Tupoi is going to reap the benefits. Heisman winning DT Ricky Correia left for the NFL, but Wilcox hit the transfer portal at the end of last season and landed three defensive upgrades to go with some freshman moving into the starting lineup. Keanu Tanuvasa (Utah) and Bodie Schoonover (BYU) step right in at DT and LE, with Karl Haggan moving over to RE. LOLB Teitum Tuioti (Oregon) strengthens the left side of the linebackers unit, adding to the Jabari Uwaezuoke / Cade Ulave pairing on the other side. Tupoi also has true freshman Tremayne Landman at SS and redshirt freshman Scoot Henderson at FS, this could be the deepest secondary unit Cal has had in years.

FALL QUESTIONS

1 - Unproven receivers. This isn’t necessarily a problem, but it’s definitely a question that needs to be asked. All three starting WR and super TE Jack Endries are gone, at least one of their immediate replacements could be an upgrade. Speedy true freshman George Cheeseman emerged from the summer as WR1, behind him are two redshirt seniors who have waited for years to get their chance. Donovan Hampton is fast, profiling much like Mikey Matthews, but Kyion Grayes is closer to Trond Grizzell. Grayes’ route running and sure hands under pressure should come in handy in the redzone, but after him it’s more freshman. Ryan Dove, another speedster, escaped being redshirted and figures to have an impact as a kick returner. Andre Onwenu is another freshman to look out for, there is a good chance Cheeseman-Dove-Onwenu are the starters in 2027.

Cheeseman has tremendous upside to go along with his speed.

2 - Inexperienced offensive line. After enjoying an experienced offensive line that was mostly intact from 2024, everyone but Noah Dunham is new. Tupoi is starting three very talented redshirt freshmen on the right side of the line, including C Jesus Crespo, and four of the five backups are redshirt freshmen as well. They might be better than the previous units, they are all certainly higher ranked recruits, but until the first whistle blows they won’t know exactly what they have.

3 - Secondary depth. Scott Symons has the advantage of better starters, this might be the best unit Cal has had in some time. The issue is the youth of the backups, Symons is relying on a bunch of freshman and redshirt sophomores. CB Joey Eddie is likely to see the field quite a bit in nickel / dime packages, so he could be a serious weak link against teams with talented slot receivers. Wilcox did well on the recruiting trail, but he’s yet to land the high end CB with speed that can match up on any receiver in the nation. If Jasiah Wagoner or Jaydn Marshall get injured, it’s going to be a long season.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONS

Wilcox is gone, but he didn’t leave the cupboard empty. In fact, he left it in much better condition than before he came. For once the roster has talented freshmen all over the place, and many of the players who were redshirted last year came into 2026 ready to contribute. He also managed to transition Cal’s approach to the portal from filling emergency needs to adding upgrades.

Transfer Portal

DT Keanu Tanuvasa (SR, Utah) - Tanuvasa has some big Heisman shaped shoes to fill, but the massive 6’4 301 tackle out of Utah comes into the perfect situation. Correia ate up defenses that were foolish enough to block him one-on-one with a center, with Haggan and Schoonover on either side of him Tanuvasa might get the same treatment. He’s the perfect bridge to a crop of DT recruits that could use another year to develop.

LOLB Teitum Tuioti (SR, Oregon) - Linebacker is probably Cal’s weakest position via recruiting, Uwaezuoke is a gem who should be around for years while defensive Captain Cade Uluave is in his final season. Tuioti seriously strengthens the LOLB position while allowing Tupoi to look for answers on the recruiting trail.

LE Bodie Schoonover (SR, BYU) - Cal is spoiled on the defensive line, with a few talented freshmen coming up Schoonover helps Tupoi put out one of the best defensive lines in the ACC. Symons just needs to find a way to put more pressure on the QB outside of hoping Tanuvasa goes one-on-one with a center every down.

2026 Recruiting Class

WR George Cheeseman - Cheeseman still needs work on his route running, but he’s drawn comparisons to Tyreek Hill for his incredible speed and ability to blow past a flat footed defender. He needs to work on his hands, but with Mendoza favoring short routes it should be easier for him to catch and run rather than trying to make contested catches or battle for the ball downfield.

SS Tremayne Landman - Cal’s new hammer, taking over from Isaiah Crosby with a higher ceiling. Coaches said he took the starting spot the moment he set foot on campus and never let it go, Landman has the kind of upside Cal has lacked in the secondary.

WR Ryan Dove / WR Andre Onwenu - These two are being grouped together because they will both be performing the same functions for Cal. Dove is a second stringer, with Onwenu likely getting snaps late in games, but they are so fast that Tupoi couldn’t resist having them field kickoffs and punts.

DEPTH CHART

Tupoi is very fortunate when it comes to turnover on both sides of the ball, where he loses starters he gains higher-ceiling youngsters and experienced backups move in with talented depth behind them. Fernando Mendoza remains under center as Cal’s most experienced and important starter on offense, and both RB return to take some pressure off the passing game. Cheeseman takes over as WR1 as a freshman, but the other starters are seniors with several years of experience. Replacing the entire right side of the line is tough on paper, but they have the potential to be better than the players that left right out of the gate.

Defensively, everyone who left is replaced by transfers or high-end recruits. Keeping two experienced corners was big, this is probably one area Tupoi needs to work on when it comes to recruiting. Joey Eddie looks very promising, but he isn’t ready to be a starter beyond Nickel / Dime packages.

SCHEDULE

Tupoi is really getting thrown in the deep end with this schedule, he only has one game to get his team rolling before a brutal three game non-conference run. Home games against #18 Texas Tech and #17 Arizona sandwich a visit to The Swamp to face a surprisingly unranked Florida. The Gators have been struggling, but nobody should overlook a trip to The Swamp.

The ACC schedule is a little more forgiving, but the Golden Bears will have to deal with #12 Clemson at home and a trip to #4 NC State. They also have to go back to SMU, the site of their surprise loss at the end of the 2024 season.

**redsox907** · 09-15-2024, 12:43 AM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

some tough games on the schedule for sure, but I think you guys have a really good shot with Mendoza coming back at making a CFP run.

And obviously George Cheeseman is hands down the best name for a receiver, period.

**bayers3** · 09-15-2024, 07:06 PM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

Originally posted by redsox907

some tough games on the schedule for sure, but I think you guys have a really good shot with Mendoza coming back at making a CFP run.

And obviously George Cheeseman is hands down the best name for a receiver, period.

I wish I could say I came up with that one, but that's all EA.

**bayers3** · 09-15-2024, 07:08 PM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

The ACC landscape is changing rapidly, and it isn’t just new members anymore. The league has mostly been dominated by Clemson and Florida State since 2005, with the Tigers winning the title game eight times and Florida State five. Clemson’s six straight wins from 2015 to 2020 seems like a distant memory now, the past two champions are first time winners with NC State’s last pre-title game championship coming in 1979. Lulls like this have happened before, like the 2006-2010 seasons, but at least Clemson and Florida State appeared in title games. The current versions of the two powers are moving in the wrong direction, even Miami looks farther from its first title than they did a decade ago.

The ACC is slowly moving away from College Football Playoff relevance, but after stumbling in the ACC title game the past two years there may be hope that Cal can break through and make a run. Finishing the season with nine ranked teams was good, but there needs to be more ACC teams in the national title picture if they are ever going to keep up with the SEC and Big 10.

BIG MEN ON CAMPUS

QB Fernando Mendoza (California) - Mendoza can no longer be overlooked as a top QB, you could even argue he is THE big man on campus in the ACC. If Cal can take the next steps, win the ACC and make the College Football Playoff, his profile should be elevated even more. Short of winning the Heisman, it’s hard to see what more he can do for the Golden Bears offense.

WR Jeremiah Smith (Miami) - Smith opened the season as a Top 5 Heisman pick and he might be the nation’s top WR. Smith figures to be the focal point of a Hurricanes passing attack that will not be short of receiving options, if they can break out in the ACC or nationally it will be because of Smith.

RB Chris Johnson Jr. (Miami) - Miami is so loaded with top end talent they actually have two big men on campus, and yes that’s THE Chris Johnson. Johnson Jr. is likely the nation’s most talented RB, he’s certainly considered the fastest, and the only reason he isn’t higher on this list is that he plays with a Heisman candidate who might actually be faster than he is.

WR Kevin Concepcion (NC State) - Concepcion remains one of the best receivers in the ACC and NC State’s best player, if they can hold on to the Top 5 ranking it will be with his help.

TE Jamari Johnson (Louisville) - With Jack Endries out of the way it’s Johnson’s turn to take over as the nation’s top TE. He’s drawing comparisons to George Kittle and Kyle Pitts and figures to be Louisville’s top receiving threat as well as a Top 10 NFL draft pick.

SEASON PREDICTIONS

Conference Title / CFP Contenders

Head Coach : Tosh Lupoi (1st Year)

The Golden Bears are good, no question mark this year. Two straight trips to the ACC title game and more wins than any other ACC program over that span put Cal in the pole position. They also have the conference’s top QB to go with the nation's top offense, their defense has also been improving so it’s really hard not to pick them to at least appear in the title game again. The big question is if they can finally win it and make their way into the College Football Playoff.

Can Tupoi keep Cal at the top of the ACC?

Once again the Schedule Gods have blessed Cal despite a tough non-conference slate. They face a number of middling programs and only play against #12 Clemson and at #4 NC State. A road game at SMU doesn’t look as threatening with a first year head coach and the Mustang’s former DC now on their sidelines.

Head Coach : Dave Doeren (14th Year)

Redshirt junior Lex Thomas returns under center and gives Doeren a good-not-great foundation for his offense. Luckily for him, he returns some of the best skill players in the conference with Kevin Concepcion hanging around for his final year. Add in Chrishon McCray at WR2 and Kendrick Raphael at RB and Thomas will not lack for options. Doeren has done a very good job at building a solid roster with depth on both sides of the ball, they might not be as exciting outside of Concepcion but this is just a very good team.

NC State will need to fight hard to stay in the Top 10. Non-conference games against Florida and Nebraska will not be easy, and contests at #14 Florida State and home against #21 Louisville will test them before a visit from #7 Cal.

Head Coach : Mike Norvell (7th Year)

Times are tough in Tallahassee, and it doesn’t look like things are going to get much easier thanks to their schedule. Norvell continues to have a generally talented roster, but the offense is seriously lacking when it comes to skill positions. The defense is definitely their strength, with LE Tomiwa Durojaiye one of the best defensive ends in the country. They have talent across the line and at all levels of the defense, it’s going to be hard scoring points on them but they will have just as much trouble scoring themselves. Luke Kromenhoek is back under center, but his best receiver is TE Landen Thomas. A slow offense lacking high end talent is a recipe for a long season.

Florida State must have made someone upset, they might have the hardest schedule in college football and there is a non-zero chance it costs Norvell his job. Their schedule includes #9 Georgia, at #8 Alabama, #4 NC State, and then an absolutely punishing six game run to end the season with Notre Dame, at #16 Boston College, at #24 Miami, #12 Clemson, at #21 Louisville, and Florida. If Florida State doesn’t make a bowl game this year, it will be easy to see why.

Head Coach : Dabo Swinney (18th Year)

Clemson finished off 2025 10-3 with a bowl win, all three of their losses came in the ACC where they were 5-3. The Tigers have become a very confusing team because they are perpetually loaded, but keep falling behind. This year could be a big one for Swinney, the Tigers literally have some of the best players in the nation all over their roster. HB Lee Beebe Jr., WR T.J. Moore, WR Tyler Brown, and speedster WR Antonio Williams are going to make life much easier for their new QB Christorpher Vizzina. Defensively, the Tigers are even more loaded thanks to a litany of future 1st round picks. MLB Sammy Brown, the nation’s top LB, is joined by LE T.J. Parker and the best CB pairing in the nation; Avieon Terrell and Shelton Lewis. All the pieces are here to win, but can they overcome their schedule?

If the schedulers hate Florida State, they must not like Clemson much either. Swinney is going to have to navigate non-conference games at LSU, and home against #5 Texas A&M and South Carolina. If that wasn’t bad enough they get #24 Miami, #7 Cal, and #14 Florida State. It’s going to be tough.

Head Coach : Jeff Brohm (4th Year)

The Cardinals are riding high off an ACC championship, but things are about to get much harder for Brohm & Co. QB Brady Allen returns, but outside of TE Jamari Johnson and HB Keyjuan Brown there isn’t much talent on offense. They still have a solid offensive line and a good secondary, but graduations and the draft really hurt the #21 Cardinals. They open ranked based on what they did last year, but it’s going to be hard for them to stay there.

Speaking of staying ranked, it’s likely they won’t make it to Week 2 in the Top 25. An opening game against #8 Alabama followed by a visit from #9 Georgia in Week 3 will likely put Lousiville behind the eight ball. They do get an easier conference schedule with #4 NC State and #14 Florida State, but a rivalry game against Kentucky in the final week of the season could really put a damper on their season.

Head Coach : Mario Cristobal (5th Year)

The Hurricanes still have all the offensive talent you could want outside of QB. WR Jeremiah Smith and HB Chris Johnson Jr. are two of the fastest players in the country and lead on offense that should be one of the best in the ACC if not the nation. The only thing holding them back is QB, ever since Cam Ward left Cristobal hasn’t been able to find an answer despite being one of the best recruiters in the nation. Judd Anderson figures to be the starter, but he’s just barely a head of Emory Williams, redshirt freshman Brayden Provo, and true freshman Miles Okine. Okine might be the future at QB, but he’s looking up at a number of guys this year. If Miami doesn’t do well, it could be QB play that’s to blame.

Cristobal is running out of excuses, and if they can’t handle this schedule there might be more trouble on the horizon. Road games at South Carolina and Notre Dame start the season, and the only ranked ACC opponents on their schedule are #12 Clemson, #14 Florida State, and #16 Boston College.

Top 25

Head Coach : Bill O’Brien (3rd Year)

The Eagles were ranked for a while in 2024 before they fell apart in conference play, this year started off the same way but this time a 5-3 conference record helped them to a 10-3 record. Finishing #17 in the final rankings helped them start #16 this year, and things look promising under O’Brien in Year 3. QB Thomas Castellanos is gone and redshirt junior Jacobe Robinson steps into his shoes, there is going to be a lot of pressure on Robinson thanks to the level of talent at Boston College. O’Brien has clearly done more with less so far, but he’s going to need to vastly improve the roster if the Eagles are going to try winning 10+ games every season.

Boston College definitely won the schedule lottery for 2026. Their only ranked opponents are #14 Florida State, who they get at home, and #24 Miami in Coral Gables. There’s a wide opening for the Eagles to stay ranked and finish with another 10-win season if the improvements shown in 2025 were real.

Head Coach : Brent Key (4th Year)

The Yellow Jackets were nearly ranked last year after finishing 8-5. They finished level with Florida State, Clemson, and Boston College in the ACC thanks to a 5-3 conference record. This year could be very different thanks to their schedule, but the program as a whole is trending up thanks to Key. Despite flying under the radar a little in Georgia, Tech has managed to develop some national talent, the biggest issue for Key though is that both are seniors and NFL Draft bound after the season. MLB Kyle Efford is one of the best in the nation, anchoring a defense that looks to be the strength of the team. WR Eric Singleton Jr. has started the season as a Heisman candidate and should be the focal point of an offense being run by fellow senior QB Zach Pyron. Key is going to have to pull off a more-with-less trick like Boston College, but they could be dark horse ACC title game contenders.

For the second year in a row their non-conference schedule is going to burn them. Opening against #15 Colorado and facing #22 Boise State at home will be hard, but not nearly as hard as finishing the season with Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate against #9 Georgia. In the ACC they will face #21 Louisville, #12 Clemson, and #16 Boston College while a road game at Stanfurd won’t do them any favors.

Going Bowling

Head Coach : Ian Liberty (1st Year)

Mack Brown looked like he was running out of gas in 2025 as the Tarheels limped to a 4-8 finish. As the season rolled on the rumors of his retirement got louder, it wasn’t until after their final game that he made it official and Liberty was promoted to head coach. North Carolina fell apart last year, but talent wise there is no reason they can’t compete in the ACC. Most of their depth is on defense, led by DT Ken Whittington, but they also have some good players on offense. WR Jordan Shipp is one of the best in the conference, and if he doesn’t leave early for the draft he could be one of the best in the nation next year. Like several other programs in the ACC, their weakness is at QB where Conner Harrell returns for his final season. He has very little competition, but once he leaves there are four underclassmen waiting to fight for his spot.

Liberty is going to get thrown in the deep end right out of the gate with a home game against #6 Tennessee to open the season followed by a trip to #25 TCU. Games against Notre Dame, #12 Clemson, #21 Louisville, #24 Miami, and a final game against #4 NC State will not be easy for the first year coach.

Head Coach : Jim Walters (1st Year)

SMU pulled the plug on Lashlee after another disappointing season, the move from the AAC to ACC has not gone as planned and the billionaires aren’t very patient. Walters comes in, cleans house with a new staff, and will need to do the same with the roster outside of the secondary. QB Kevin Jennings will take over under center with very little to work with, sophomore WR Roger Boyett is WR1 and the depth is perilously thin behind him. Lashlee left without being able to stock the team with high end talent, but he certainly put the express in Pony Express. Boyett might not be the best WR in the ACC, but he’s certainly one of the fastest. On defense Walters has a secondary that’s four deep at CB, with Jaely Davis-Robinson and Alexander Rodgers some of the fastest in the nation. After finishing dead last in the ACC, thanks to a 1-7 conference record, it’s hard for SMU to do much worse.

The Mustangs will be able to ease Walters into his new position with a decent schedule that only has four ranked opponents. #14 Florida State, #21 Louisville, #16 Boston College, and another visit from #7 California. There’s an opening to substantial improvement on 2025, but really it’s just hard for them to be be as bad as they were last year.

Head Coach : Chad Butters (1st Year)

It was one step forward and two steps back for Brent Pry, and the one step forward this year didn’t make up for the two steps back the previous season. A 5-7 record kept them from a bowl game, but their 4-4 ACC record was level with three other teams that made it (Miami, Stanfurd, and Virginia), and Pry was fired. Butters steps in and tries to hold things together, luckily he has a roster that should be able to carry them to a bowl. It’s starting to be a theme with ACC teams, but Butters will have a solid defense led by upperclassmen to help him through a QB battle without much upside. They still have the nation’s best kicker in John Love and a solid WR in Chance Fitzgerald, none of that will matter if someone doesn’t emerge from the log jam at QB with William Watson III, Trace Campbell, and Matt Sulak all competing to be under center. None of them have tremendous upside, but at least Pry had a type and all of them are mobile QBs.

The Hokies are in big trouble when it comes to their schedule, getting back to six wins will be hard. Their non-conference schedule includes Oklahoma, Maryland, Old Dominion, and James Madison. In the ACC, it’s going to be brutal. #12 Clemson, #16 Boston College, #7 Cal, #24 Miami, and #4 NC State. They also take on Georgia Tech, so they could easily finish worse than last year with a better team.

Head Coach : Jon Carroll (2nd Year)

Carroll managed to keep the ship steady down on The Farm after doing just that got Troy Taylor fired. The Cardinal finished 7-6 with a 4-4 record in the ACC and they will likely finish in the same spot for 2026. This is a program in limbo, not bad enough to completely crash out but not good enough to elevate themselves into the Top 25. Just like Stanfurd teams of the past, their roster is run heavy with the vast majority of their talent in the backfield and along the offensive line. HB Sedrick Irvin has an opening to be the best in the country, but teams are going to be able to stack the box and make his life hard. QB Elijah Brown takes over for the departed Ashton Daniels, who is still having Ricky Correia nightmares, but he’s hardly the high-upside player many Cardinals signal callers have been recently. A good running game and a tough defense might get them to six wins, or it might be a recipe for a 5-7 season.

The Cardinal have one of the easiest schedules in the ACC, especially in non-conference games. Hawai’i, Sacramento State, San Jose State, and UMass should help them get at least three wins toward a bowl berth. Games against Notre Dame, #21 Louisville, #4 NC State, and #7 Cal will push them in the other direction. The question is if they can find three wins among the remaining four games.

Head Coach : Bryan Warren (2nd Year)

The Cavaliers made it to a bowl last year and won, but much like Stanfurd they might be a limbo team reliant on the fortunes of bigger programs. There isn’t a reason Warren can’t make a bowl again, especially with a favorable schedule, but all it takes is a team like North Carolina or SMU winning a few more games to push them further down the conference. Warren has a mid-tier roster to work with, but at least QB Anthony Colandrea returns as the starter and he won’t have anyone to fight for it. Whether that’s a good thing or not is yet to be seen.

An opening game at LSU could get out of hand, same with Notre Dame, but games against UNLV and Norfolk State could put them back on the path to .500 football. #7 Cal and #14 Florida State are their only ranked ACC opponents, but games against North Carolina and SMU could throw a wrench into their bowl hopes.

Down & Out

Head Coach : Hank Springer (2nd Year)

Springer saw his Panthers go 5-7 with six of those losses in the conference. They even had an extra game to help, but still went 3-6 and finished 13th in the ACC. Springer has a number of good players, mostly on defense, with LOLB Jordan Bass leading the way as one of the conference’s best linebackers. Former Alabama commit QB Eli Holstein is still around and remains one of the ACC’s best passers, he’s going to have to be with very little help around him. HB Juelz Goff is Pitt’s only offensive weapon to speak of, and he likely won’t be able to carry this team on his back. Springer might take more lumps this year, it’s going to be important that he show some growth or Pitt might be looking elsewhere in a year or two.

The Panthers ended up with a schedule that isn’t going to help them turn things around. Games against Wisconsin, Miami (OH), and #10 Utah could have them looking at the ACC for help. They won’t get it, particularly from a four week stretch where they face #21 Louisville, #24 Miami, #14 Florida State, and #16 Boston College. If that doesn’t beat them down, facing Georgia Tech and North Carolina next could do it depending on how things go with them.

Head Coach : Fran Brown (3rd Year)

Syracuse is another limbo team, but the limbo they are stuck in is closer to the bottom of the conference. They finished 5-7, but were beaten up in the ACC with a 3-4 record. Defense is going to carry Syracuse this year, with three solid corners led by team captain Jayden Bellamy. WR Zeed Haynes is their best receiver and player on offense, his speed will cause issues for any defense, but with little around him it will be easy for teams to focus on shutting him down. Redshirt senior QB Braden Davis is going to have a rough season if he can’t make the offense work around Haynes.

Hard to see Syracuse escaping the bottom third of the conference with their schedule. A brutal run from Week 6 on sees them face #16 Boston College, #12 Clemson, #7 Cal, #21 Louisville, and they finish the season at Notre Dame. Sprinkle in North Carolina and SMU in that stretch and things get worse

Head Coach : Dave Clawson (13th Year)

Dave Clawson continues to manage a program that’s moving quickly in the wrong direction. The Demon Deacons had a season like Syracuse, North Carolina, and Pitt but they were absolutely trashed in ACC play. Finishing 5-7 with a 2-6 record in conference is not encouraging, and it’s hard to see them vastly improving on that record. Clawson has been around longer than everyone outside of Swinney and Doeren, now that Mack Brown has retired, but his time might be running out in Winston-Salem. WR Deuce Alexander is an All-ACC talent, and he’s going to need to be with so little around him on offense. Wake Forest’s strength is on the offensive line and their secondary, not bad but hardly enough to drive a bowl berth. Redshirt sophomore QB Jeremy Hecklinski is under center and will likely spend most of his time looking for Alexander. It’s hard to believe this program was playing in the ACC title game as recently as 2021.

Wake Forest figures to be favorites in just two games on their schedule; Davidson and Duke. Games against Memphis, Northern Illinois, and #19 Purdue will put an enormous amount of importance on winning games in the ACC. They get #7 Cal, #4 NC State, #24 Miami, and away games against teams they will struggle to top like SMU and Georgia Tech.

Bottom 10 Material

Head Coach : Will Cutler (1st Year)

The Mike Elko years are fading in the rearview mirror very quickly. David Cutcliffe elevated the program, and then Elko really raised the bar before departing for Texas A&M. Manny Diaz’s tenure was a disaster, and now it’s Cutler trying to put the pieces back together. He’ll at least have a returning QB, Maalik Murphy was decent last year and remains Duke’s best player by a healthy margin. The roster is almost completely bereft of offensive talent, their skill positions leave much to be desired, but at least two straight defense-first coaches have left the defense in good shape. ROLB Kendall Johnson is the leader and best player on defense, with a crop of experienced Junior and Senior players at all levels of the defense they won’t lose because of their defense.

Once again the Blue Devils get an easier schedule, but they will still face two of the conference’s best teams in #4 NC State and #12 Clemson. They finish the season at home against #16 BC, but it’s hard to tell if they will be ranked by then.

FIVE BEST ACC GAMES OF 2026

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. There are so many title contenders, but Cal has one of the easiest schedules among them while avoiding other contenders. There are so many “if” scenarios for the traditional powers, it’s hard to pencil them in for the title game.

Miami at Clemson (Week 7) - Miami’s first chance at a statement, Clemson finished 9-3 last year and beating them could be a sign that the Hurricanes are ready to reclaim the top of the conference. A loss by Clemson could also make things hot for Swinney (see their Week 11 matchup), if they fall behind more programs the Tigers might start thinking about a change.

Louisville at NC State (Week 10) - The Wolfpack find themselves in a bad spot when it comes to facing title challengers, but at least they get Cal and Louisville at home for both of them. NC State open as the highest ranked member of the ACC, and a matchup against the last two champions is a must watch. The Cardinals also drew the short straw on the non-conference schedule, they could enter this game with two losses and outside of the Top 25. A loss for them could end their chances at a title repeat and push them well out of College Football Playoff contention.

Florida State at Miami (Week 10) - This could depend heavily on how Florida State handles the first half of their season, but at the moment the Seminoles are the Florida program moving in the wrong direction while Cristobal has the Hurricanes stockpiling talent and building a fence around the state of Florida. Miami finished 6-6 in 2025, this game could be a statement win for them as their in-state rival struggles to get back on top.

California at NC State (Week 11) - The Wolfpack beat Cal twice in 2024 on their way to an ACC title, with a number of programs falling and NC State opening the season as #4 this could be a preview of the ACC Championship. These two teams have similar schedules (they both face Florida), and after a home game against defending ACC Champion #21 Louisville this game could decide who’s on top of the conference.

Clemson at Florida State (Week 11) - The way things are going for these two programs this could be the Hot Seat Bowl. Swinney and Norvell have seen their once dominant programs slip behind the likes of Cal, NC State, and Louisville while Miami looks to be mounting a solid comeback. Norvell is going to have the most to worry about, the Seminoles have the hardest schedule in the nation and a loss to Clemson might put him solidly on the path to unemployment.

**bayers3** · 09-16-2024, 09:16 AM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

The ESPN 300 for college football's 2027 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.

Offense once again dominates the cream of the crop, but defenders are not far behind with a bevy of edge defenders making their way to college this year. Four HB / ATH’s make up the Top 6 with the only QB all the way down at #11. A whopping seven OLB / DE prospects make up the Top 15, this year is a great year to try and add a 5-star pass rusher.

Top Prospects

ATH Emmett Wiliams

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

The nation’s top player, and if you ask scouts it isn’t all that close. There were rumors he was looking into reclassifying for the 2026 class, but in the end Williams decided to play out his senior year at Knoxville powerhouse Maryville. The 6’-1” speedster has seen time at HB and WR as well as returning kicks, his long term future looks to be in the backfield but he could easily become a ‘playmaker’ type who just needs to ball in his hands no matter how you get it done. Ole Miss and Tennessee are front runners for his signature.

RT Sam Yamini

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

Yamini opens the year as the top offensive lineman in a class that lacks a true 5-star LT prospect. He’s more agile than powerful, but once he gets into a strength program he should add some weight to his 6’-5” frame. Notre Dame and Pitt are leading the race for his services.

ATH Nathan Troup

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

Another ATH, another HB in the making. Troup has starred for Springfield HS since moving into the starting lineup as a sophomore, much like Williams his speed and height make him a dangerous option out wide or in the backfield. He’s already strongly link with a commitment to Ohio State.

HB Slade Carroo

Ranking : No. 4 (HB No. 1)
Georgia

This Tucker Tiger is already a Bulldog. A 5-star prospect out of the Peach State is almost obligated to sign with Georgia, and Kirby Smart managed to do that almost right out of the gate. Caroo is less of a bruising SEC back and more of a receiving option, though that shouldn’t fool you if he’s got a Georgia offensive line to run behind.

ROLB Max Jones

Ranking : No. 5 (ROLB No. 1)
Penn State

Jones is yet another product of Bergen Catholic out of Oradell, NJ. It didn’t take long for James Franklin to land his commitment for the Nittany Lions and add him to a tough Big Ten defense. Jones excels off the edge and has a shot to terrorize offenses as a freshman.

**bayers3** · 09-17-2024, 11:03 AM

Re: Bear Territory : California CF25

ESPN 300 Commits : 1
Top Offensive Prospect : WR George Aldridge
Top Defensive Prospect : None

Previous Ranking : N/A

Justin Wilcox did an amazing job in 2025, taking Cal’s class to #8 after pulling it into the Top 25 over the past two seasons. One thing he managed to do very well, before departing for Wisconsin, was building some impressive depth across the entire roster. Two full sized classes leave the Golden Bears well stocked at just about every position, first year head coach Tosh Lupoi will have a pretty clean slate to work his recruiting magic on.

There isn’t much change in what Cal is after; high end talent. Justin Burke’s spread offense will probably put more pressure on the receivers, with Cal going all-in on trying to turn every game into a track meet. If there is one position that Cal really needs to focus on it's the secondary, specifically cornerbacks. The Golden Bears lack high end corners that opposing QB will want to throw away from, look for Tupoi to try and bring in some speed and several of them.

TOP TARGETS

Bear Territory : California CF25

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