Cal Finalizes 2026 Football Schedule, Drops BYU Matchup Amid Expanded ACC Slate
With Cal officially moving to a nine-game ACC schedule starting in 2026, the Bears had a tough decision to make: one non-conference opponent had to go. And after weighing the options, it’s BYU that’s been cut from the slate - meaning no return trip to Provo in what would’ve been a high-profile home-and-home.
Let’s break down why this move makes sense for Cal, and what the 2026 schedule now looks like heading into Tosh Lupoi’s first year at the helm.
UCLA? Untouchable.
First off, the UCLA game was never in danger. The two UC schools have made it clear they’re committed to keeping the rivalry alive, even with UCLA now in the Big Ten.
The schools are locked in to face each other annually from 2026 through 2029, and there’s more than just tradition at play here. UCLA is set to pay Cal $10 million a year in what’s been dubbed “Calimony” - a financial olive branch after the Bruins’ move helped accelerate the Pac-12’s collapse.
That money, and the rivalry, both matter.
UNLV Stays for the Fans
The UNLV game, set for October 3 in Las Vegas, was another matchup Cal didn’t want to lose. Originally scheduled for 2020 to help open Allegiant Stadium before COVID canceled it, the game is back on the books. And for good reason - it’s a road trip that makes sense for Cal fans, many of whom are expected to travel well for a weekend in Vegas.
Wagner Fills the FCS Slot
Wagner may not spark much excitement among the fanbase, but the game serves a purpose. Every FBS team schedules an FCS opponent, and with Cal already facing 11 Power 4 teams in 2026, keeping Wagner on the schedule helps balance things out. It’s a strategic move, not a glamorous one - but necessary if the Bears want a realistic shot at bowl eligibility in a brutal slate.
BYU the Odd One Out
That left BYU - arguably the toughest team on Cal’s original non-conference schedule - as the program to be cut. The Cougars just missed the College Football Playoff, finishing as the second team out behind Notre Dame. Facing them, on top of a demanding ACC lineup, would’ve pushed Cal’s strength of schedule into the stratosphere.
Look at what’s already on the docket: road games against ACC contenders like Virginia and SMU, plus matchups with four other ACC teams that finished with winning records - Clemson, NC State, Pitt, and Wake Forest. Toss in a UCLA team that could be on the rise under Bob Chesney, and a Virginia Tech squad now led by James Franklin, and you’re looking at a schedule that’s a serious step up from 2025.
For a first-year head coach like Tosh Lupoi, who’ll be trying to establish his identity and build momentum, trimming the schedule’s toughest non-conference game isn’t just understandable - it’s smart.
Here’s How Cal’s 2026 Schedule Now Stands:
Home Games:
- UCLA Bruins (Sept.
- Wagner Seahawks (Sept.
- Clemson Tigers
- Pitt Panthers
- Virginia Tech Hokies
- Wake Forest Demon Deacons
- Stanford Cardinal
Away Games:
- UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (Oct.
- NC State Wolfpack
- SMU Mustangs
- Syracuse Orange
- Virginia Cavaliers
The full schedule release is expected in late January, but barring any last-minute changes, this is the group Cal will roll with in 2026. It’s a challenging slate - one that will test the Bears early and often - but it’s also a schedule that gives Lupoi a real chance to make a statement in his debut season.
With a mix of traditional rivalries, national brands, and rising ACC powers, Cal’s 2026 campaign is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing in recent memory.