The heat wave may be fading, but Berkeley is about to get louder.
Homecoming has arrived for the 103rd time as Alumni and Parents Weekend brings visitors back to campus, turning the city into a temporary Golden Bear takeover. For students, families and locals, it’s a chance to lean into the full Cal experience, and that energy should spill into the football stands when the Bears host Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon.
It’s only the third meeting ever between Cal and the Hokies, and the first one in Bear Territory. The series is split 1-1, so both sides walk in with a chance to grab the edge.
Last year’s matchup was a painful one for Cal: a double-overtime loss to Virginia Tech after the Bears had led before halftime. Now, with new offensive play-caller Pat McCann in place, Cal is looking to answer that result.
But Homecoming weekend is bigger than one game. The campus is packed with events, including an Oski’s Village parade on Memorial Glade and showcases for a range of campus affinity groups. The whole weekend is built for wandering, celebrating and soaking in everything Berkeley has to offer before the Bears kick off Saturday afternoon.
One of the more interesting stories around the program belongs to Aaron Hampton, who has taken a different road than most. Cal gave him an opportunity, and now the junior is set to finish his degree early in December. Hampton takes pride in staying when others left, and with more playing time plus a scholarship that recognizes his talent, he feels his college path has unfolded the way it was meant to.
There’s also a broader conversation around Cal football’s place on campus, and in Berkeley at large. The program sits in a setting known for academic prestige, creativity and changemakers, yet its football history has too often been defined by mediocrity. That tension remains part of the backdrop as the Bears head into another home matchup.
And for those wanting a deeper look at the Virginia Tech game, football beat writer Philip Luongo III spoke with Collegiate Times sports editor Brody Bryan about the matchup ahead.
In Other News...
Cal Heads Into Virginia Tech With Too Many Crucial Injury Doubts
Cals trip to Virginia Tech comes with the kind of injury report that can reshape a game plan before the teams even take the field. Running back Carter Vargas and defensive lineman Nate Burrell have already been ruled out, trimming depth on both sides of the ball and putting more strain on a roster that needs to hold up on the road.
The more pressing uncertainty sits with the players still listed as questionable, including quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, running back Adam Mohammed, wide receiver Chase Hendricks and safety Kingston Lopa. Add in defensive players Kamar Mothudi and Aiden Manutai, and Cal is left waiting on several key answers that could affect everything from its offensive rhythm to how aggressively it can defend in the secondary. [Read more 🡒]
Cal Walk-On Aaron Hampton Brings A Mentality This Roster Needed
Aaron Hampton has become one of the steadier constants around Cals defense, the kind of walk-on inside linebacker whose value goes beyond the depth chart. A native of Anchorage, he arrived with a background that already set him apart, having helped lead his high school to a state title and earned Gatorade Athlete of the Year honors back home. At a program that has seen plenty of turnover, Hamptons presence has stood out because of the way he carries himself and the work ethic he brought with him from Alaska.
What makes Hampton especially noteworthy is how firmly he has stayed attached to Cal through all the change around him. Even as the roster has been reshaped and the program has dealt with a coaching change, he has remained in place, giving the Bears a player whose loyalty and habits have drawn attention inside the building. For a team looking to establish a tougher mentality, that kind of commitment can matter just as much as anything a player does on Saturdays. [Read more 🡒]