California’s third season in the ACC now has a full map.
The conference released the 2026-27 men’s basketball schedule, giving Cal its league slate with dates and matchups set, while times and broadcast information are still to come. The Golden Bears will play an 18-game ACC schedule that includes all eight conference teams that reached the NCAA Tournament last season, plus the two NIT teams. Cal’s own NIT berth was its first postseason appearance since 2017.
The Bears’ league opener comes on the road, with a trip to North Carolina to face the Tar Heels on Dec. 30, followed by a visit to Duke on Jan. 2.
Cal then gets its first ACC home date of the season on Jan. 6 against Florida State, before Virginia comes to Haas Pavilion on Jan. 9.
From there, the schedule turns into a steady mix of long trips and packed home stands. Cal heads to Louisville on Jan. 13 and Notre Dame on Jan. 16, then returns to Berkeley for three straight at Haas: Stanford on Jan.
23, NC State on Jan. 27 and Syracuse on Jan. 30.
The Bears go back on the road for a stretch that takes them to SMU in Dallas on Feb. 3 and Clemson on Feb. 6.
Virginia Tech visits Berkeley on Feb. 10, Miami follows on Feb. 13, and then Cal is back out for games at Pitt on Feb. 17 and NC State on Feb.
The final week of the regular season keeps Cal in the state, with home games against Boston College on Feb. 24 and Wake Forest on Feb. 27 before the regular-season finale at Stanford on March 6. The ACC Tournament is set for March 9-13 at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.
Stanford is the only ACC opponent Cal will see twice on the schedule, with the first meeting at Haas and the second in Palo Alto. Georgia Tech is the lone conference team the Bears will not face in 2026-27; Cal beat the Yellow Jackets twice last season.
The 2026-27 campaign will be Mark Madsen’s fourth season leading the program. Cal is coming off a 2025-26 year that delivered 22 wins, the program’s most since 2016, along with its first postseason victory since 2014. That team also produced eight games with at least 90 points and had five players ranked in the top 100 nationally in statistical categories.
This year’s roster brings back nine Bears and adds nine newcomers.
“California Through and Through” is more than a slogan - it's a statement of identity, pride and our trajectory as Cal Men's Basketball. Just like our state, our program is engaging, diverse and inspiring.
We have a rich history and legacy, and we have a bright future. Being California Through and Through means we celebrate our community and our place within it.
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The grading split hints at how uneven Cals night was, with some of the better individual showings coming from spots that dont always draw the most attention. Lopa was among the defenders who stood out in the postgame charting, while the offensive line had at least a couple of players earning solid reviews despite the loss. For a team still sorting through what carried over and what fell apart against UCLA, the film grades offered one more reminder that the most encouraging performances did not always come from the places fans might have expected. [Read more 🡒]
Cal Already Faces Early Pressure To Fix One Troubling Problem
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The concern is bigger than just an opening-night setback, because the Bears now have to show they can clean up the details quickly against a different kind of opponent. California already knows the margin for error is thin, and with Syracuse next on the schedule, the pressure is on to turn the coaching staffs evaluation into something more tangible on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Cal Faces An Early ACC Test After That UCLA Letdown
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Cal will also be leaning on some of the early-season production that has given its offense a steadier feel. Running back Adam Mohammed has flashed career-best form, while quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele has already been stringing together big passing afternoons at a remarkable rate. The challenge now is whether that momentum travels cleanly into a first conference test that could say plenty about how quickly the Bears can settle in after an uneven start. [Read more 🡒]