Updated SP+ rankings for all 138 FBS teams are out, and Cal still has some climbing to do.
That was only one of the notes circulating around the Bears this week, though. Another Cal name is headed to the big screen, a player landed on a national watchlist, the program had more news on the media side, and there’s even a ticket push aimed at filling the stands for select home games.
The film world is about to get a Cal story, too. “Mr.
Irrelevant” will bring the John Tuggle story to theaters on Christmas Day, and the former Bear’s time in Berkeley remains a big part of the tale. Tuggle arrived at Cal in 1979 and earned his way into the starting lineup by the fourth game, helping push the Bears to the Garden State Bowl.
The following year, Cal went into The Big Game as a 15-point underdog and Tuggle delivered one of the signature performances of that era, rushing 27 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns while adding two catches for 37 yards in a 28-23 upset of Stanford that spoiled John Elway’s chance to play in a bowl game. Then came the ‘82 game, still best known for The Play, but Tuggle again made life miserable for Elway with 97 yards on 27 carries.
Tuggle was the final player drafted in 1983 by the New York Giants. He spent most of his pro career on special teams before earning a starting job in Week 12.
The next year, he was diagnosed with cancer and died in 1986 at age 25. The Giants honored him with a helmet sticker during their 1986-87 Super Bowl-winning season, and ESPN later produced a 30 for 30 in 2013 about his life.
“I never saw a more emotional Bill Parcells.”
On the current roster side, Jordan King has been named to the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Watchlist, which goes to the college player who shows exceptional leadership, courage and integrity. The award recognizes the kind of character and commitment to community, family and teammates that Jason Witten has represented throughout his career.
There’s also a fresh episode of Inside Cal Football featuring Justin Allegri and Greg Silver alongside TE Mason Mini. The show is available on Cal Football’s YouTube channel and wherever podcasts are found.
Cal Athletics is also leaning into a community ticket initiative for 2026. The BearShare program will provide complimentary tickets for select home games against Wagner, Wake Forest and Pitt to nonprofit organizations, with the goal of extending the reach of college athletics into the communities the department serves.
The Bears are also making noise on the recruiting front. Cal commit Dane Webber recently posted a “day in the life” video for the 2026 season on YouTube. Webber, who announced for Cal in May, is widely regarded as one of the top 2027 signal-callers in California, alongside Ohio State commit Brady Edmunds.
And on the field elsewhere in the league, Pitt handled Syracuse 27-13 on Thursday night. After the game, Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi offered a backhanded compliment to Orange coach Fran Brown, then also took a shot at Cal.
“It’s a time honored tradition to compliment the skill and grit of team you just defeated.” “See you in November, Pat.”
In Other News...
Cal Faces One Risk It Can't Ignore Against Wagner
Cal is getting ready to host Wagner, and the Bears would be wise not to let the opponents last result shape their own mindset. Wagner arrives after a rough stretch, but Tosh Lupoi and several Cal players have made clear the focus has stayed on preparation and on what the Bears need to clean up for themselves heading into the game.
Still, there is a built-in danger here for Cal if it treats this like a game that will take care of itself. Wagner coach Tom Masella has talked openly about leaning on a young roster and trying to steady a team that has already taken its share of recent losses, which means the Bears have to expect effort and urgency, not just a wounded opponent. For Cal, the bigger question is whether it can deliver the kind of complete performance that removes any doubt early and keeps the afternoon from turning into a grind. [Read more 🡒]
Cal's Next Opponent Arrives With One Big Problem To Solve
Wagner is heading into its trip to Cal carrying the kind of bruised feeling that can linger all week after a rough result, and play-by-play voice Marc Ernay said the players and coaches are likely dealing with frustration and embarrassment in the aftermath. Even so, the Seahawks are trying to reset quickly, with an eye on making the most of a matchup that gives them a chance to show something different against a bigger opponent.
For Wagner, the focus now shifts to what the next game can reveal about a program still being rebuilt under head coach Tom Masella, who has a long connection to the school. Ernay pointed to quarterback Benjamin Newman as one of the names to watch, along with several defensive standouts, as the Seahawks try to sort through both the challenge in front of them and the questions that still remain around how theyll line up when they arrive in Berkeley. [Read more 🡒]
Cal Faces An Uncomfortable Wagner Question Fans Know Too Well
A familiar late-season scheduling conversation is back around Cal, with Wagner on the docket and the larger FCS-versus-FBS debate humming in the background again. For a program like Cal, these matchups are hardly unusual: most FBS teams line up at least one FCS opponent every year, and the Bears have built a long unbeaten run against those lower-division foes.
The uncomfortable part is that the benefits are obvious while the risks are never entirely gone. FCS games can offer a chance to manage workload, sharpen depth and bank a win, but they also invite the kind of scrutiny that comes whenever a Power Four team is expected to handle business cleanly. Cal does not have an FCS opponent lined up next season, which only adds another layer to a scheduling pattern fans have seen enough times to know exactly why it keeps coming back. [Read more 🡒]