Cal’s defense has leaned on Kingston Lopa all season, and now the safety’s work has earned him a spot among the nation’s elite. Lopa was named one of 18 semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which goes to the top defensive player in college football.
A third-year sophomore transfer from Oregon, Lopa has been one of the most productive defensive backs in the country even while Cal has gone through a rough stretch. The Bears are 3-6 and have dropped three straight, but Lopa’s production has stayed front and center. He was the NCAA leader in pass interceptions for seven straight weeks and, even after missing two games last month because of a concussion, still ranks No. 2 nationally with five picks.
His pass-coverage numbers have been just as eye-catching. Through last week, Lopa’s Pro Football Focus grade of 91.1 in pass coverage was the best among all defensive backs in the country, including cornerbacks and safeties.
Lopa made his biggest splash early, when he intercepted three passes in Cal’s Week 2 win at Syracuse. One of those turnovers was a 24-yard pick-six that gave the Bears the lead. That game made him the first Cal player to record three interceptions in a contest since Jaylinn Hawkins did it against TCU in the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl.
The Sacramento native has done plenty beyond the takeaways, too. He ranks second on the team with 39 tackles, including 30 solo stops, and has added three pass breakups and one quarterback hurry. Against SMU, Cal even used him on offense at wide receiver, and he caught his first college pass.
Lopa is now the fourth Cal player to reach Bednarik semifinalist status, joining cornerback Nohl Williams in 2024, linebacker Evan Weaver in 2019 and cornerback Daymeion Hughes in 2006.
Cal had a bye last weekend and returns Saturday at Virginia. The Bears need to win their final three games to become bowl eligible.
The Bednarik Award has been presented since 1994 and is named for Chuck Bednarik, an All-America at Pennsylvania who later became an All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. A member of both the college and pro football halls of fame, Bednarik is also known as the last full-time two-way player in the NFL.
In Other News...
Fernando Mendoza Just Landed The NFL Chance Cal Fans Wanted
The NFL has a way of reshuffling the Cal family just when it feels settled, and this latest move gives Fernando Mendoza the kind of opening Golden Bears fans have been waiting to see. A Cal graduate, Mendoza now steps into the Raiders starting quarterback job after Las Vegas sent Kirk Cousins to Minnesota, a jolt that instantly changes the conversation around one of the programs most visible pro alums.
Mendoza is not the only former Bear drawing attention, either. The story also tracks several ex-Cal players around the league, including wide receiver Allen, whose own career arc has become part of a broader look at just how accomplished this group has been. With Hall of Fame chatter attached to some of those names and Mendoza suddenly in position to add his own chapter, Cals NFL footprint feels as relevant as ever. [Read more 🡒]
Ron Rivera Just Put Tosh Lupois Cal Future Under A Harsh Spotlight
Ron Rivera did not exactly soften the picture around Cals football program this week. The Bears general manager publicly addressed the challenges facing head coach Tosh Lupoi during a 3-6 season, pointing to a staff still trying to find its footing in areas like coaching experience, penalties and overall discipline. Rivera said Lupoi has been getting advice from a range of mentors, but also made clear that the job now requires more than suggestions and support.
The broader message was one of urgency without a clean answer. Rivera suggested it may be too soon to talk seriously about moving on from Lupoi, even as the on-field issues continue to pile up, because the programs next step is tied to more than just frustration over results. For Cal, the question is no longer whether the season has gone off track. It is whether Lupoi can sharpen the coaching, steady the culture and give the Bears a reason to believe the current direction is worth sticking with. [Read more 🡒]
Cal Just Got A Wake-Up Call Before USC Arrives
Mark Madsen was back on the sideline after a family emergency, but Cals trip to the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic still ended with a sobering reminder of how much work remains. The Bears fell 86-68 to No. 10 Houston, and the problems were hard to miss: shaky defense, too many giveaways, and a game that got away from them before they could settle in.
Cal was especially vulnerable inside, where Houston repeatedly controlled the action, and the Bears also coughed up 16 turnovers in a loss that exposed several areas in need of tightening. The timing makes it even more notable, with No. 21 USC up next at Haas Pavilion, giving Cal little time to clean things up before another ranked opponent arrives. [Read more 🡒]