Tosh Lupoi is learning quickly that life at Cal comes with a different kind of challenge than the one he knew in Eugene. The new Golden Bears coach, hired by his alma mater on Dec. 4, 2025, is already finding himself in the awkward position of trying to stir up student interest for a big home game against Clemson.
Cal’s football account put out a direct plea on Sept. 25, 2026, asking students to show up for the matchup at California Memorial Stadium.
“Get a seat for yourself or claim one for a friend. We want to see YOU pack CMS tonight 🫵
Claim tickets by 1pm by following the link below ⬇️
🎟️: https://t.co/0PwfU03uzE #GoBears pic.twitter.com/ixYAimzdwf”
The timing is hard to miss. Cal and Clemson enter the Friday night game at 2-1, and both are unbeaten in ACC play.
Clemson is coming off a win over North Carolina, while Cal handled Syracuse two weeks ago. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
PT at California Memorial Stadium, where Lupoi is trying to turn a late-night conference showcase into something that feels like a true home-field advantage.
That’s not exactly easy work in Berkeley. Lupoi is respected in coaching circles, but pulling enthusiasm out of the student body appears to be a grind.
And according to Matt Brown, Cal still has not finalized Lupoi’s contract or term sheet nearly 10 months after bringing him in. Brown wrote on Sept.
24, 2026:
“Cal hired Tosh Lupoi to be their new head football coach on Dec 4, 2025.
Today, the school informed me that they STILL have not yet finalized a contract or term sheet with Lupoi.
I know the UC system moves slowly on everything, but STILL. That's weird!”
The setting adds another layer. Clemson’s fan base is used to filling seats, even when the Tigers are having an uneven year, while Cal is still trying to turn Memorial Stadium into a place that consistently feels full and loud. The stadium holds 81,500, while California Memorial Stadium seats about 62,500.
That contrast matters here, especially with Clemson now installed as the favorite after opening as the underdog. The move came after a three-point shift, and the atmosphere in Berkeley could wind up being part of the story. Cal may have the more talented team, but a home crowd can still change the shape of a game.
Clemson, for its part, should be comfortable with the late start. The Tigers have already dealt with delays this season, including two-plus hour lightning interruptions in their first three games, and the first two were supposed to be primetime kickoffs anyway.
This will also be Clemson’s first trip to Berkeley. The teams have met only once before, in a bowl game 34 years ago. The game should be about Tait Reynolds and Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, but it may end up being remembered just as much for whether Cal can actually fill the building Lupoi is asking them to pack.
In Other News...
Clemson Heads To Cal With A Defensive Problem Getting Worse
Clemson heads to California with its defense already stretched thin and now missing two more starters. Nickel corner Corian Gipson and defensive tackle Devarrick Woods were both downgraded from questionable to out in the latest ACC availability report, adding to the Tigers depth concerns before a long trip and another conference test.
The biggest issue sits inside, where the defensive tackle room has been hit hard by injuries and suspension and the rotation has been shrinking for weeks. With those absences piling up, Clemson will need to piece together snaps in the middle of the defense while trying to keep pace in a game that suddenly comes with a lot more uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]
Clemsons Cal Trip Revives One Of The Weirdest Kickoff Debates Yet
Clemsons trip to California has already managed to stir up one of the odd little debates that follows college football around: just how late is too late for kickoff. The Tigers ACC game against Cal is set for 10:30 p.m. ET, which is plenty late for a school and fan base used to more conventional start times, but it still fits within a history that has occasionally pushed the clock far beyond normal.
The program has dealt with late nights before, including two games this season that were pushed back by weather. And while this one will test patience on the East Coast, it will not stand as Clemsons latest start on record, leaving a bit of historical trivia in the background as the Tigers head west for an unusual conference trip. [Read more 🡒]
Clemsons Defense Is Driving One Clear Friday Night Expectation
Friday nights slate offers Clemson one game that should feel especially familiar to Tiger fans: a matchup with California that profiles more as a defensive grind than a track meet. The preview of the college football schedule leans hard into the idea that points could be scarce, pointing to two teams that have had trouble generating much efficiency on offense and inviting a closer look at how Clemson wants to control the game.
The broader betting card around the night also reflects that same low-scoring caution, with the analysis favoring the under in Clemsons game rather than asking either side to win a shootout. For Clemson, that makes the defensive standard the clearest expectation heading into Friday, and it leaves the Tigers in a spot where field position, patience and a few timely stops may matter far more than style points. [Read more 🡒]