Clemson’s first trip to the West Coast this season comes with plenty more than a long flight attached to it.
The Tigers head to Berkeley, Calif., for a Friday night matchup against California on Sept. 25, with kickoff set for 10:30 p.m. EDT.
Clemson is 2-1 overall and 1-0 in ACC play, while Cal enters at 2-1 and 1-0. The travel alone makes this a tricky spot, but the Bears bring enough firepower to make it a real test between two teams trying to stay perfect in league play.
One of the biggest questions for Clemson is how it handles the clock, the body clock and everything that comes with a rare cross-country trip on a short week. The Tigers flew out Wednesday morning and practiced at Diablo Valley College that evening to help players adjust to the time change. Wide receiver Tyler Brown said the team was recommended to stay awake on the flight to fight jetlag.
Even with all that planning, the setup is far from ideal. Clemson has been preparing for the logistics of this game since last year, but West Coast travel for a late kickoff is still a grind.
Add in the lingering effects of a mid-game lightning delay against UNC that shortened the Tigers’ downtime, and the challenge only gets bigger. Clemson has also started slowly in each game this season, with its only first-half touchdown in 2026 coming after Georgia Southern’s fumbled punt return.
On the field, the matchup features a pair of young quarterbacks with plenty of intrigue. For Cal, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele has already shown why he’s such a dangerous piece.
After breaking out as a freshman last season with 3,454 passing yards and 18 touchdowns, he already has seven passing touchdowns through three games this year after deciding to stay with the Golden Bears despite reports of tampering. Clemson is likely looking at its second-toughest quarterback challenge of the season behind Miami QB Darian Mensah on Oct.
Sagapolutele has been productive, but not spotless. He threw nine interceptions in 2025 and had two more in Cal’s 45-24 loss to UCLA to open the 2026 season. That gives Clemson’s secondary a real opening if it can turn pressure into mistakes.
Cal has a ball-hawker of its own in sophomore defensive back Kingston Lopa. He leads the team with five interceptions and 17 tackles, and his three-pick performance against Syracuse QB Steve Angeli helped Cal edge the Orange 21-18 in Week 2. Lopa now gets a chance to challenge Clemson’s young and inexperienced Tait Reynolds.
The other side of the ball may be where this game tilts. Clemson’s run defense has been a problem all season, and the numbers are ugly: the Tigers rank 119th in average rush defense and have given up 25 runs of 10 or more yards, the most among FBS programs.
LSU and UNC both ran for more than their season averages against Clemson, and Cal may not need an elite ground game to exploit that weakness. The Bears average 106.7 rushing yards per game, which ranks 126th nationally, but teams have already shown the Tigers can be pushed around up front.
That issue is even sharper this week with co-starting defensive tackle Devarrick Woods ruled out. Clemson is also without fellow defensive tackles Kourtney Kelley, Markus Strong and Hevin Brown-Shuler for the season, though Vic Burley did return from suspension last week.
For Clemson, the offensive path likely starts with Gideon Davidson. The sophomore was given the lead role in the backfield this season after sitting behind Adam Randall in 2025, and he delivered his first 100-yard game and first career touchdown in the Tigers’ 28-20 win over North Carolina on Sept.
- Cal’s defense has been vulnerable on the ground, ranking 126th in tackles for loss and 110th in average rush defense, so Davidson has a chance to build on that breakout.
There’s also a defensive wrinkle for Clemson with Misun Kelley. Listed as the backup nickel back, Misun “Tink” Kelley is expected to start with first-string nickel Corian Gipson out. That puts him in a tough spot right away against Cal receivers Ian Strong and Chase Hendricks, who can line up outside or in the slot.
Final prediction: Cal 31, Clemson 23
Both teams arrive with some uncertainty and some upside, but the known factors lean toward Cal. Sagapolutele has the more proven production, Reynolds is still learning on the fly, both defenses have issues against the run and Clemson’s travel situation is as difficult as it gets.
The Tigers are expected to start slow again and head into halftime trailing by two scores. Reynolds is projected to have his first multi-interception game, with kicker Nolan Hauser accounting for Clemson’s only points before the break.
Clemson is then expected to find some rhythm by leaning on Davidson, who could top 150 rushing yards and score both Tigers touchdowns. But the same run-defense issues that have haunted Clemson all season could be the difference, with Cal running back Adam Mohammed helping finish off a long drive with a touchdown that seals it.
If that plays out, Clemson heads home at 2-2 with Miami looming next before the bye week.
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