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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/usffan on 2025-06-13 13:07:38+00:00.
The cumulative link to the preseason rankings can be found here.
Cal (high = 60, low = 92) might be a bad fit for the ACC (at least according to some of the other ACC coaches), but they fit in at #71 in the aggregated preseason countdown. Justin Wilcox enters his 9th season in charge of the Bears looking for his third consecutive bowl appearance, but also his first winning season in Berkeley this decade. He’s going to have to do that with a largely remade roster, ranking 83rd nationally in returning production and 12 newcomers projected to start. Gone are starting QB Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), RB Jaivian Thomas (UCLA), TE Jack Endries (Texas) and WR (and leading TD receiver) Nyziah Hunter (Nebraska), while leading tackler Teddye Buchanan will be suiting up for the Baltimore Ravens. Wilcox hit the portal as hard as he could, bringing in former Ohio State QB Devin Brown, NC State RB Kendrick Raphael and Arkansas WR Dazmin James to help the Bears to the 7th best portal class in the ACC (and 38th nationally), but paired with the worst high school recruiting class in the conference (which, when you’re in a talent rich state like California, is borderline unforgivable), may be an indication that Wilcox is listening to those whispers that it might be time to seek out greener pastures. But make no mistake, he and the Calgorithm came to play last season, especially early on, when they went into Auburn and won and beat got screwed over gave Cam Ward and Miami everything they wanted in a Pac-12 After Dark special that even attracted Game Day, so I expect them to be a tough out for anybody they draw on the schedule. After a season opening trip to Oregon State, they get an FCS cupcake, a trip to rebuilding San Diego State and PJ Fleck & the Gophers rowing the boat into Memorial Stadium, so it’s not really hard to squint and see a 4-0 or 3-1 start to the season before settling into an ACC schedule that avoids both Clemson and Miami. The only game they look to be significant underdogs in is a trip to Louisville before a season ending game hosting SMU, so some of that chirping from the other ACC coaches might backfire if they poked the Bears and motivated them in 2025.