Blowing out New Hampshire was fun, but now it’s time for Fran Brown and the Syracuse football team to get serious. This weekend is the ACC opener for the Orange, as they host the Cal Golden Bears. This will be Cal’s second time making the trip to Central New York, and the first time the Bears will play in the Dome.
We learned a little about Cal before the season, including the fact that they have a first-time head coach. That also means this will be a very different team than the one Syracuse beat 33-25 two years ago. In fairness, the Orange has changed a lot as well. That’s why it’s important to take a deep dive into the Golden Bears before they visit the Dome on Saturday.
Where is Cal ranked?
The Golden Bears are not ranked, nor are they receiving votes.
Where is Cal in the ACC standings?
Only a few teams have played conference games thus far, and Cal is among the group that’s officially 0-0 in ACC play. Of course, the Bears are also among the six ACC teams that are 0-1 overall.
What did Cal do last week?
The Golden Bears opened their season with a 45-24 loss to UCLA. Cal was a slight home underdog in the game and only trailed 24-17 at halftime. But after tying the game at 24 midway through the third quarter, they gave up 21 unanswered points to the Bruins, who ended up winning comfortably.
UCLA wins the Calimony Clash, 45-24, over Cal. The Bob Chesney era begins with a win on the road over Tosh Lupoi's Bears. pic.twitter.com/hKy2XK0ND1
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 6, 2026
Who is Cal’s quarterback?
Even if people can’t pronounce his name, Cal has one of the most recognizable quarterbacks in the ACC. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele burst onto the scene as a freshman last season, throwing for nearly 3,500 yards and 18 touchdowns. He led the Golden Bears to a 7-6 season and then decided to stay despite a coaching change and opportunities to go elsewhere in the portal.
Of course, this season didn’t start as Sagapolutele planned. While he threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns, he also threw two interceptions in the loss to UCLA. It wasn’t all on him, as Sagapolutele didn’t get a lot of help in the season opener. But he couldn’t overcome that lack of support in Cal’s loss.
Who are Cal’s other stars?
Outside of Sagapolutele, running back Adam Mohammed had a strong season opener. In a losing effort, he still ran for 120 yards and a touchdown, earning 28 carries, while nobody else on the Bears had more than four. Ian Strong also looked like Cal’s best receiver, hauling in five catches for 94 yards, including one for a gain of 49.
What is Cal’s biggest flaw?
The Cal offensive line looked problematic in the season opener against UCLA. While Sagapolutele only took two sacks, he was under pressure most of the game. When the Bears fell behind, it was even easier for UCLA’s pass rush to pressure the quarterback, leading Sagapolutele to make some desperate throws rather than get sacked.
Meanwhile, Cal’s run defense was shredded by UCLA’s rushing attack. The Bruins gained 277 yards on 32 carries. Also, all six of UCLA’s touchdowns came on the ground, three of which were runs of more than 30 yards. That means the Bears were repeatedly victimized by long runs.
How does Syracuse beat Cal?
UCLA certainly provided a good blueprint for how to beat Cal. The Bruins ran the ball effectively and got consistent pressure on the quarterback. Syracuse was able to do both of those things against New Hampshire, and if that continues, the Orange will be in excellent shape this week.
🎥 Roll the highlights pic.twitter.com/3qLlEDCTOv
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) September 5, 2026
The obvious caveat is that getting five sacks against New Hampshire may not come as easily against Cal. However, the Orange has a top-notch secondary. Since Syracuse can trust its corner to win one-on-one matchups, it will be a little easier to commit more bodies to the pass rush and put the onus on Cal’s offensive line to handle it.
The same caveat applies to Tylik Hill and Shaven Anderson combining for 192 rushing yards and four touchdowns. But if Cal’s defensive line is as vulnerable as it looked against UCLA, Syracuse has the size upfront to take advantage. If the Orange ground game gets going, Steve Angeli will have an easier time, allowing him to outperform Sagapolutele and lead Syracuse to a win.
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