The Cal Golden Bears, which didn't retain Bryan Harsin this offseason after firing Justin Wilcox back in November, has high hopes ahead of the 2026 College Football season under their new head coach, Tosh Lupoi.
CBS Sports' Cody Nagel predicts Cal to win as many as eight games under the new regime after retaining quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who admittedly played well with Harsin's guidance in 2025.
"California needed a jolt of energy, which is exactly what the program is banking on after hiring former defensive line standout Tosh Lupoi to lead his alma mater," Nagel prefaced before saying, "While obvious uncertainty comes with a first-time head coach, keeping Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele in the fold at quarterback was a key first step. The Golden Bears lost several other important pieces to the transfer portal but made quick work of filling those holes, bringing in what ranks as the second-best incoming transfer class in the ACC. It's been 20 years since California last won 10 games in a season, but with renewed excitement and a manageable schedule, reaching as many as eight wins isn't out of the realm of possibility in 2026."
Tosh Lupoi is too no-nonsense to have Bryan Harsin on his coaching staff
Harsin is the antithesis of Lupoi's approach to College Football. Lupoi is about strict discipline, while Harsin doesn't pay enough attention to the little details. Lupoi has gotten recruiting violations, while Harsin isn't trying hard enough to do anything potentially illegal.
Nick Saban found Lupoi and employed him at the University of Alabama. Saban's coaching tree tends to produce guys who don't cut corners.
It was never going to work in Berkeley for Harsin under Lupoi. That's precisely the reason Jordan Somerville was brought in this past December to work with quarterbacks in the passing game and presumably call some plays.
Where Harsin goes from here is anyone's guess. His name was brought up during the Oregon State Beavers coaching search, so his College Football journey may not be done just yet.