California Golden Bears Athletics
Saturday, October 24
Dallas, Texas
9 AM
California
at
SMU
Bears to take on Mustangs in Dallas this weekend.
Photo by: Mike Wondolowski
10/20/2026 2:00 PM | Football
Bears To Meet Second Consecutive Ranked ACC Opponent
California football (3-4, 2-2 ACC) will make the trip to Dallas to face No. 23 SMU on Saturday in its first of three consecutive games on the road against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. Kickoff at Gerald J. Ford Stadium is set for 9 a.m. PT/11 a.m. CT with the game to be aired live on The CW.
SATURDAY LINEUP
Venue: Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, Texas
Time: 9 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. CT
Watch (The CW): Thom Brennaman (PxP), Jason Cabinda (Analyst), Wes Bryant (Sideline Reporter)
Listen (English Radio): 810 AM – Justin Allegri (PxP), Mike Pawlawski (Analyst); Sirius XM Ch. 263/Sirius XM App, The Varsity App, YouTube Live Stream
BEARS VS. MUSTANGS
- The Mustangs hold a 2-1 all-time series advantage over the Bears, but Cal claimed victory in the most recent matchup last season in Berkeley.
- Cal upset then-No. 21 SMU last year in one of QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele's most memorable games as a freshman signal-caller. The Bears outplayed the Mustangs for three quarters and led 31-14 early in the fourth period before SMU stormed back to take a 35-31 lead with just over two minutes to play. Sagapolutele led a 75-yard drive over seven plays that culminated in a game-clinching rushing touchdown. SMU failed to convert on a 52-yard field goal attempt on its final possession to see Cal emerge as victors in its regular-season finale.
- Sagapolutele completed 31-of-40 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions while wide receiver Jacob De Jesus had 12 catches for 97 yards and a score en route to setting the school single-season record for catches, which he reached in Cal's Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl game a few weeks later.
- Cal last made the trip to Dallas in 2024 when an undermanned Cal team fell, 38-6, to a Mustangs squad that went on to make the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff.
- Prior to the 2024 season when both Cal and SMU joined the ACC, the two teams met for a non-conference matchup on Sept. 21, 1957, in which the Mustangs were 13-7 winners.
CAL...
- Is playing its first of three consecutive conference games on the road over the next four weeks of the 2026 season. The Bears have a Week 10 bye in between its back-to-back East coast trips to NC State (Oct. 31) and Virginia (Nov. 14).
- Is facing its second-straight ranked opponent after facing No. 21 Wake Forest last weekend in Berkeley. The Bears had yet to face an opponent ranked in the AP or AFCA Coaches Poll prior to last weekend's matchup.
- Ranks first in the ACC and sixth nationally in defensive touchdowns with two. DB Kingston Lopa registered a pick-six against Syracuse while ILB Kamar Mothudi had a scoop-and-score against Clemson.
- Ranks third in the ACC and 17th nationally in passes intercepted with seven. Five of those interceptions were registered to Lopa through the first three games while DB Isaiah Crosby logged an interception in the opening drive of the game against Clemson and DB Aiden Manutai intercepted a pass in the end zone against UNLV in the second quarter.
- Has produced strong results in the red zone this season with the Bears ranking fourth in the ACC and tying for 22nd in the NCAA in red zone defense (0.739) and ranking fourth in the conference in red zone offense (0.870).
- Ranks sixth in the ACC and ties for 16th nationally in passing offense (288.1).
- Ranks fourth in the ACC and ties for 33rd nationally in turnovers gained (10).
HENDRICKS HITS 2K MILESTONE
- WR Chase Hendricks surpassed 2,000 career receiving yards in Cal's game versus Wake Forest. He leads the Bears with 415 receiving yards this season. Prior to Cal, Hendricks compiled 1,616 yards receiving across three seasons at Ohio University.
- Hendricks has led the Bears in receptions for five straight weeks. He set his Cal-best in the Bears' Week 2 win over Wagner with 9 catches for 98 receiving yards. His longest reception of the season was a 42-yard grab in the second quarter during Cal's win over Virginia Tech.
- He ranks fourth in the conference in receptions this season with 47 and is fourth in the ACC and tied for 15th in the nation in receptions per game (6.71). He also ranks 12th in the ACC in receiving yards.
- Hendricks ties with Mason Mini and Carson Perry-Smith for the team lead with two receiving touchdowns.
LOPA IN THE LEAD
- DB Kingston Lopa still leads the nation with five interceptions for the sixth straight week, despite not playing against Virginia Tech and only playing only one snap at UNLV. He registered at least one takeaway in each of Cal's first three games this season.
- Lopa needs one more interception to move into a tie for ninth place on Cal's single-season interceptions list.
- He tallied a career-best three interceptions in the Bears' win over Syracuse, making him the first Bear to record three interceptions in a single game since Jaylinn Hawkins intercepted three passes against TCU at the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl.
- The last Bear to lead the nation in interceptions was Nohl Williams who finished the 2024 season atop the NCAA leaderboard with seven before being selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
- Bears are currently atop both the NCAA and NFL leaderboards in interceptions with Lopa leading the collegiate football ranks and recently graduated CB Hezekiah Masses tying for the NFL's lead in interceptions with his three.
AUSSIE ANGUS NEARS 8K MARK
- Aussie punter Angus Davies ranks third in the ACC with 1,429 punting yards this season.
- Of his 33 punts (which are second-most in the conference), 12 have been fair caught, nine have pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line and eight have been over 50 yards.
- His 43.3 yards per punt ranks seventh in the conference.
- Davies needs 83 punting yards to reach 9,000 in his career. Davies compiled 7,488 yards punting across three seasons at Tulsa prior to Cal.
MASON MINI MOMENTUM
- TE Mason Mini continues to build momentum as one of Sagapolutele's key receivers.
- Mini hauled in a 28-yard receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter against Wake Forest to make him tied with Hendricks and RB Carson-Perry Smith for a team-leading two receiving touchdowns this season.
- He also had a season-best five catches against the Demon Deacons.
- Mini also caught a 26-yard touchdown pass in Week 1 vs. UCLA and put up his season-best 58 yards receiving in the game.
CROSBY'S ON THE HUNT
- DB Isaiah Crosby leads the Bears with 40 tackles this season, 27 of which are solo tackles.
- His 3.86 solo tackles per game are tied for eighth in the ACC.
- Crosby has led the Bears in total tackles for the last two consecutive games. He had six tackles versus the Demon Deacons and registered 10 tackles against Virginia Tech, including one sack for 11 yards.
- He had a season-best 11 tackles (2.0 TFL) against Clemson during Week 4.
- Crosby is currently putting together his most productive season for the Bears, after recording 27 total tackles between the 2024-25 seasons that were cut short due to injury. In 2026, he has added one interception, one forced fumble and two passes defended to the stat sheet in addition to his 40 tackles.
SIGNAL-CALLERS COMBINE FOR 500+ YARDS PASSING
- Quarterbacks Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and Jackson Brousseau combined for 509 passing yards against Wake Forest, the most by Cal this season.
- Sagapolutele surpassed 4,500 passing yards during Cal's Week 7 game vs. Wake Forest. He went over 4,000 yards passing through 16 career games played during Cal's Week 3 win versus Wagner. He is the third-fastest Cal quarterback in recent history to reach 4,000 passing yards as a Bear behind Davis Webb who reached 4,000 passing yards in 12 games in 2016 and Jared Goff who reached the milestone in his first 14 games played between the 2013-14 seasons.
- Sagapolutele completed 27 of 33 passes for a career-high 413 yards and three touchdowns against Wagner. He is the first Cal signal-caller to throw for at least 400 yards in a game since Jack Plummer threw for 406 against USC on Nov. 5, 2022.
- He has four career 300-yard passing games, which is tied for 7th all-time at Cal. Earlier this season, he set the school record for the most consecutive pass attempts without an interception (210), previously set by Jared Goff (185).
- Brousseau has not thrown an interception through the five games he has made appearances in this season.
- Making his first start at Cal against Virginia Tech, he was an effective 29-for-43 for 321 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions against the Hokies. He also directed a second-half offense that scored three touchdowns at UNLV - two through the air and one on the ground.
SATURDAY LINEUP
Venue: Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, Texas
Time: 9 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. CT
Watch (The CW): Thom Brennaman (PxP), Jason Cabinda (Analyst), Wes Bryant (Sideline Reporter)
Listen (English Radio): 810 AM – Justin Allegri (PxP), Mike Pawlawski (Analyst); Sirius XM Ch. 263/Sirius XM App, The Varsity App, YouTube Live Stream
BEARS VS. MUSTANGS
- The Mustangs hold a 2-1 all-time series advantage over the Bears, but Cal claimed victory in the most recent matchup last season in Berkeley.
- Cal upset then-No. 21 SMU last year in one of QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele's most memorable games as a freshman signal-caller. The Bears outplayed the Mustangs for three quarters and led 31-14 early in the fourth period before SMU stormed back to take a 35-31 lead with just over two minutes to play. Sagapolutele led a 75-yard drive over seven plays that culminated in a game-clinching rushing touchdown. SMU failed to convert on a 52-yard field goal attempt on its final possession to see Cal emerge as victors in its regular-season finale.
- Sagapolutele completed 31-of-40 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions while wide receiver Jacob De Jesus had 12 catches for 97 yards and a score en route to setting the school single-season record for catches, which he reached in Cal's Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl game a few weeks later.
- Cal last made the trip to Dallas in 2024 when an undermanned Cal team fell, 38-6, to a Mustangs squad that went on to make the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff.
- Prior to the 2024 season when both Cal and SMU joined the ACC, the two teams met for a non-conference matchup on Sept. 21, 1957, in which the Mustangs were 13-7 winners.
CAL...
- Is playing its first of three consecutive conference games on the road over the next four weeks of the 2026 season. The Bears have a Week 10 bye in between its back-to-back East coast trips to NC State (Oct. 31) and Virginia (Nov. 14).
- Is facing its second-straight ranked opponent after facing No. 21 Wake Forest last weekend in Berkeley. The Bears had yet to face an opponent ranked in the AP or AFCA Coaches Poll prior to last weekend's matchup.
- Ranks first in the ACC and sixth nationally in defensive touchdowns with two. DB Kingston Lopa registered a pick-six against Syracuse while ILB Kamar Mothudi had a scoop-and-score against Clemson.
- Ranks third in the ACC and 17th nationally in passes intercepted with seven. Five of those interceptions were registered to Lopa through the first three games while DB Isaiah Crosby logged an interception in the opening drive of the game against Clemson and DB Aiden Manutai intercepted a pass in the end zone against UNLV in the second quarter.
- Has produced strong results in the red zone this season with the Bears ranking fourth in the ACC and tying for 22nd in the NCAA in red zone defense (0.739) and ranking fourth in the conference in red zone offense (0.870).
- Ranks sixth in the ACC and ties for 16th nationally in passing offense (288.1).
- Ranks fourth in the ACC and ties for 33rd nationally in turnovers gained (10).
HENDRICKS HITS 2K MILESTONE
- WR Chase Hendricks surpassed 2,000 career receiving yards in Cal's game versus Wake Forest. He leads the Bears with 415 receiving yards this season. Prior to Cal, Hendricks compiled 1,616 yards receiving across three seasons at Ohio University.
- Hendricks has led the Bears in receptions for five straight weeks. He set his Cal-best in the Bears' Week 2 win over Wagner with 9 catches for 98 receiving yards. His longest reception of the season was a 42-yard grab in the second quarter during Cal's win over Virginia Tech.
- He ranks fourth in the conference in receptions this season with 47 and is fourth in the ACC and tied for 15th in the nation in receptions per game (6.71). He also ranks 12th in the ACC in receiving yards.
- Hendricks ties with Mason Mini and Carson Perry-Smith for the team lead with two receiving touchdowns.
LOPA IN THE LEAD
- DB Kingston Lopa still leads the nation with five interceptions for the sixth straight week, despite not playing against Virginia Tech and only playing only one snap at UNLV. He registered at least one takeaway in each of Cal's first three games this season.
- Lopa needs one more interception to move into a tie for ninth place on Cal's single-season interceptions list.
- He tallied a career-best three interceptions in the Bears' win over Syracuse, making him the first Bear to record three interceptions in a single game since Jaylinn Hawkins intercepted three passes against TCU at the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl.
- The last Bear to lead the nation in interceptions was Nohl Williams who finished the 2024 season atop the NCAA leaderboard with seven before being selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
- Bears are currently atop both the NCAA and NFL leaderboards in interceptions with Lopa leading the collegiate football ranks and recently graduated CB Hezekiah Masses tying for the NFL's lead in interceptions with his three.
AUSSIE ANGUS NEARS 8K MARK
- Aussie punter Angus Davies ranks third in the ACC with 1,429 punting yards this season.
- Of his 33 punts (which are second-most in the conference), 12 have been fair caught, nine have pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line and eight have been over 50 yards.
- His 43.3 yards per punt ranks seventh in the conference.
- Davies needs 83 punting yards to reach 9,000 in his career. Davies compiled 7,488 yards punting across three seasons at Tulsa prior to Cal.
MASON MINI MOMENTUM
- TE Mason Mini continues to build momentum as one of Sagapolutele's key receivers.
- Mini hauled in a 28-yard receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter against Wake Forest to make him tied with Hendricks and RB Carson-Perry Smith for a team-leading two receiving touchdowns this season.
- He also had a season-best five catches against the Demon Deacons.
- Mini also caught a 26-yard touchdown pass in Week 1 vs. UCLA and put up his season-best 58 yards receiving in the game.
CROSBY'S ON THE HUNT
- DB Isaiah Crosby leads the Bears with 40 tackles this season, 27 of which are solo tackles.
- His 3.86 solo tackles per game are tied for eighth in the ACC.
- Crosby has led the Bears in total tackles for the last two consecutive games. He had six tackles versus the Demon Deacons and registered 10 tackles against Virginia Tech, including one sack for 11 yards.
- He had a season-best 11 tackles (2.0 TFL) against Clemson during Week 4.
- Crosby is currently putting together his most productive season for the Bears, after recording 27 total tackles between the 2024-25 seasons that were cut short due to injury. In 2026, he has added one interception, one forced fumble and two passes defended to the stat sheet in addition to his 40 tackles.
SIGNAL-CALLERS COMBINE FOR 500+ YARDS PASSING
- Quarterbacks Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and Jackson Brousseau combined for 509 passing yards against Wake Forest, the most by Cal this season.
- Sagapolutele surpassed 4,500 passing yards during Cal's Week 7 game vs. Wake Forest. He went over 4,000 yards passing through 16 career games played during Cal's Week 3 win versus Wagner. He is the third-fastest Cal quarterback in recent history to reach 4,000 passing yards as a Bear behind Davis Webb who reached 4,000 passing yards in 12 games in 2016 and Jared Goff who reached the milestone in his first 14 games played between the 2013-14 seasons.
- Sagapolutele completed 27 of 33 passes for a career-high 413 yards and three touchdowns against Wagner. He is the first Cal signal-caller to throw for at least 400 yards in a game since Jack Plummer threw for 406 against USC on Nov. 5, 2022.
- He has four career 300-yard passing games, which is tied for 7th all-time at Cal. Earlier this season, he set the school record for the most consecutive pass attempts without an interception (210), previously set by Jared Goff (185).
- Brousseau has not thrown an interception through the five games he has made appearances in this season.
- Making his first start at Cal against Virginia Tech, he was an effective 29-for-43 for 321 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions against the Hokies. He also directed a second-half offense that scored three touchdowns at UNLV - two through the air and one on the ground.
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QB
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