Cal Football Faces Turmoil After Three Straight Losses
The Golden Bears enter their bye week at 3-6 overall after losing three consecutive games by a combined 137-31 margin.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Football
California football has lost three consecutive games by a combined score of 137-31 and holds a 3-6 overall record and 2-4 ACC mark. A report from The Athletic describes internal friction between coach Tosh Lupoi and general manager Ron Rivera.
Why it matters
With three games remaining, Cal must win all of them to become bowl eligible, raising pressure on the program's leadership during a difficult stretch. The reported tension between the coach and general manager could shape the team's direction for the rest of the season.
Cal has been outscored 137-31 across its last three games, and it must win its final three contests to reach bowl eligibility. Virginia, Cal's opponent Saturday, has also lost three straight and is averaging just 12 points per game in that stretch.
The players
Tosh Lupoi
Lupoi is the head football coach at the University of California, Berkeley, hired in December 2025 after a prior coaching career in college football.
Ron Rivera
Rivera is a former NFL head coach who was hired as California's general manager in spring 2025 and hosts a weekly radio show.
The details
Rivera said on his weekly radio show that Lupoi has bumped his head a lot this season, and the two appeared together at Lupoi's Tuesday news conference, where players were not made available. Lupoi has also been holding one-on-one player meetings at his home, beyond the football facility. The team used its bye week to focus on internal adjustments.
Timeline
December 2025: Tosh Lupoi hired as Cal football coach.
Spring 2025: Ron Rivera hired as Cal general manager.
Tuesday, November 11, 2026: Lupoi and Rivera address the reports at a news conference.
Saturday, November 14, 2026: Cal plays at Virginia, its third straight road game.
Season Trajectory
The 2025 hiring of Ron Rivera as general manager and Tosh Lupoi as head coach was meant to reset the program, and the current losing streak tests that restructuring. With three games left, the team's bowl prospects now hinge on whether the new leadership can stabilize results.
Cal must win its final three games to become bowl eligible, so every remaining result carries direct consequences for the season's outcome. Fans tracking the program should watch Saturday's road game at Virginia as the next measure of whether the team can stop its skid.
The takeaway
Cal's remaining schedule makes the next three games decisive, and the outcome will show whether the current leadership can steady the program. Readers should track results against bowl eligibility benchmarks as the season closes.
What happens next
Cal plays at Virginia on Saturday, November 14, 2026, its third straight road game and a key test for its bowl hopes.
Further reading
Follow more coverage in our Football section for context on Cal's season.
