Assuming the official announcement coming soon for Tosh, will players leave? Of course some will, it's bound to happen. We are losing a significant amount of seniors and I expect some young players to go else where. But the one we all hope to stay is obvious. Will JKS stay?

We need a splash hire for OC, Oline and WR coach's. We need to attract players that want to play for their specific position coach. If Tosh can relive that magic and pouch players from Oregon, that's a win. We 100% need to get an Oline that can block and WR 4 plus star talent. These things are a must to keep our qb. And we need the money to back it to keep him further. I'm more anxious and the transfer portal window and seeing what he will do.

Other important people are Cade, Luke and Raphael. Keep Cade and Luke is huge. Great tandem together. Raphael massively improved. With better Oline ply, he could really break out. We deff need a speedster back. If Ott had stayed and kept healthy, those two would have been a great one two punch.

SouthKBear said:

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Assuming the official announcement coming soon for Tosh, will players leave? Of course some will, it's bound to happen. We are losing a significant amount of seniors and I expect some young players to go else where. But the one we all hope to stay is obvious. Will JKS stay?

We need a splash hire for OC, Oline and WR coach's. We need to attract players that want to play for their specific position coach. If Tosh can relive that magic and pouch players from Oregon, that's a win. We 100% need to get an Oline that can block and WR 4 plus star talent. These things are a must to keep our qb. And we need the money to back it to keep him further. I'm more anxious and the transfer portal window and seeing what he will do.

Other important people are Cade, Luke and Raphael. Keep Cade and Luke is huge. Great tandem together. Raphael massively improved. With better Oline ply, he could really break out. We deff need a speedster back. If Ott had stayed and kept healthy, those two would have been a great one two punch.

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I've mentioned this before (total respect for any athlete good enough to play D1 anything) but if we can't recruit over any receiver or back we have we have overestimated Tosh's recruiting abilities. And I don't think we've done that.

I'd be very surprised if Cade is back. He's gonna be a day 2 pick in the NFL draft. I'd love to have him but the smart money says he's gone to the big leagues

Would make my day if Cade stays but yeah. Hope he goes day 2 if he does.

SouthKBear said:

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We 100% need to get an Oline that can block and WR 4 plus star talent. These things are a must to keep our qb. And we need the money to back it to keep him further.

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I'm pretty sure Ron Rivera is aware of this.

Bearly Clad said:

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I'd be very surprised if Cade is back. He's gonna be a day 2 pick in the NFL draft. I'd love to have him but the smart money says he's gone to the big leagues

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Teddye Buchanan got drafted in round 4 and is starting for Baltimore. Cade is a bit different type of player but is athletic, productive and will hit you. He will get drafted. With Teddye last year and Cade likely for this draft Cal should be able to attract a top LB via the portal.

Cade is better served staying another year and getting a better NIL deal.

I think Cade stays another year to try to be a 1st rounder. He's likely a 3rd or 4th rounder right now and would benefit from another year to be an All American and be a top 20 pick. I guarantee you if JKS stays, we will have plenty of National games which will be enticing for Cade for NFL teams to watch.

cal83dls79 said:

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Would make my day if Cade stays but yeah. Hope he goes day 2 if he does.

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Day 2 prospects should never leave early. His trajectory shows he could go Day 1 with another year and the difference could be millions $.

He'll need to boost that sack count

Aside from JKS and Cade, I'm not sure how many of our players will get a lot of offers in the portal.

Zeke or Paco would, Keanaaina too, Raphael and De Jesus. The thing is that all those guys other than Raphael are probably hitting the draft or trying to sign on as an UDFA. I'm pretty sure Aidan is out of eligibility anyway. But the point is I really doubt that those guys are getting big enough offers to leave or that they would be priorities for major programs, except the DBs and possibly JDJ if someone was trying to use him as a back door to Jaron

Our players aren't that good

Personally I'm more focused on talent acquisition right now (outside of JKS of course). I was looking through the top recruiting classes and there's one notable school that has a large number of recruits who haven't signed yet. Most of the top classes have 0-2 unsigned commits but nikeU has 8, including Tommy Tofi and some elite defensive talent.

Now there could be multiple reasons for that, they could be signing in an after school event even though almost everyone does it in the morning, they could be planning to sign in the coming days or the later signing window, they could be considering flipping to any number of schools, they might think about following Stein to Kentucky, **OR** it might mean Tosh has a surprise or two in the works.

Take that blatant speculation for what you will since it's entirely possible it means nothing at all, but still . . . the possibility is there for some exciting news

Bearly Clad said:

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Zeke or Paco would, Keanaaina too, Raphael and De Jesus. The thing is that all those guys other than Raphael are probably hitting the draft or trying to sign on as an UDFA. I'm pretty sure Aidan is out of eligibility anyway. But the point is I really doubt that those guys are getting big enough offers to leave or that they would be priorities for major programs, except the DBs and possibly JDJ if someone was trying to use him as a back door to Jaron

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Luke Ferrelli.

Acc defensive rookie of the year. Really stepped up. Like his mobility, seems to have nose for the ball.

Virginia Tech has opened their war chest.

If Virginia goes to the playoff, they're going to open the checkbooks.

Duke is already paying big time.

If UNC gets rid of the clown Lombardi they're always going to be a huge money threat.

Boston College, yes BOSTON COLLEGE, has committed to raising their NIL collectives.

Everyone sees the writing on the wall: without football there is no athletics. So if you like hockey or basketball or volleyball or quidditch you MUST be competitive in football.

I won't lie to you, when Stanford got their 50 mill donation to Luck, the thought of changing my season tickets crossed my mind. It's only a 20 minute drive while Berkeley is on the other side the world, I thought.

BUT hiring Tosh, makes it clearly Cal and Rivera understands what's at stake. They're going to be active at raising money, aggressive in (NOT passive like the old regime) in the portal, and brining bags of cash to high school recruits.

The only way to go forward with the current roster is to think: if they're entering the portal, they're not good enough to play for Cal anyway. This team wasn't good. They might be the worst 7-5 team ever. No one is irreplaceable. Trust the process.

We can't lose you to the Dark Side, TexasAgInTheBay.
It may not have been the best Cal season, but things are looking up.

If it helps any, at least Cal fans show every indication of WANTING to be excited about football.

Back in the Tedford days the stadium was packed every game.

Gameday and to an extend the Miami game last year showed what we could be...if only we could start winning.

Stanford was going to Rose Bowls and in the top ten every year competing in empty stadiums as little as a decade ago.

MrGPAC said:

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If it helps any, at least Cal fans show every indication of WANTING to be excited about football.

Back in the Tedford days the stadium was packed every game.

Gameday and to an extend the Miami game last year showed what we could be...if only we could start winning.

Stanford was going to Rose Bowls and in the top ten every year competing in empty stadiums as little as a decade ago.

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Yes, it's clear that Cal has a dormant fan base that is ready to be activated. If we can start winning again I think we can start pulling 45-50k per game, possibly more if it keeps up. It's still the west coast, so we don't have the same die-hards they do in the South or the Midwest, but we can do better than this.

It's being reported that Tosh will stay on for Oregon's playoff run:

https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2025/12/will-stein-tosh-lupoi-staying-for-oregons-playoff-run.html?outputType=amp

oops

AceBear said:

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It's being reported that Tosh will stay on for Oregon's playoff run:

https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2025/12/will-stein-tosh-lupoi-staying-for-oregons-playoff-run.html?outputType=amp

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Hopefully they lose in he first game (albeit their defense shines) so he can focus his attention here sooner ...

cal83dls79 said:

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He'll need to boost that sack count

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College statistics are meaningless to the NFL. Cade has plenty of impressive tape at this point. Any addition time spent in the ACC is a big risk. His draft position will be all about his measurables. Evan Weaver put up insane numbers in collage - everyone on this board insisted that he was a 1st rounder, or a day 2 steal. Unfortunately, the combine exposed his physical shortcomings. The combine is essential and will be the difference between a Day 1 selection or Day 2.

AceBear said:

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It's being reported that Tosh will stay on for Oregon's playoff run:

https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2025/12/will-stein-tosh-lupoi-staying-for-oregons-playoff-run.html?outputType=amp

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Odd. Were they offered extra $$$ for that? Where do their allegiances lie, now that they've accepted other jobs? One foot in the boat, the other on the dock.

Rushinbear said:

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AceBear said:

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It's being reported that Tosh will stay on for Oregon's playoff run:

https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2025/12/will-stein-tosh-lupoi-staying-for-oregons-playoff-run.html?outputType=amp

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Odd. Were they offered extra $$$ for that? Where do their allegiances lie, now that they've accepted other jobs? One foot in the boat, the other on the dock.

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Honestly? This is how it should be. It's stupid that the current system incentivizes coaches to leave before the season is over.

Econ141 said:

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AceBear said:

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It's being reported that Tosh will stay on for Oregon's playoff run:

https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2025/12/will-stein-tosh-lupoi-staying-for-oregons-playoff-run.html?outputType=amp

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Hopefully they lose in he first game (albeit their defense shines) so he can focus his attention here sooner ...

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Since he is staying til they are done I hope they win it. Lots of good pub for a DC of a CFP champ joining our program. They have a plan in place for player retention and portal transfers. But a CFP champ as your next HC is a good thing.

Ron and Tosh will talk a lot.

TexasAgInTheBay said:

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Virginia Tech has opened their war chest.

If Virginia goes to the playoff, they're going to open the checkbooks.

Duke is already paying big time.

If UNC gets rid of the clown Lombardi they're always going to be a huge money threat.

Boston College, yes BOSTON COLLEGE, has committed to raising their NIL collectives.

Everyone sees the writing on the wall: without football there is no athletics. So if you like hockey or basketball or volleyball or quidditch you MUST be competitive in football.

I won't lie to you, when Stanford got their 50 mill donation to Luck, the thought of changing my season tickets crossed my mind. It's only a 20 minute drive while Berkeley is on the other side the world, I thought.

BUT hiring Tosh, makes it clearly Cal and Rivera understands what's at stake. They're going to be active at raising money, aggressive in (NOT passive like the old regime) in the portal, and brining bags of cash to high school recruits.

The only way to go forward with the current roster is to think: if they're entering the portal, they're not good enough to play for Cal anyway. This team wasn't good. They might be the worst 7-5 team ever. No one is irreplaceable. Trust the process.

---

Seeing the CEO's of Crumbl and Nutricost come out in order to support BYU and save Kalani was pretty inspiring. Where are all the successful (loaded) Cal grads from the past 20 years? Do we need to get them into Cal football? I hope this is on RR's agenda.

freshfunk said:

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TexasAgInTheBay said:

---

Virginia Tech has opened their war chest.

If Virginia goes to the playoff, they're going to open the checkbooks.

Duke is already paying big time.

If UNC gets rid of the clown Lombardi they're always going to be a huge money threat.

Boston College, yes BOSTON COLLEGE, has committed to raising their NIL collectives.

Everyone sees the writing on the wall: without football there is no athletics. So if you like hockey or basketball or volleyball or quidditch you MUST be competitive in football.

I won't lie to you, when Stanford got their 50 mill donation to Luck, the thought of changing my season tickets crossed my mind. It's only a 20 minute drive while Berkeley is on the other side the world, I thought.

BUT hiring Tosh, makes it clearly Cal and Rivera understands what's at stake. They're going to be active at raising money, aggressive in (NOT passive like the old regime) in the portal, and brining bags of cash to high school recruits.

The only way to go forward with the current roster is to think: if they're entering the portal, they're not good enough to play for Cal anyway. This team wasn't good. They might be the worst 7-5 team ever. No one is irreplaceable. Trust the process.

---

Seeing the CEO's of Crumbl and Nutricost come out in order to support BYU and save Kalani was pretty inspiring. Where are all the successful (loaded) Cal grads from the past 20 years? Do we need to get them into Cal football? I hope this is on RR's agenda.

---

BYU has a level of support that borders on religious.

I think Cal needs to understand that it is a professional franchise in a multi-$billion sport located in a top market. Phil Knight donates and gets "ownership" of Oregon athletics.

I think we should set up a structure where Cal football donors get a real stake in the program. Rivera can be a CEO, but top donors are on his board of directors. Something tangible for their money or as I've suggested in the past, formally outsource management of Cal football to an alumni/fan owned non-profit, where donations of any size get voting shares.

The newco would hire the coaches, staff and pay the players, receive the revenues, market the team, manage the game day experience…. Rather than a few whales we would have an ocean of donors who want to have a say in having a DJ, who we hire as announcers and really important decisions like who the GM should be and whether the fanbase, voting with dollars, wants Tosh, or someone else, as head coach.

I think the amount of money Ron could raise if he is selling shares would dwarf the amount he can raise for an intangible amount of influence. But if he is just selling seats on his named but informal "board of directors" I think that would work too.

calumnus said:

---

freshfunk said:

---

TexasAgInTheBay said:

---

Virginia Tech has opened their war chest.

If Virginia goes to the playoff, they're going to open the checkbooks.

Duke is already paying big time.

If UNC gets rid of the clown Lombardi they're always going to be a huge money threat.

Boston College, yes BOSTON COLLEGE, has committed to raising their NIL collectives.

Everyone sees the writing on the wall: without football there is no athletics. So if you like hockey or basketball or volleyball or quidditch you MUST be competitive in football.

I won't lie to you, when Stanford got their 50 mill donation to Luck, the thought of changing my season tickets crossed my mind. It's only a 20 minute drive while Berkeley is on the other side the world, I thought.

BUT hiring Tosh, makes it clearly Cal and Rivera understands what's at stake. They're going to be active at raising money, aggressive in (NOT passive like the old regime) in the portal, and brining bags of cash to high school recruits.

The only way to go forward with the current roster is to think: if they're entering the portal, they're not good enough to play for Cal anyway. This team wasn't good. They might be the worst 7-5 team ever. No one is irreplaceable. Trust the process.

---

Seeing the CEO's of Crumbl and Nutricost come out in order to support BYU and save Kalani was pretty inspiring. Where are all the successful (loaded) Cal grads from the past 20 years? Do we need to get them into Cal football? I hope this is on RR's agenda.

---

BYU has a level of support that borders on religious.

I think Cal needs to understand that it is a professional franchise in a multi-$billion sport located in a top market. Phil Knight donates and gets "ownership" of Oregon athletics.

I think we should set up a structure where Cal football donors get a real stake in the program. Rivera can be a CEO, but top donors are on his board of directors. Something tangible for their money or as I've suggested in the past, formally outsource management of Cal football to an alumni/fan owned non-profit, where donations of any size get voting shares.

The newco would hire the coaches, staff and pay the players, receive the revenues, market the team, manage the game day experience…. Rather than a few whales we would have an ocean of donors who want to have a say in having a DJ, who we hire as announcers and really important decisions like who the GM should be and whether the fanbase, voting with dollars, wants Tosh, or someone else, as head coach.

I think the amount of money Ron could raise if he is selling shares would dwarf the amount he can raise for an intangible amount of influence. But if he is just selling seats on his named but informal "board of directors" I think that would work too.

---

We're not literally there, but what's happened over the past year indicates to me that we are indeed seeing the NIL collective and the associated donors getting a lot more influence over the program. That's a big step in this direction.

sycasey said:

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calumnus said:

---

freshfunk said:

---

TexasAgInTheBay said:

---

Virginia Tech has opened their war chest.

If Virginia goes to the playoff, they're going to open the checkbooks.

Duke is already paying big time.

If UNC gets rid of the clown Lombardi they're always going to be a huge money threat.

Boston College, yes BOSTON COLLEGE, has committed to raising their NIL collectives.

Everyone sees the writing on the wall: without football there is no athletics. So if you like hockey or basketball or volleyball or quidditch you MUST be competitive in football.

I won't lie to you, when Stanford got their 50 mill donation to Luck, the thought of changing my season tickets crossed my mind. It's only a 20 minute drive while Berkeley is on the other side the world, I thought.

BUT hiring Tosh, makes it clearly Cal and Rivera understands what's at stake. They're going to be active at raising money, aggressive in (NOT passive like the old regime) in the portal, and brining bags of cash to high school recruits.

The only way to go forward with the current roster is to think: if they're entering the portal, they're not good enough to play for Cal anyway. This team wasn't good. They might be the worst 7-5 team ever. No one is irreplaceable. Trust the process.

---

Seeing the CEO's of Crumbl and Nutricost come out in order to support BYU and save Kalani was pretty inspiring. Where are all the successful (loaded) Cal grads from the past 20 years? Do we need to get them into Cal football? I hope this is on RR's agenda.

---

BYU has a level of support that borders on religious.

I think Cal needs to understand that it is a professional franchise in a multi-$billion sport located in a top market. Phil Knight donates and gets "ownership" of Oregon athletics.

I think we should set up a structure where Cal football donors get a real stake in the program. Rivera can be a CEO, but top donors are on his board of directors. Something tangible for their money or as I've suggested in the past, formally outsource management of Cal football to an alumni/fan owned non-profit, where donations of any size get voting shares.

The newco would hire the coaches, staff and pay the players, receive the revenues, market the team, manage the game day experience…. Rather than a few whales we would have an ocean of donors who want to have a say in having a DJ, who we hire as announcers and really important decisions like who the GM should be and whether the fanbase, voting with dollars, wants Tosh, or someone else, as head coach.

I think the amount of money Ron could raise if he is selling shares would dwarf the amount he can raise for an intangible amount of influence. But if he is just selling seats on his named but informal "board of directors" I think that would work too.

---

We're not literally there, but what's happened over the past year indicates to me that we are indeed seeing the NIL collective and the associated donors getting a lot more influence over the program. That's a big step in this direction.

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Agreed. So much better than when Christ and Knowlton were in charge, but we need to keep improving.