Note: We’ve omitted Texas Southern given the lack of research data and the fact that Cal will likely be a 30+ point favorite in the game.
1st Half Schedule
Oregon State:
Vs 2024 - Slightly Improved. Defense will take a step forward as will their skill position talent on Offense
Offseason - Mixed. Oregon State lost a handful of their best players while adding a large number of middle of the road transfers
Offense: The Beavers were solid in 2024 on offense relative to their competition, with a nice mix of receiver and running back talent and a solid OL. For 2025, they’ve improved their QB talent and return most of their receiving and running backs. The issue is their decimated Offensive Line
Defense: Oregon State struggled in 2024 on defense, albeit with one of the youngest starting 11s in college football. They return a lot on the DL and in the secondary, while losing their best playmaker at LB. This unit should be improved, the question is by how much.
Coaching - Trent Bray had a nice FCS resume and did a solid job in 2024. The 2nd year under quality coaches generally sees improvement
Biggest Weakness - Their OL lost their one quality player and is now a hodge podge of 2nd tier transfers and returning players of little renown. They played very poorly during Spring practice
Overall - If this game was in Berkeley, it’d be easy to peg the Bears as two touchdwon + favorites. Playing in Corvallis will give the Beavers a boost and this should be a modestly improved team. The Bears will have a decided overall talent and depth advantage and should be able to win the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, leading to an opening road win for Cal
Minnesota:
Vs. 2024 - A minor step back after a solid 5-4 B10 finish in 2024. The Gophers lost only one game by more than a score. 2025 will see them breaking in a young QB, rebuilding their OL and finding back seven depth on defense
Offseason - Mixed to positive. The Gophers lost a lot to graduation and their most promising OL to the portal. They did well restocking their WR and RB corps and finished with the #17 portal class per On3
Offense: Last season, Minnesota were an efficient offensive team with a sixth year game managing QB, good WR talent and a decent run game. In 2025, they break in a younger first time QB and need to replace three OL starters. They have lots of options at WR via portal additions and they reloaded an already strong RB room
Defense: In 2024 this was a top third B10 defense that was elite in pass coverage while being solid against the run. They return a star safety and two stout DL along with quite a few starters from elsewhere via the portal. Depth up front and finding enough pass rush are outstanding items heading into 2025.
Coaching: PJ Fleck’s seen his star dim slightly as it hasn’t been as easy as he would have liked to accumulate talent in Minnesota. That said, he’s done well with what’s he had and is always a tough out in the Big 10
Biggest Weakness: Similar to the Bears, the Gophers biggest question is at QB where RS Freshman Drake Lindsay is poised to start. He was a relative sleeper out of HS but has good size and is naturally accurate
Overall - On paper, this will be among Cal’s most difficult 2025 opponents with a solid combination of talent, experience and good coaching. The long road trip will be a factor for the Gophers after two home non conference cupcakes. This may come down to whichever teams rebuilt OL is stronger.
San Diego State:
Vs 2024 - Slightly improved after a disappointing 2024. It’s a veteran defense that returns a ton of starters. The OL comes back mostly intact as well, though they have to rebuild across all the skill positions
Offseason - Solid. Two top prep recruit QBs transferred in, neither having done much. They had a sprinkling of decent transfer ins including former Cal RB Byron Cardwell and didn’t lose much of importance
Offense - This was a bottom quartile MWC offense in 2024 and it’s not clear they’ve done much to improve unless one of their transfer QBs materializes as a difference maker. The OL is likely to be mildly improved but the loss of their stud RB will hurt
Defense - Another bottom quartile MWC unit last season, they return ten starters and add more depth via the portal. There’s a preseason all conference DL and LB among the returners and this unit almost can’t help but be materially improved
Coaching: Another 2nd year coach looking for a Sophomore season boost. Recruiting is on the upswing and those close to the program believe they are headed the right direction
Biggest Weakness: They were crippled by poor QB play a year ago and it’s far from clear whether that’s improved as their likely starter was 4th string at Michigan in 2024
Overall - This a football team that’s likely a year away from being truly competitive in the MWC and they offer the least amount of talent and depth among the Bears FBS opponents. Hosting the game will help the Aztecs but not enough to alter the outcome
Boston College:
Vs 2024 - A step back from a .500 ACC performance in 2024. Gone to Florida State is the dangerous if erratic Thomas Castellanos at QB as well as 1st round NFL draft choice, Edge rusher Ezeiruaku.
Offseason - Decent. Other than a few key graduations and the loss of Castellanos, BC had a solid offseason, getting a good number of P4 level transfers, albeit very few proven starters to offset a handful of losses of some of their more promising youngsters
Offense - The Eagles had a middle of the road ACC unit in 2024. While Castellanos was disappointing in ’24, his legs were still a big part of the offense They are experienced at WR and TE and talented if less proven at RB. The QB battle between James who replaced Castellanos and Bama back up QB Loevgren will be interesting to watch
Defense - This was a below average ACC defense but it wasn’t bad. Their secondary returns mostly intact and could be special. The questions are along on the DL, where they have to replace a lot of experience and production. They did well in the portal with edge rushers and should mount a solid pass rush
Coaching: The staff returns intact for ’25 led by alum Bill O’Brien in his second season. A control the LOS offense and defense that’s generally well prepared albeit vanilla on both sides of the ball
Biggest Weakness: The DL is the biggest question mark. If they can’t stop the run, it will be a long season.
Overall - This appears to be a bottom half of the ACC team. Questions at QB and along both lines persist and they aren’t loaded with a lot of NFL level talent. If they can establish the run and stop the run, they will be a team no one will want to play. Cal gets them on on the road, making this at best a toss up game
Duke:
Vs 2024 - Maintain the course which was a very successful 9 win season. They have a veteran defense and improved (at least on paper) at QB
Offseason: Not bad. They were hit hard by graduation at LB and WR, however they were a net winner in the portal
Offense - Relative to the competition they played in 2024, this was not a particularly good offense. They lose their top WRs and top RB though they return four starters including an All ACC performer on the OL. Darian Mensah coming in as the QB feels like a win. This group should be solid via the OL and Mensah’s legs.
Defense - This is a very well coached and veteran unit that was only a notch below the Bears in 2024. They should be improved with good depth and production on the DL and two NFL players in the secondary. Not a ton of elite athletes outside the aforementioned defensive backs so the ceiling may not be super high
Coaching: Manny Diaz did a really nice job in 2024 and his staff returns mostly intact. They will be smart, disciplined and tough. They have a similar style to Cal in the reliance on defense and relative conservatism on offense
Biggest Weakness: The lack of raw talent. This isn’t a particularly big or fast team. Their OL can pass protect but doesn’t create many run lanes.
Overall - This team looks better than the ‘24 version, however when the schedules are factored in, they may not win as many games. They come to Berkeley in the 2nd of back to back road games and that is likely the difference in the matchup.
