Bear Insider Cal Weekly Grab Bag – August 14, 2026
This week, an ACC season outlook, the ACC Huddle visits Berkeley, more watch list honors, a Joe Roth uniform update, Cal’s elite status in FBS, a ball of energy joins Cal men’s basketball, mind blowing season predictions, Power Four roster costs, and Kevin, the tree killer, Moen.
On ESPN’s Always College Football podcast, Greg McElroy previews the ACC by placing all 17 conference teams into five tiers:
1. National championship contenders
2. Playoff contenders
3. Spoilers capable of disrupting a contender
4. Bowl-eligibility hopefuls
5. Teams with work to do
No spoilers here on Cal’s spot. A strong overview of the conference and a thoughtful breakdown of where each program stands. A good watch.
The ACC Huddle Road Trip stopped at Cal on Monday, where Tosh Lupoi, JKS, and Ron Rivera joined hosts Kelsey Riggs Cuff, Eddie Royal, and EJ Manuel for a meet-and-greet and a series of interviews. Here are a few highlights:
Tosh Lupoi: Asked whether he had paused to reflect on landing his first head-coaching job at his alma mater, Lupoi’s response was definitive: “No. Too much work to do.”
JKS: EJ Manuel, the former FSU/NFL QB and ACC Huddle co-host, said of Jaron, “The sky is the limit!” Discussing his new offensive weapons, JKS added, “It’s like having the most expensive brand of new cars—fast, explosive, and powerful.”
Ron Rivera: Asked what the Cal–Dialpad patch agreement means for Cal Athletics, Rivera said, “It’s going to give us the opportunity to do more things, not just bring in more talent.” He added that other agreements are in development, all aimed at enhancing the Cal football student-athlete experience. Rivera also stressed that prospective additions must fit the program’s culture: “Not thinking of themselves as the best player on the team, but the best player for the team.”
Watch the full show on ESPN (or in the ESPN app) using the link below. A login through your media provider is required.
ACC Huddle Special: California Road Trip (8/10/26)
And set your calendar for August 28th, 7PM ET, for an ACC Huddle Special with JKS on the ACCN.
On Monday, RB Adam Mohammed was selected to the Paul Hornung Award watch list, given annually to the most versatile player in major college football. https://theacc.com/news/2026/8/10/football-six-acc-players-named-to-2026-paul-hornung-award-watch-list.aspx
Also, Dorian Thomas was recently named to the John Mackey Award watch list, presented annually to the most outstanding collegiate Tight End in college football.
Eight ACC Tight Ends Earn Spots on John Mackey Award Watch List
They join four-time ACC Rookie Of The Week and two-time ACC Quarterback Of The Week, JKS, placed on the Maxwell Award watch list earlier this month.
The Joe Roth uniforms will return for Cal’s September 5 matchup against UCLA, as Joaquin Ruiz shared yesterday. Observant fans may have noticed that the helmet does not feature the block C used during Roth’s tenure at Cal. Oski the Reformer explains the reason in the post below. A smart move by Cal.
A small group of Power Four programs, seven in all, has produced quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs who reached elite levels in the NFL—and many Cal fans already know which Bears made it on the list. BI community, can you name them? This one should be easy.
Amier Ali, Cal’s transfer-portal addition from Mississippi State, introduces himself to the Cal community. Ranked the nation’s No. 54 prospect coming out of high school, Ali began his college career at Arizona State before transferring to Mississippi State.
Per 0and0, Cal will be the biggest disrupter in the Power Four in 2026, brought to you by Cal’s infusion of talent, Power of Unit and relentless effort.
On the flip side, Zak Bigelow—a former college football player and staffer who now creates CFB depth and value charts—offers power ratings, market analysis, and betting insights centered on major sportsbooks. I question the level of certainty behind some of his assumptions, but Bigelow remains firmly committed to his metrics and methodology. He ranks Cal 60th among 68 Power Four programs. It is not an encouraging assessment, but worth reading. BI community, what do you think?
What does a Power Four roster cost? ESPNs Max Olson breaks it down. See if your value priorities match the expertise of GMs and agents.
Kevin Moen spent a career breaking Stanford’s heart. WE all know about The Play in 1982, but then there’s this.
