Bear Insider Cal Weekly Grab Bag – Sep 11, 2026

This week, fresh rankings in the FBS, Syracuse pundit predictions, college football announcing, watch your favorite games this weekend, wisdom from a Cal great, Volleyball on the rise and a tribute to Mark Bingham. Chris Vannini's updated 138-team rankings after Week 1, Cal moved down to 50 from 49. Meanwhile UCLA jumped 41 spots into the Top 25. Might be characterized as a good loss at some point this season for those looking for a silver lining. In case you are wondering, Syracuse comes in at 74, up four places after a master class performance against FCS New Hampshire.

The experts at Syracuse.com have all the answers - Syracuse will win and cover - after they watched the entire Cal-UCLA game last Saturday. Yeah, right…stayed up until 2:30AM ET.

Syracuse football vs. California predictions: See our picks

Another ‘Cuse site brings some levity to its prediction, but ultimately has the Orange winning in the fourth match up all time against the Bears.

Fake Nunes previews Syracuse vs California

Per the Awful Announcing blog, two of the top college football radio broadcasters, Justin Allegri and BI’s own Mike Pawlawski, provide some Cal-UCLA highlights on the Cal Radio Network. Always a good listen.

Find every game, and every network to watch your favorite college football team every weekend this fall. Cal and Syracuse will be on the ACCN this Saturday at 12:30PM PDT.

Nate Longshore continues to bring the juice on the most veteran FBS rosters. Should give Cal an edge this weekend. Cal is ranked 18th. ‘Cuse is 76th.

Cal volleyball had a big win on the road on Tuesday at the other USC. Now 5-1 on the season, the Bears are worth a watch. They return home on October 2 to face Virginia.

I’m in Syracuse this morning, 350 miles north of Shanksville, PA. American hero and Cal Bear hero, Mark Bingham gave his life there 25 years ago today in United Airlines Flight 93.

Mark was a Cal grad, rugby player, two time national champion and later founder of the Bingham Group. He was returning home from a trip in New York to attend a fraternity brother’s wedding.

He overslept that morning and was the last passenger to board. Flight 93 departed Newark at 8:42 and within 20 minutes hijackers crashed planes into the World Trade Center Towers. At 9:25, the flight crew was alerted to be aware of a cockpit intrusion. Five minutes later hijackers had control of the aircraft.

After being relocated to the rear of the aircraft, Mark and several passengers formed a plan to retake the plane. They coordinated with crewmembers, and made phone calls home. Mark’s mother urged him to do everything he could to overpower the hijackers. He did.

Mark and several passengers courageously rushed the cockpit and during the struggle, Flight 93 crashed into an empty field in Shanksville. Their courage spared countless lives in our nation’s capital.

ESPNs Adam Ruttenberg had a wonderful remembrance of Mark several years ago. It still resonates with me. Go Bears Forever, Mark!

Cal fan becomes a school hero in 1992, U.S. hero in 2001