Cal Football

Ruiz Report: Golden Bears Fans Deserve Better

Joaquin Ruiz shares his raw thoughts and opinions after the Golden Bears' 41-7 loss to No. 21 Wake Forest in his weekly "Ruiz Report" column. The "Ruiz Report" was born at The Daily Californian.
By Joaquin Ruiz
October 19, 2026
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17 Comments
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You deserve better. 

Because what the Golden Bears have shown over the last seven weeks is unacceptable for the level of support and potential the football program has.

Cal fans desperately want to believe. That’s a given, too often taken for granted.

UCLA was a competitive loss. Syracuse was a gritty win. Wagner was a relaxing tune-up. Clemson was a wake-up call. UNLV was a stepping stone. Virginia Tech was a new hope.

But no.

The Golden Bears, now 3-4, are who many didn’t want to consider they could be: a non-contender.

And Saturday night’s 41-7 loss to No. 21 Wake Forest was the ultimate reminder. Cal was humiliated and annihilated on its own turf by a Demon Deacons team that didn’t break a sweat.

Nothing could hide the team’s shortcomings between the sidelines — and on them.

In fact, tight end Mason Mini implied Cal didn’t expect to pull off an upset, an indicator of the team’s battered spirit.

“I mean, it’s very disappointing,” Mini said. “They came in here, it's a home game … No. 21 team in the country, you know, we didn't really have much to lose playing this team, but they got the best of it.”

Look on the bright side. 

At least the Golden Bears tied the Demon Deacons in second-half scoring despite losing by 34 points.

“That was the main message at halftime,” coach Tosh Lupoi said. “We’re not going to lay down. We’re not going to quit. I appreciate the guys going out there and doing exactly that, putting us at a 7-7 second-half performance.”

Cal’s path forward is extremely unclear. 

Between swirling rumors and the fact that quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele didn’t see the field against the Demon Deacons until the game was ridiculously out of reach, the Golden Bears are undoubtedly in an uncomfortable, vulnerable spot.

And No. 23 SMU, which Cal upset a season ago, is probably salivating at the thought of getting revenge against the discombobulated Golden Bears this coming Saturday morning in Dallas.

Don’t even ask who will start under center against the Mustangs.

“Both the guys did a good job — at times,” Lupoi said of Sagapolutele and Jackson Brousseau. “So, gonna assess …”

The situation in Berkeley is very dire. Usually, there’s something for fans to hold onto, like a player, coach, performance, matchup or even themes and promotions.

However, for the first time this season and for the first time in a long while, I’m not sure what that something is. The Golden Bears showed zero promise against the Demon Deacons.

Cal, of course, is no stranger to disappointing seasons. There was always next year. 

But as the Pac-12 learned, next years are no longer a certainty for middling programs. Futures can change overnight, and the clock is — unfairly — always ticking.

I don’t know where the Golden Bears go from here.

If anything is certain, though, Cal fans deserve better. They’ve stayed through thick and thin and believed things would change in 2026, after an offseason for the ages.

Yet, as it turns out, things have gotten worse. And they really, really need to get better.

17 Comments
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Tosh Lupoi Ron Rivera Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele Jackson Brousseau Football Wake Forest California 2026
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Ruiz Report: Golden Bears Fans Deserve Better

7,573 Views | 17 Replies | Last: 11 days ago by bearister
calbear80
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4:11a, 10/19/26
Absoultly agree that the Golden Bears fans, players. alumni and the entire university deserve better than Lupoi.

The sooner this miserable experiment Lupoi is ended, the better.

. Did you see Lupoi benching perhaps the best QB that we have had in a generation for the start of the game and destroying team unity and moral?

. Did you see the all-time worst first half score?
. Did you see the 0-41 score until the fourth quarter garbage time?
. Did you see half empty student section?
. Did you see all the other empty stands?
. Did you see all the die hard Cal fans walking out of the stadium or turning off their TV by the second half?
. Did you see all the donors turning away?
. Did you see the recruits decommitting?
. Did you see all the Cal fans heart broken?

And, this was against Wake Forest, a pretty mediocre ACC team, not against a powerhouse like Ohio State or Alabama. It is disgraceful.

And, then did you see Lupoi giving a non-sense word salad post game "explanation"?

What else do we all need to see to decide it is time for a head coach change NOW?

Go Bears!
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nikeykid
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6:58a, 10/19/26
its true, I do deserve better.
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DiabloWags
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8:34a, 10/19/26
"The situation in Berkeley is very dire. Usually, there's something for fans to hold onto, like a player, coach, performance, matchup or even themes and promotions."

We have an excellent punter named Angus.
That's it.


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Bobodeluxe
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In reply to DiabloWags • 8:58a, 10/19/26
DiabloWags said:
"The situation in Berkeley is very dire. Usually, there's something for fans to hold onto, like a player, coach, performance, matchup or even themes and promotions."

We have an excellent punter named Angus.
That's it.



Three starters from last year's square jaw team are starters again this year on ranked teams.

'So, there are a few players to follow.
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BearSD
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In reply to Bobodeluxe • 11:07a, 10/19/26
Bobodeluxe said:
DiabloWags said:
"The situation in Berkeley is very dire. Usually, there's something for fans to hold onto, like a player, coach, performance, matchup or even themes and promotions."

We have an excellent punter named Angus.
That's it.

Three starters from last year's square jaw team are starters again this year on ranked teams.

'So, there are a few players to follow.

Yup. Here's one guy that Tosh should have retained, instead of spending a bunch of NIL on players who have disappointed.

Quote:
Cade Uluave, LB

Uluave was BYU's most important transfer this offseason. After earning All-ACC honors at Cal, Uluave came to Provo to essentially replace Jack Kelly, now in the NFL. He hasn't just replaced Kelly on the field. He has been one of the biggest veteran leaders and most important locker room pieces for Sitake as well. All that was on display on Saturday night. He collected nine tackles, which led the team. He added a tackle for loss as well. He wasn't just your typical off-ball linebacker either. He was BYU's most effective pass rusher as well, leading the team with five QB pressures. He was everywhere, flying sideline-to-sideline.

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calpoly
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In reply to BearSD • 11:20a, 10/19/26
BearSD said:
Bobodeluxe said:
DiabloWags said:
"The situation in Berkeley is very dire. Usually, there's something for fans to hold onto, like a player, coach, performance, matchup or even themes and promotions."

We have an excellent punter named Angus.
That's it.

Three starters from last year's square jaw team are starters again this year on ranked teams.

'So, there are a few players to follow.

Yup. Here's one guy that Tosh should have retained, instead of spending a bunch of NIL on players who have disappointed.

Quote:
Cade Uluave, LB

Uluave was BYU's most important transfer this offseason. After earning All-ACC honors at Cal, Uluave came to Provo to essentially replace Jack Kelly, now in the NFL. He hasn't just replaced Kelly on the field. He has been one of the biggest veteran leaders and most important locker room pieces for Sitake as well. All that was on display on Saturday night. He collected nine tackles, which led the team. He added a tackle for loss as well. He wasn't just your typical off-ball linebacker either. He was BYU's most effective pass rusher as well, leading the team with five QB pressures. He was everywhere, flying sideline-to-sideline.


I would not be surprised if some of last year's good players realized how bad the incoming coach was going to be and headed out of town as fast as possible.
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calBlitz
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In reply to BearSD • 11:28a, 10/19/26
BearSDYup. Here's one guy that Tosh should have retained, instead of spending a bunch of NIL on players who have disappointed. said:
Quote:
Cade Uluave, LB

Uluave was BYU's most important transfer this offseason. After earning All-ACC honors at Cal, Uluave came to Provo to essentially replace Jack Kelly, now in the NFL. He hasn't just replaced Kelly on the field. He has been one of the biggest veteran leaders and most important locker room pieces for Sitake as well. All that was on display on Saturday night. He collected nine tackles, which led the team. He added a tackle for loss as well. He wasn't just your typical off-ball linebacker either. He was BYU's most effective pass rusher as well, leading the team with five QB pressures. He was everywhere, flying sideline-to-sideline.


I believe Cade wanted be closer to his family for his final year, so his motivation went beyond money. For all of his shortcomings, Wilcox always got production from the LB position.
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cbadbear
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11:33a, 10/19/26
Absolutely loved Uluave. I may be making this up but wasn't his decision partly due to Tosh not running a 3-4 defense?

Or, maybe he just wanted to play on a winning team....too soon?
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Jcasa
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12:08p, 10/19/26
This is just the latest setback in a long history of debacles for Cal football. I don't understand Cal fans expectations and having been a former season ticket holder for years, I question their understanding of the game. The primary thing for many fans was the season was a success if Cal beat Stanford. With that being its lofty goal, its not surprising the program is where its at now. I thought Mike White was the answer, then Joe Kapp, then Tedford, Dykes, Wilcox and now Lupoi. Each time the fan base was energized but as soon as the losses came so went the support. Its going to take time. I thought the preseason hype was way over the top and set false expectations. Cal will unlikely become a football powerhouse but respectability is in reach.
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calpoly
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In reply to Jcasa • 12:22p, 10/19/26
Jcasa said:
This is just the latest setback in a long history of debacles for Cal football. I don't understand Cal fans expectations and having been a former season ticket holder for years, I question their understanding of the game. The primary thing for many fans was the season was a success if Cal beat Stanford. With that being its lofty goal, its not surprising the program is where its at now. I thought Mike White was the answer, then Joe Kapp, then Tedford, Dykes, Wilcox and now Lupoi. Each time the fan base was energized but as soon as the losses came so went the support. Its going to take time. I thought the preseason hype was way over the top and set false expectations. Cal will unlikely become a football powerhouse but respectability is in reach.

Well said. The hype surrounding Lupoi's hiring was unwarranted, and now reality has set in. Expectations were raised far beyond what was justified, and the results have exposed the gap between the excitement surrounding his arrival and the actual performance on the field. Unfortunately, enthusiasm and optimism don't necessarily translate into wins.
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calBlitz
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In reply to cbadbear • 12:35p, 10/19/26
cbadbear said:
Absolutely loved Uluave. I may be making this up but wasn't his decision partly due to Tosh not running a 3-4 defense?

Or, maybe he just wanted to play on a winning team....too soon?

The 3-4 (or the 4-3) is really meant to be used against 2-1 (2 WRs) personnel. Very few teams run those schemes anymore. Now teams employed 3 or more WRs making opposing teams counter with 5 ore more DBs. Going off memory here, but I think Wilcox ran a 4-2-5 scheme.

As for Cade wanting to be on a winning team, the fact that BYU was on an upward trajectory only made his decision easier.
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Bobodeluxe
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In reply to calBlitz • 12:38p, 10/19/26
calBlitz said:
BearSDYup. Here's one guy that Tosh should have retained, instead of spending a bunch of NIL on players who have disappointed. said:
Quote:
Cade Uluave, LB

Uluave was BYU's most important transfer this offseason. After earning All-ACC honors at Cal, Uluave came to Provo to essentially replace Jack Kelly, now in the NFL. He hasn't just replaced Kelly on the field. He has been one of the biggest veteran leaders and most important locker room pieces for Sitake as well. All that was on display on Saturday night. He collected nine tackles, which led the team. He added a tackle for loss as well. He wasn't just your typical off-ball linebacker either. He was BYU's most effective pass rusher as well, leading the team with five QB pressures. He was everywhere, flying sideline-to-sideline.


I believe Cade wanted be closer to his family for his final year, so his motivation went beyond money. For all of his shortcomings, Wilcox always got production from the LB position.

He transferred to Michigan, but it turns out that any transfer can only bring in two years worth of credits, and he decided to go back home, and get a degree this year. Or so the story goes.
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Cal Not Weak
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12:55p, 10/19/26
Tedford after getting blown out: "we won the second half!"

Tosh after getting blown out: "we tied the second half!"
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calBlitz
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In reply to Bobodeluxe • 12:58p, 10/19/26
Bobodeluxe said:
calBlitz said:
BearSDYup. Here's one guy that Tosh should have retained, instead of spending a bunch of NIL on players who have disappointed. said:
Quote:
Cade Uluave, LB

Uluave was BYU's most important transfer this offseason. After earning All-ACC honors at Cal, Uluave came to Provo to essentially replace Jack Kelly, now in the NFL. He hasn't just replaced Kelly on the field. He has been one of the biggest veteran leaders and most important locker room pieces for Sitake as well. All that was on display on Saturday night. He collected nine tackles, which led the team. He added a tackle for loss as well. He wasn't just your typical off-ball linebacker either. He was BYU's most effective pass rusher as well, leading the team with five QB pressures. He was everywhere, flying sideline-to-sideline.


I believe Cade wanted be closer to his family for his final year, so his motivation went beyond money. For all of his shortcomings, Wilcox always got production from the LB position.

He transferred to Michigan, but it turns out that any transfer can only bring in two years worth of credits, and he decided to go back home, and get a degree this year. Or so the story goes.

I think you are correct.
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HKBear97!
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2:03p, 10/19/26
"They've stayed through thick and thin and believed things would change in 2026, after an offseason for the ages."

To be fair, the writers on this site along with the rest of the Pollyanna's on the board believed this. However, more than a few of us questioned the hire and had very low expectations given the staff that was assembled. For those of us paying attention, the results to date are not terribly surprising.
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sycasey
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In reply to calBlitz • 2:19p, 10/19/26
calBlitz said:
BearSDYup. Here's one guy that Tosh should have retained, instead of spending a bunch of NIL on players who have disappointed. said:
Quote:
Cade Uluave, LB

Uluave was BYU's most important transfer this offseason. After earning All-ACC honors at Cal, Uluave came to Provo to essentially replace Jack Kelly, now in the NFL. He hasn't just replaced Kelly on the field. He has been one of the biggest veteran leaders and most important locker room pieces for Sitake as well. All that was on display on Saturday night. He collected nine tackles, which led the team. He added a tackle for loss as well. He wasn't just your typical off-ball linebacker either. He was BYU's most effective pass rusher as well, leading the team with five QB pressures. He was everywhere, flying sideline-to-sideline.


I believe Cade wanted be closer to his family for his final year, so his motivation went beyond money. For all of his shortcomings, Wilcox always got production from the LB position.

Yeah, I suspect he was leaving regardless.
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bearister
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2:06p, 10/20/26
"Ruiz Report: Golden Bears Fans Deserve Better"

Kris Kristofferson once posed this existential question:

"Why me, Lord? what have I ever done
To deserve even one of the pleasures I've known?
Tell me, Lord, what did I ever do?"
Kris Kristofferson, Why Me? (1972)

…..and Will Munny answered that question in The Unforgiven:


“Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
Send my credentials to the House of Detention
I got some friends inside”
—Jim Morrison

“I love Cal deeply, by the way, what are the directions to The Portal from Sproul Plaza?”
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