Cal’s LA Bowl vs. UNLV takes on different feel as Bears begin makeover
Cal’s matchup with UNLV in the LA Bowl on Wednesday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood feels more like a stepping stone to a new reality for the Golden Bears.
A victory over the Rebels (10-3) would give Cal (6-6) its first winning season since 2019 but it hardly would provide the kind of year-to-year momentum teams hope to gain from a bowl game.
Everything has changed in a couple weeks for the Bears, who will play without budding star quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza entered the transfer portal a year after swearing his long-term allegiance to Berkeley. “The greenest pasture is here,” he said at the time.
At least a half-dozen others on the roster also have bolted, including starting wideout Nyziah Hunter. The Bears even lost their long snapper to the portal.
That’s just the start of upheaval. After the Bears’ 38-6 loss at SMU in their regular-season finale — a game Cal played without Mendoza, who reportedly was ill — coach Justin Wilcox began an overhaul of his offensive coaching staff.
He took coordinator duties from Mike Bloesch, later firing him also as offensive line coach. Out is longtime receivers coach Burl Toler III, a popular alum who also served as recruiting coordinator.
It’s unclear whether there will be more changes.
Former Boise State and Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin will be the Bears’ new offensive coordinator, leaving in question the status of current quarterbacks coach Sterlin Gilbert. New Mexico’s Famika Anae will coach the O-line and Kyle Cefalo, most recently the offensive coordinator at Utah State, will handle receivers.
Controversial former Washington State coach Nick Rolovich has been hired as a senior offensive assistant. Rolovich is known for his successful version of the run-and-shoot offense but he was fired by WSU during the 2021 season for failing to comply with the state’s requirement to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
None of the new staff members will be calling shots against UNLV. Sideline decisions will be made “by committee,” Wilcox said.
That also may be the Bears’ approach at quarterback, where backup Chandler Rogers is considered questionable to play after being injured against SMU. That could give redshirt sophomore CJ Harris, a transfer from Ohio, his first start for the Bears.
Personnel defections aside, the Bears could be healthier than they’ve been in weeks.
Inside linebacker Cade Uluave is expected back after missing four games due to injury. Likewise, running back Jaivian Thomas was listed as ready to go after sitting out the SMU game, and offensive guard Sioape Vatikani, who has been in and out of the lineup all season, is healthy.
Even so, it’s a surprise the Bears opened as 1.5-point favorites, according to Vegas Insider.
UNLV also has experienced change, with second-year coach Barry Odom having taken a job at Purdue. Former Florida and Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen will replace him, although receivers coach Del Alexander will run things in the bowl game as interim head coach.
Exactly what the Bears look like a year from now is impossible to know. Their defense, a strength most of the season, is senior-led so they will lose linebacker Teddye Buchanan (112 tackles), cornerback Nohl Williams (FBS-leading seven interceptions — both first-team All-ACC picks — and third-team honorees Craig Woodson at safety and Xavier Carlton at defensive end, among others.
It would be a surprise if junior running back Jaydn Ott returns after struggling with a nagging injury and an erratic offensive line. Ott rushed for more than 1,300 yards in 2023 but his NFL draft stock has taken a substantial hit this fall.
Still, Wilcox is sending positive vibes about the future, starting with what he expects will be a huge lift at offensive coordinator. He worked alongside Harsin when both were coordinators under Chris Petersen at Boise State, where Harsin later assembled a 69-19 record in seven seasons (2014-20) as head coach.
With Harsin as coordinator or head coach, the Broncos scored 40 points or more 77 times in 154 games. “He has a massive football acumen,” Wilcox said.
Wilcox said last week he is 100 percent confident the Bears will be positioned financially next fall when teams in Power 4 conferences begin paying players directly.
“This is college football. This is how it is now,” Wilcox said. “Things are in flux right now but there is zero panic and a lot of excitement because we have backing from the university, we have resources, we’re going to have an unbelievable staff who are proven recruiters and coaches.”
Stay tuned.