A late-night rivalry opener against UCLA. A cross-country trip to Syracuse a week later. And a home date against Clemson under the lights before September’s even over. The 2026 California football schedule wastes no time throwing everything at the Bears.
2026 California Football Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 5 | UCLA Bruins | Cal Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA | 10:30 PM | ESPN |
| Sat, Sep 12 | at Syracuse Orange | JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, NY | 3:30 PM | ACCN |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Wagner Seahawks | Cal Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA | 3:30 PM | ACCN |
| Fri, Sep 25 | Clemson Tigers | Cal Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA | 10:30 PM | ESPN |
| Sat, Oct 3 | at UNLV Rebels | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV | 3:30 PM | CBSSN |
| Sat, Oct 10 | Virginia Tech Hokies (Homecoming) | Cal Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 17 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | Cal Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 24 | at SMU Mustangs | Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 31 | at NC State Wolfpack | Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 7 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Nov 14 | at Virginia Cavaliers | Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, VA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Stanford Cardinal | Cal Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 28 | Pitt Panthers | Cal Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Dec 5 | ACC Championship | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC | 12:00 PM | ABC |
A Rivalry Opener, Then a Cross-Country Trip
California opens the 2026 California football schedule with a late-night rivalry game against UCLA on September 5, then immediately heads east for a trip to Syracuse — about as jarring a travel swing as the schedule offers. Wagner gives Berkeley a breather on September 19 before Clemson visits for a Friday night showdown under the lights on September 25.
A Manageable Middle, Then SMU and NC State
A road trip to UNLV opens October, followed by Virginia Tech for Homecoming and Wake Forest at home. Then the California ACC schedule 2026 turns difficult again — a trip to SMU on October 24 is followed immediately by a road game at NC State, back-to-back true road tests before a bye week on November 7 gives the Bears a chance to reset.
Virginia, Stanford, and Pitt Close It Out
California heads to Virginia on November 14 before returning home for the Big Game against Stanford on November 21 — the oldest rivalry on the West Coast, still circled every year regardless of either team’s record. Pitt closes out the regular season at Cal Memorial Stadium on November 28. If California vs Clemson 2026 was the season’s early measuring stick, the ACC Championship in Charlotte on December 5 is the ultimate goal if the Bears get there.
The Bottom Line
Between UCLA, Clemson, and SMU, California opens with real quality before settling into a manageable middle stretch. The California football home games in 2026 offer plenty of chances at Cal Memorial Stadium, but the back-to-back road trip to SMU and NC State in late October is the stretch that will decide how the season’s remembered.
FAQ
Q: When does California football play its first game in 2026?
A: California opens the 2026 California football schedule at home against UCLA on Saturday, September 5, at Cal Memorial Stadium.
Q: When is California vs Clemson 2026?
A: California vs Clemson 2026 is set for Friday, September 25, at home at Cal Memorial Stadium, kickoff at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Q: How many home games does California play in 2026?
A: California has eight California football home games in 2026 at Cal Memorial Stadium: UCLA, Wagner, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Stanford, and Pitt.
Q: What is California’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
A: The back-to-back road trip to SMU and NC State — October 24 and October 31 — is the toughest stretch on the California ACC schedule 2026, alongside the early cross-country trip to Syracuse in September.
