 By SuperWest Sports Staff
March 1, 2026
After last year’s 7-6 campaign, California football has played 131 seasons, dating back to 1886.
The Golden Bears did not play football from 1906 to 1914, choosing to play rugby instead.
Overall, Cal has compiled a 707–584–51 (.546) record through the 2025 season.
Since the program’s initial season, Cal has appeared in 27 bowl games, winning 12 and securing 16 conference championships.
The Bears have also claimed five National Championships, producing 27 consensus First Team All-America players.
California begins its 111th season with renewed optimism under new head coach Tosh Lupoi in the ACC, looking to resume its winning ways.
—Conference Affiliations—
- Atlantic Coast Conference (2024–present)
- Pac-12 Conference (2011–2023)
- Pacific-10 Conference (1978–2010)
- Pacific-8 Conference (1968–1977)
- Athletic Association of Western Universities (1959–1967)
- Pacific Coast Conference (1916–1958)
- Independent (1886–1905, 1915)
The table below provides an all-time season rundown with Conference, W-L record, win percentage, coach, and bowl game, if any, for each year.
| Year | Conf | W | L | T | Pct | Coach(es) | Bowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ACC | 7 | 6 | 0 | .538 | Justin Wilcox (6-5) Nick Rolovich (1-1) | Hawaii Bowl (L) |
| 2024 | ACC | 6 | 7 | 0 | .462 | Justin Wilcox (6-7) | LA Bowl (L) |
| 2023 | Pac-12 | 6 | 7 | 0 | .462 | Justin Wilcox (6-7) | Independence Bowl (L) |
| 2022 | Pac-12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | Justin Wilcox (4-8) | |
| 2021 | Pac-12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | Justin Wilcox (5-7) | |
| 2020 | Pac-12 | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | Justin Wilcox (1-3) | |
| 2019 | Pac-12 | 8 | 5 | 0 | .615 | Justin Wilcox (8-5) | Redbox Bowl (W) |
| 2018 | Pac-12 | 7 | 6 | 0 | .538 | Justin Wilcox (7-6) | Cheez-It Bowl (L) |
| 2017 | Pac-12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | Justin Wilcox (5-7) | |
| 2016 | Pac-12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | Sonny Dykes (5-7) | |
| 2015 | Pac-12 | 8 | 5 | 0 | .615 | Sonny Dykes (8-5) | Armed Forces Bowl (W) |
| 2014 | Pac-12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | Sonny Dykes (5-7) | |
| 2013 | Pac-12 | 1 | 11 | 0 | .083 | Sonny Dykes (1-11) | |
| 2012 | Pac-12 | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | Jeff Tedford (3-9) | |
| 2011 | Pac-12 | 7 | 6 | 0 | .538 | Jeff Tedford (7-6) | Holiday Bowl (L) |
| 2010 | Pac-10 | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | Jeff Tedford (5-7) | |
| 2009 | Pac-10 | 8 | 5 | 0 | .615 | Jeff Tedford (8-5) | Poinsettia Bowl (L) |
| 2008 | Pac-10 | 9 | 4 | 0 | .692 | Jeff Tedford (9-4) | Emerald Bowl (W) |
| 2007 | Pac-10 | 7 | 6 | 0 | .538 | Jeff Tedford (7-6) | Armed Forces Bowl (W) |
| 2006 | Pac-10 | 10 | 3 | 0 | .769 | Jeff Tedford (10-3) | Holiday Bowl (W) |
| 2005 | Pac-10 | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Jeff Tedford (8-4) | Las Vegas Bowl (W) |
| 2004 | Pac-10 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Jeff Tedford (10-2) | Holiday Bowl (L) |
| 2003 | Pac-10 | 8 | 6 | 0 | .571 | Jeff Tedford (8-6) | Insight Bowl (W) |
| 2002 | Pac-10 | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | Jeff Tedford (7-5) | |
| 2001 | Pac-10 | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | Tom Holmoe (1-10) | |
| 2000 | Pac-10 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Tom Holmoe (3-8) | |
| 1999 | Pac-10 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Tom Holmoe (4-7) | |
| 1998 | Pac-10 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Tom Holmoe (5-6) | |
| 1997 | Pac-10 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Tom Holmoe (3-8) | |
| 1996 | Pac-10 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | Steve Mariucci (6-6) | Aloha Bowl (L) |
| 1995 | Pac-10 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Keith Gilbertson (3-8) | |
| 1994 | Pac-10 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Keith Gilbertson (4-7) | |
| 1993 | Pac-10 | 9 | 4 | 0 | .692 | Keith Gilbertson (9-4) | Alamo Bowl (W) |
| 1992 | Pac-10 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Keith Gilbertson (4-7) | |
| 1991 | Pac-10 | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Bruce Snyder (10-2) | Citrus Bowl (W) |
| 1990 | Pac-10 | 7 | 4 | 1 | .625 | Bruce Snyder (7-4-1) | Copper Bowl (W) |
| 1989 | Pac-10 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Bruce Snyder (4-7) | |
| 1988 | Pac-10 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | Bruce Snyder (5-5-1) | |
| 1987 | Pac-10 | 3 | 6 | 2 | .364 | Bruce Snyder (3-6-2) | |
| 1986 | Pac-10 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Joe Kapp (2-9) | |
| 1985 | Pac-10 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Joe Kapp (4-7) | |
| 1984 | Pac-10 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Joe Kapp (2-9) | |
| 1983 | Pac-10 | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | Joe Kapp (5-5-1) | |
| 1982 | Pac-10 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Joe Kapp (7-4) | |
| 1981 | Pac-10 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | Roger Theder (2-9) | |
| 1980 | Pac-10 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Roger Theder (3-8) | |
| 1979 | Pac-10 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | Roger Theder (6-6) | Garden State Bowl (L) |
| 1978 | Pac-10 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Roger Theder (6-5) | |
| 1977 | Pac-8 | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Mike White (7-4) | |
| 1976 | Pac-8 | 5 | 6 | 0 | .455 | Mike White (5-6) | |
| 1975 | Pac-8 | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | Mike White (8-3) | |
| 1974 | Pac-8 | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | Mike White (7-3-1) | |
| 1973 | Pac-8 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | Mike White (4-7) | |
| 1972 | Pac-8 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | Mike White (3-8) | |
| 1971 | Pac-8 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Ray Willsey (6-5) | |
| 1970 | Pac-8 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Ray Willsey (6-5) | |
| 1969 | Pac-8 | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Ray Willsey (5-5) | |
| 1968 | Pac-8 | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | Ray Willsey (7-3-1) | |
| 1967 | AAWU | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Ray Willsey (5-5) | |
| 1966 | AAWU | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | Ray Willsey (3-7) | |
| 1965 | AAWU | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Ray Willsey (5-5) | |
| 1964 | AAWU | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | Ray Willsey (3-7) | |
| 1963 | AAWU | 4 | 5 | 1 | .450 | Marv Levy (4-5-1) | |
| 1962 | AAWU | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 | Marv Levy (1-9) | |
| 1961 | AAWU | 1 | 8 | 1 | .150 | Marv Levy (1-8-1) | |
| 1960 | AAWU | 2 | 7 | 1 | .250 | Marv Levy (2-7-1) | |
| 1959 | AAWU | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | Pete Elliott (2-8) | |
| 1958 | PCC | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Pete Elliott (7-4) | Rose Bowl (L) |
| 1957 | PCC | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 | Pete Elliott (1-9) | |
| 1956 | PCC | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | Pappy Waldorf (3-7) | |
| 1955 | PCC | 2 | 7 | 1 | .250 | Pappy Waldorf (2-7-1) | |
| 1954 | PCC | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Pappy Waldorf (5-5) | |
| 1953 | PCC | 4 | 4 | 2 | .500 | Pappy Waldorf (4-4-2) | |
| 1952 | PCC | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | Pappy Waldorf (7-3) | |
| 1951 | PCC | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | Pappy Waldorf (8-2) | |
| 1950 | PCC | 9 | 1 | 1 | .864 | Pappy Waldorf (9-1-1) | Rose Bowl (L) |
| 1949 | PCC | 10 | 1 | 0 | .909 | Pappy Waldorf (10-1) | Rose Bowl (L) |
| 1948 | PCC | 10 | 1 | 0 | .909 | Pappy Waldorf (10-1) | Rose Bowl (L) |
| 1947 | PCC | 9 | 1 | 0 | .900 | Pappy Waldorf (9-1) | |
| 1946 | PCC | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | Frank Wickhorst (2-7) | |
| 1945 | PCC | 4 | 5 | 1 | .450 | Buck Shaw (4-5-1) | |
| 1944 | PCC | 3 | 6 | 1 | .350 | Stub Allison (3-6-1) | |
| 1943 | PCC | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Stub Allison (4-6) | |
| 1942 | PCC | 5 | 5 | 0 | .500 | Stub Allison (5-5) | |
| 1941 | PCC | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | Stub Allison (4-5) | |
| 1940 | PCC | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | Stub Allison (4-6) | |
| 1939 | PCC | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | Stub Allison (3-7) | |
| 1938 | PCC | 10 | 1 | 0 | .909 | Stub Allison (10-1) | |
| 1937 | PCC | 10 | 0 | 1 | .955 | Stub Allison (10-0-1) | Rose Bowl (W) |
| 1936 | PCC | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Stub Allison (6-5) | |
| 1935 | PCC | 9 | 1 | 0 | .900 | Stub Allison (9-1) | |
| 1934 | PCC | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | William Ingram (6-6) | |
| 1933 | PCC | 6 | 3 | 2 | .636 | William Ingram (6-3-2) | |
| 1932 | PCC | 7 | 3 | 2 | .667 | William Ingram (7-3-2) | |
| 1931 | PCC | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | William Ingram (8-2) | |
| 1930 | PCC | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | Nibs Price (4-5) | |
| 1929 | PCC | 7 | 1 | 1 | .833 | Nibs Price (7-1-1) | |
| 1928 | PCC | 6 | 2 | 2 | .700 | Nibs Price (6-2-2) | Rose Bowl (L) |
| 1927 | PCC | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | Nibs Price (7-3) | |
| 1926 | PCC | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | Nibs Price (3-6) | |
| 1925 | PCC | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | Andy Smith (6-3) | |
| 1924 | PCC | 8 | 0 | 2 | .900 | Andy Smith (8-0-2) | |
| 1923 | PCC | 9 | 0 | 1 | .950 | Andy Smith (9-0-1) | |
| 1922 | PCC | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | Andy Smith (9-0) | |
| 1921 | PCC | 9 | 0 | 1 | .950 | Andy Smith (9-0-1) | Rose Bowl (T) |
| 1920 | PCC | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | Andy Smith (9-0) | Rose Bowl (W) |
| 1919 | PCC | 6 | 2 | 1 | .722 | Andy Smith (6-2-1) | |
| 1918 | PCC | 6 | 2 | 0 | .750 | Andy Smith (7-2) | |
| 1917 | PCC | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | Andy Smith (5-5-1) | |
| 1916 | PCC | 6 | 4 | 1 | .591 | Andy Smith (6-4-1) | |
| 1915 | Independent | 8 | 5 | 0 | .615 | James Schaeffer (8-5) | |
| 1905 | Independent | 4 | 1 | 2 | .571 | J. W. Knibbs | |
| 1904 | Independent | 6 | 1 | 1 | .750 | James Hopper | |
| 1903 | Independent | 6 | 1 | 2 | .667 | James Whipple | |
| 1902 | Independent | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 | James Whipple | |
| 1901 | Independent | 9 | 0 | 1 | .900 | Frank W. Simpson | |
| 1900 | Independent | 4 | 2 | 1 | .571 | Addison Kelly | |
| 1899 | Independent | 7 | 1 | 1 | .778 | Garrett Cochran | |
| 1898 | Independent | 8 | 0 | 2 | .800 | Garrett Cochran | |
| 1897 | Independent | 0 | 3 | 2 | .000 | Charles Nott | |
| 1896 | Independent | 6 | 2 | 2 | .600 | Frank Butterworth | |
| 1895 | Independent | 3 | 1 | 1 | .600 | Frank Butterworth | |
| 1894 | Independent | 0 | 1 | 2 | .000 | Charles O. Gill | |
| 1893 | Independent | 5 | 1 | 1 | .714 | Pudge Heffelfinger | |
| 1892 | Independent | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lee McClung | |
| 1892 (Spring) | Independent | 4 | 2 | 0 | .667 | No Coach | |
| 1891 | Independent | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | No Coach | |
| 1890 | Independent | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 | No Coach | |
| 1888 | Independent | 6 | 1 | 0 | .858 | No Coach | |
| 1887 | Independent | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 | No Coach | |
| 1886 | Independent | 6 | 2 | 1 | .667 | Oscar S. Howard |