2021 California Golden Bears football team

American college football season

2021 California Golden Bears football

Conference	Pac-12 Conference
Division	North Division
Record	5–7 (4–5 Pac-12)
Head coach	Justin Wilcox (5th season)
Offensive coordinator	Bill Musgrave (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Spread option
Defensive coordinator	Peter Sirmon (2nd season)
Base defense	3–4 or 2–4–5
Home stadium	California Memorial Stadium
Seasons ← 2020 2022 →

2021 Pac-12 Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
North Division
No. 22 Oregon xy	7	–	2	10	–	4
Washington State	6	–	3	7	–	6
Oregon State	5	–	4	7	–	6
California	4	–	5	5	–	7
Washington	3	–	6	4	–	8
Stanford	2	–	7	3	–	9
South Division
No. 12 Utah xy$	8	–	1	10	–	4
UCLA	6	–	3	8	–	4
Arizona State†	0	–	3	0	–	5
USC	3	–	6	4	–	8
Colorado	3	–	6	4	–	8
Arizona	1	–	8	1	–	11
Championship: Utah 38, Oregon 10
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

The 2021 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by head coach Justin Wilcox, in his fifth year. The team played their home games at California Memorial Stadium as a member of the North Division of the Pac-12 Conference.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 4	7:30 p.m.	Nevada*	California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA	FS1	L 17–22	35,117
September 11	12:30 p.m.	at TCU*	Amon G. Carter Stadium Fort Worth, TX	ESPNU	L 32–34	38,631
September 18	1:00 p.m.	Sacramento State*	California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA	P12N	W 42–30	31,982
September 25	6:30 p.m.	at Washington	Husky Stadium Seattle, WA	P12N	L 24–31 ^OT	60,104
October 2	2:30 p.m.	Washington State	California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA	P12N	L 6–21	40,286
October 15	7:30 p.m.	at No. 9 Oregon	Autzen Stadium Eugene, OR	ESPN	L 17–24	50,008
October 23	12:30 p.m.	Colorado	California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA	P12N	W 26–3	36,264
October 30	4:00 p.m.	Oregon State	California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA	P12N	W 39–25	38,572
November 6	12:00 p.m.	at Arizona	Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ	P12N	L 3–10	30,677
November 20	4:00 p.m.	at Stanford	Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA (Big Game)	P12N	W 41–11	49,265
November 27	7:30 p.m.	at UCLA	Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA (rivalry)	FS1	L 14–42	36,156
December 4^[a]	8:00 p.m.	USC	California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA (Joe Roth Memorial Game)	FS1	W 24–14	42,076
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 2 released prior to game All times are in Pacific time

^[3]

Game summaries

vs Nevada

Nevada Wolf Pack vs California Golden Bears – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Wolf Pack	0	13	9	0	22
Golden Bears	14	0	0	3	17

at California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA

Date: September 4, 2021
Game time: 7:30 p.m. PDT
Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C) Clear
Game attendance: 35,117
Referee: Steven Strimling
TV announcers (FS1): Alex Faust (play-by-play) and Petros Papadakis (analyst)
Game Book

Game information

First Quarter

CAL – Damien Moore 1-yard run (Dario Longhetto kick), 5:47. CAL 7–0. Drive: 15 plays, 63 yards, 9:05.
CAL – Nikko Remigio 2-yard pass from Chase Garbers (Dario Longhetto kick), 0:03. CAL 14–0. Drive: 9 plays, 72 yards, 4:08.

Second Quarter

NEV – Brandon Talton 44-yard field goal, 10:50. CAL 14–3. Drive: 9 plays, 56 yards, 4:10.
NEV – Romeo Doubs 43-yard pass from Carson Strong (Brandon Talton kick), 6:15. CAL 14–10. Drive: 5 plays, 68 yards, 1:57.
NEV – Brandon Talton 35-yard field goal, 0:02. CAL 14–13. Drive: 7 plays, 23 yards, 0:44.

Third Quarter

NEV – Elijah Cooks 16-yard pass from Carson Strong (2pt pass fail), 12:00. NEV 19–14. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:52.
NEV – Brandon Talton 49-yard field goal, 6:26. NEV 22–14. Drive: 9 plays, 25 yards, 3:40.

Fourth Quarter

CAL – Dario Longhetto 24-yard field goal, 12:59. NEV 22–17. Drive: 9 plays, 64 yards, 3:10.

Top passers

NEV – Carson Strong – 22/39, 312 yards, 2 TD, int
CAL – Chase Garbers – 25/38, 177 yards, TD, int

Top rushers

NEV – Toa Taua – 10 rushes, 37 yards
CAL – Damien Moore – 15 rushes, 79 yards, TD

Top receivers

NEV – Tory Horton – 3 receptions, 94 yards
CAL – Jeremiah Hunter – 2 receptions, 35 yards

At TCU

California Golden Bears at TCU Horned Frogs – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Bears	6	13	0	13	32
Horned Frogs	0	14	7	13	34

at Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TX

Date: September 11, 2021
Game time: 12:30 p.m. PDT
Game attendance: 38,631
Referee: Michael Vandervelde
TV announcers (ESPNU): Kevin Brown, Hutson Mason

Game information

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

vs Sacramento State

Sacramento State Hornets vs California Golden Bears – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Hornets	6	0	14	10	30
Golden Bears	14	7	14	7	42

at California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA

Date: September 18, 2021
Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
Game attendance: 31,982
Referee: Mark Duddy
TV announcers (P12N): Jim Kozimor (play by play), Bob Davie (analyst)

Game information

First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

At Washington

California Golden Bears at Washington Huskies – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Golden Bears	7	3	7	7	0	24
Huskies	7	14	3	0	7	31

at Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA

Date: September 25, 2021
Game time: 6:30 p.m. PDT
Game attendance: 60,104
Referee: Steven Strimling
TV announcers (P12N): Guy Haberman (play by play), Shane Vereen (analyst)

vs Washington State

Homecoming Game

Washington State Cougars vs California Golden Bears – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Cougars	14	0	7	0	21
Golden Bears	6	0	0	0	6

at California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA

Date: October 2, 2021
Game time: 2:30 p.m. PDT
Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C) Sunny
Game attendance: 40,286
Referee: Francisco Villar
TV announcers (P12N): Matt Chazanow (play-by-play), Alex Brink (analyst), Jessamyn McIntyre (sideline)

At No. 9 Oregon

California Golden Bears at No. 9 Oregon Ducks – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Bears	7	0	3	7	17
No. 9 Ducks	3	7	0	14	24

at Autzen Stadium • Eugene, OR

Date: October 15, 2021
Game time: 7:30 p.m. PDT
Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C) Clear
Game attendance: 50,008
Referee: Steven Strimling
TV announcers (ESPN): Beth Mowins (play by play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), Dawn Davenport (sideline)

vs Colorado

Colorado Buffaloes vs California Golden Bears – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Buffaloes	0	3	0	0	3
Golden Bears	10	13	0	3	26

at California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA

Date: October 23, 2021
Game time: 12:30 p.m. PDT
Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C) Cloudy
Game attendance: 36,264
Referee: Mike McCabe
TV announcers (P12N): Roxy Bernstein (play by play), Lincoln Kennedy (analyst)
Game Book

Game information

First Quarter

CAL – Dario Longhetto 49-yard field goal, 9:42. CAL 3–0. Drive: 8 plays, 53 yards, 3:12.
CAL – Keleki Latu 24-yard pass from Chase Garbers (Dario Longhetto kick), 6:05. CAL 10–0. Drive: 3 plays, 50 yards, 1:21.

Second Quarter

CAL – Dario Longhetto 30-yard field goal, 9:23. CAL 13–0. Drive: 14 plays, 68 yards, 7:08.
CU – Cole Becker 33-yard field goal, 6:41. CAL 13–3. Drive: 6 plays, 18 yards, 2:32.
CAL – Gavin Reinwald 31-yard pass from Chase Garbers (Dario Longhetto kick), 3:21. CAL 20–3. Drive: 6 plays, 66 yards, 3:13.
CAL – Dario Longhetto 51-yard field goal, 0:00. CAL 23–3. Drive: 7 plays, 50 yards, 0:58.

Third Quarter

No scoring.

Fourth Quarter

CAL – Dario Longhetto 33-yard field goal, 4:56. CAL 26–3. Drive: 11 plays, 57 yards, 5:32.

Top passers

CU – Brendon Lewis – 9/17, 69 yards, int
CAL – Chase Garbers – 22/30, 225 yards, 2 TD

Top rushers

CU – Jarek Broussard – 11 rushes, 28 yards
CAL – Chase Garbers – 10 rushes, 96 yards

Top receivers

CU – Jarek Broussard – 3 receptions, 30 yards
CAL – Keleki Latu – 3 receptions, 36 yards, TD

vs Oregon State

Oregon State Beavers vs California Golden Bears – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Beavers	0	10	7	8	25
Golden Bears	10	7	14	8	39

at California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA

Date: October 30, 2021
Game time: 4:00 p.m. PDT
Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C) Cloudy • Wind: SW 12 mph
Game attendance: 38,572
Referee: Chris Coyte
TV announcers (P12N): Ted Robinson (play by play), Yogi Roth (analyst)

Game information

First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

At Arizona

California Golden Bears at Arizona Wildcats – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Bears	0	0	3	0	3
Wildcats	0	0	3	7	10

at Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZ

Date: November 6, 2021
Game time: 12:00 p.m. PDT
Game attendance: 30,677
Referee: Mark Duddy
TV announcers (P12N): Roxy Bernstein (play by play), Lincoln Kennedy (analyst)

Game information

First Quarter

No scoring.

Second Quarter

No scoring.

Third Quarter Fourth Quarter

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

At Stanford

California Golden Bears at Stanford Cardinal – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Bears	0	14	13	14	41
Cardinal	0	3	0	8	11

at Stanford Stadium • Stanford, CA

Date: November 20, 2021
Game time: 4:00 p.m. PST
Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C) Sunny
Game attendance: 49,265
Referee: Steve Strimling
TV announcers (P12N): Ted Robinson (play by play), Yogi Roth (analyst)

At UCLA

California Golden Bears at UCLA Bruins – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Bears	0	14	0	0	14
Bruins	3	14	10	15	42

at Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA

Date: November 27, 2021
Game time: 7:30 p.m. PST
Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C) Clear
Game attendance: 36,156
Referee: Mike McCabe
TV announcers (FS1): Aaron Goldsmith (play by play), Mark Helfrich (analyst)
Game Book

Game information

First Quarter

UCLA – Nicholas Barr-Mira 41-yard field goal, 9:33. UCLA 3–0. Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards, 3:29.

Second Quarter

UCLA – Kyle Philips 4-yard pass from Dorian Thompson-Robinson (Nicholas Barr-Mira kick), 14:10. UCLA 10–0. Drive: 9 plays, 40 yards, 4:05.
CAL – Christopher Brooks 14-yard run (Dario Longhetto kick), 8:58. UCLA 10–7. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 5:12.
CAL – Chase Garbers 1-yard run (Dario Longhetto kick), 7:00. CAL 14–10. Drive: 4 plays, 13 yards, 1:54.
UCLA – Kazmeir Allen 8-yard run (Nicholas Barr-Mira kick), 0:26. UCLA 17–14. Drive: 13 plays, 64 yards, 6:29.

Third Quarter

UCLA – Greg Dulcich 29-yard pass from Dorian Thompson-Robinson (Nicholas Barr-Mira kick), 11:19. UCLA 24–14. Drive: 3 plays, 71 yards, 1:09.
UCLA – Nicholas Barr-Mira 46-yard field goal, 2:25. UCLA 27–14. Drive: 13 plays, 52 yards, 5:26.

Fourth Quarter

UCLA – Zach Charbonnet 1-yard run (Thompson-Robinson pass to Charbonnet), 13:10. UCLA 35–14. Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards, 2:19.
UCLA – Kyle Philips 4-yard pass from Dorian Thompson-Robinson (Nicholas Barr-Mira kick), 8:53. UCLA 42–14. Drive: 7 plays, 56 yards, 2:41.

Top passers

CAL – Chase Garbers – 16/31, 125 yards, 2 int
UCLA – Dorian Thompson-Robinson – 19/28, 164 yards, 3 TD

Top rushers

CAL – Christopher Brooks – 12 rushes, 61 yards, TD
UCLA – Zach Charbonnet – 22 rushes, 106 yards, TD

Top receivers

CAL – Kekoa Crawford – 5 receptions, 42 yards
UCLA – Greg Dulcich – 6 receptions, 86 yards, TD

vs USC

USC Trojans vs California Golden Bears – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Trojans	0	7	0	7	14
Golden Bears	3	14	0	7	24

at California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA

Date: December 4, 2021
Game time: 8:00 p.m. PST
Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C) Mostly Cloudy
Game attendance: 42,076
Referee: Matthew Richards
TV announcers (FS1): Tim Brando (play by play), Spencer Tillman (analyst)

Notes

^ The USC–Cal game, originally scheduled for November 13 at 12:30 p.m., was postponed on November 9 due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Cal football team.^[1] Later that day, it was rescheduled for December 4, with the kickoff time and broadcasting network announced on November 16.^[2]

References

^ Tolentino, Aaron (November 9, 2021). "Cal-USC football game postponed due to COVID issues". KRON4. Nexstar Media Inc. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
^ "Saturday's Cal-USC Game Rescheduled For Dec. 4". calbears.com. Cal Athletics. November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
^ "2021 California Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved April 3, 2021.

v t e California Golden Bears football
Venues	California Field (1904–1923) California Memorial Stadium (1923–2010, 2012–present) Oracle Park (2011)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Stanford: Big Game (Stanford Axe) UCLA
Culture & lore	Oski "Fight for California" "Big C" History Marching band Tightwad Hill The Play
People	Head coaches Starting quarterbacks NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906–1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
National championship seasons in bold