California football stats 2026: team stats, player stats, roster

Next game: at Virginia

Virginia’s best edge on California is running

Each unit against the one it meets, by national percentile this season. A filled dot is the attack and a ring is the defense it meets; the first name is the attack. Further right is better for both.

California offense against Virginia defense

weakelite

PassingCalifornia 22nd · Virginia 53rd

RunningCalifornia 6th · Virginia 37th

Staying on scheduleCalifornia 10th · Virginia 58th

Big playsCalifornia 32nd · Virginia 88th

Red zoneCalifornia 20th · Virginia 37th

Virginia offense against California defense

weakelite

PassingVirginia 50th · California 34th

RunningVirginia 36th · California 4th

Staying on scheduleVirginia 52nd · California 48th

Big playsVirginia 11th · California 10th

Red zoneVirginia 21st · California 29th

Percentiles are against all FBS teams this season.

Key stats · 2026 · FBS rank

Each bar is the team’s national rank as a percentile. A longer bar is better, for defense too.

EPA / play128th of 138

-0.02

EPA allowed / play115th of 138

+0.18

Pass attempts1st of 138

386

Completions1st of 138

254

Penalties138th of 138

Penalty yards138th of 138

758

Points / game110th of 138

21.9

All 98 stats

Offense / Defense

Total yards

Team

3223358.1/gm5.09/playTied 55th of 138Tied 39th of 69Tied 12th of 1712th of 13

Opp

3537393.0/gm6.02/play130th of 13866th of 6916th of 172nd of 13

Rush yards

Team

74582.8/gm1.18/play136th of 13869th of 6917th of 1712th of 13

Opp

1659184.3/gm2.82/play128th of 13867th of 6915th of 175th of 13

Rush carries

Team

24727.4/gm126th of 13864th of 6915th of 1712th of 13

Opp

33437.1/gm126th of 13868th of 6916th of 172nd of 13

Rush TDs

Team

80.9/gmTied 120th of 138Tied 65th of 69Tied 16th of 1712th of 13

Opp

222.4/gmTied 133rd of 13868th of 6916th of 179th of 13

Net pass yards

Team

2478275.3/gm3.91/play13th of 1389th of 694th of 1711th of 13

Opp

1878208.7/gm3.19/play94th of 13846th of 6910th of 172nd of 13

Pass attempts

Team

38642.9/gm1st of 1381st of 691st of 1710th of 13

Opp

25428.2/gmTied 84th of 138Tied 38th of 6910th of 172nd of 13

Completions

Team

25428.2/gm1st of 1381st of 691st of 179th of 13

Opp

14816.4/gmTied 67th of 138Tied 31st of 69Tied 7th of 172nd of 13

Pass TDs

Team

141.6/gmTied 47th of 138Tied 34th of 69Tied 10th of 1712th of 13

Opp

151.7/gmTied 105th of 138Tied 57th of 69Tied 14th of 174th of 13

Passer rating

Team

128.1128.1100th of 13860th of 6915th of 177th of 13

Opp

135.1135.180th of 13741st of 699th of 176th of 13

Interceptions thrown

Team

60.7/gmTied 64th of 138Tied 34th of 69Tied 11th of 172nd of 13

Opp

70.8/gmTied 35th of 138Tied 21st of 69Tied 5th of 1712th of 13

Sacks (def)

Team

151.7/gmTied 84th of 138Tied 48th of 69Tied 13th of 1710th of 11

Opp

171.9/gmTied 82nd of 138Tied 41st of 69Tied 9th of 173rd of 11

Tackles for loss

Team

364.0/gmTied 108th of 138Tied 57th of 6914th of 1710th of 11

Opp

606.7/gmTied 131st of 13866th of 6916th of 174th of 11

First downs

Team

17519.4/gmTied 47th of 138Tied 29th of 69Tied 8th of 1712th of 13

Opp

19721.9/gm136th of 13868th of 6916th of 172nd of 13

3rd-down conv

Team

495.4/gmTied 32nd of 138Tied 19th of 69Tied 4th of 1712th of 13

Opp

515.7/gmTied 125th of 138Tied 65th of 6915th of 172nd of 13

3rd-down att

Team

13815.3/gm2nd of 1381st of 691st of 1712th of 13

Opp

12313.7/gmTied 121st of 138Tied 61st of 69Tied 15th of 172nd of 13

4th-down conv

Team

70.8/gmTied 78th of 138Tied 38th of 69Tied 12th of 1711th of 13

Opp

111.2/gmTied 108th of 138Tied 57th of 69Tied 12th of 176th of 13

4th-down att

Team

242.7/gmTied 7th of 138Tied 5th of 694th of 178th of 13

Opp

111.2/gmTied 21st of 138Tied 10th of 69Tied 2nd of 172nd of 13

Time of possession

Team

274:5730:33/gm12th of 1384th of 693rd of 1712th of 13

Opp

265:0329:27/gm123rd of 13867th of 6916th of 172nd of 13

Kicking & punting

Field goals114th of 138

10/15 (66.7%)

Extra points

19/19

Punting111th of 138

41.5 avg · 45 punts

Turnovers & special teams

Turnovers

Team

91.0/gmTied 44th of 138Tied 25th of 697th of 172nd of 13

Opp

101.1/gmTied 62nd of 138Tied 31st of 69Tied 5th of 1712th of 13

Fumbles lost

Team

30.3/gmTied 29th of 138Tied 16th of 69Tied 5th of 173rd of 13

Opp

30.3/gmTied 86th of 138Tied 42nd of 69Tied 12th of 1712th of 13

INT return TDs

Team

10.1/gmTied 18th of 138Tied 10th of 69Tied 1st of 173rd of 12

Opp

00.0/gmTied 1st of 137Tied 1st of 69Tied 1st of 171st of 11

INT return yards

Team

808.9/gmTied 54th of 138Tied 27th of 69Tied 2nd of 177th of 13

Opp

637.0/gmTied 74th of 137Tied 41st of 69Tied 11th of 174th of 13

Punt ret yds

Team

889.8/gmTied 75th of 13848th of 6914th of 179th of 13

Opp

20022.2/gmTied 128th of 137Tied 64th of 6815th of 179th of 13

Punt ret TDs

Team

00.0/gmTied 38th of 138Tied 23rd of 69Tied 4th of 171st of 10

Opp

10.1/gmTied 116th of 137Tied 61st of 6817th of 178th of 12

Kick ret yds

Team

30934.3/gmTied 31st of 1388th of 695th of 1712th of 13

Opp

38542.8/gm118th of 13764th of 6916th of 173rd of 13

Kick ret TDs

Team

00.0/gmTied 22nd of 138Tied 9th of 69Tied 3rd of 176th of 12

Opp

00.0/gmTied 1st of 137Tied 1st of 69Tied 1st of 171st of 10

Penalty yards

Team

75884.2/gm138th of 13869th of 6917th of 179th of 13

Opp

70878.7/gm138th of 13869th of 6917th of 174th of 13

Other

Red zone pass rate12th of 1376th of 692nd of 174th of 13

50.9%50.9%

Kick returnsTied 21st of 138Tied 6th of 69Tied 4th of 1712th of 13

161.8/gm

Fumbles rec (def)Tied 29th of 138Tied 17th of 69Tied 6th of 172nd of 13

30.3/gm

Pass rate, 1st downs12th of 1375th of 691st of 175th of 13

53.3%53.3%

Interceptions (def)Tied 34th of 138Tied 21st of 69Tied 5th of 1712th of 13

70.8/gm

Punt returnsTied 39th of 138Tied 26th of 69Tied 7th of 1710th of 13

131.4/gm

Recruiting rating56th of 13855th of 6915th of 173rd of 13

202.822.5/gm

4th-down go rateTied 61st of 13729th of 699th of 177th of 13

38.7%38.7%

Interceptions forced (opp)Tied 63rd of 137Tied 34th of 69Tied 11th of 172nd of 13

60.7/gm

Fumbles recoveredTied 85th of 138Tied 41st of 69Tied 11th of 1712th of 13

30.3/gm

Kick ret (opp)Tied 102nd of 137Tied 60th of 69Tied 13th of 173rd of 13

161.8/gm

Punt ret (opp)Tied 110th of 137Tied 58th of 68Tied 14th of 175th of 13

141.6/gm

2nd-half EPA/play allowed110th of 13755th of 6913th of 179th of 13

0.20.0/gm

1st-half EPA/play110th of 13762nd of 6916th of 1712th of 13

0.10.0/gm

1st-half EPA/play allowed118th of 13763rd of 6916th of 177th of 13

0.20.0/gm

Penalties (opp)134th of 13869th of 6917th of 173rd of 13

728.0/gm

2nd-half EPA/play133rd of 13767th of 6916th of 1713th of 13

-0.1-0.0/gm

Penalties138th of 13869th of 6917th of 179th of 13

819.0/gm

Situational

3rd-down conversion

Off

35.5%106th of 13858th of 6912th of 1712th of 13

Def

41.5%Tied 104th of 13856th of 6914th of 177th of 13

4th-down conversion

Off

29.2%130th of 13866th of 6916th of 1713th of 13

Def

100.0%138th of 13869th of 6917th of 1713th of 13

Turnover marginTied 62nd of 138Tied 31st of 698th of 178th of 13

+0.11/gm

Sack rate (def)90th of 13849th of 6913th of 176th of 11

5.9%

Red zone & drive efficiency (2014– , play-by-play derived)

Red zone trips

Team

303.3/gmTied 76th of 137Tied 48th of 6913th of 1712th of 13

Opp

374.1/gmTied 125th of 137Tied 65th of 6915th of 173rd of 13

Red zone score %

Team

80.0%80.0%Tied 65th of 137Tied 33rd of 69Tied 8th of 177th of 13

Opp

78.4%78.4%Tied 77th of 13739th of 6910th of 174th of 13

Points / drive

Team

1.60.2/gm121st of 13767th of 6916th of 1712th of 13

Opp

2.50.3/gm124th of 13766th of 6916th of 1711th of 13

Yards / drive

Team

40.14.5/gm109th of 13762nd of 6916th of 174th of 13

Opp

42.64.7/gm82nd of 13748th of 6912th of 1712th of 13

Plays / drive

Team

6.70.7/gm49th of 13728th of 696th of 176th of 13

Opp

6.20.7/gm29th of 13717th of 696th of 173rd of 13

Three-and-out rate

Team

10.7%10.7%Tied 91st of 13747th of 6911th of 172nd of 13

Opp

11.5%11.5%56th of 13732nd of 698th of 1711th of 13

Scheme identity (2014– , play-by-play derived)

Rush rate over expected132nd of 13768th of 6917th of 179th of 13

-10.7%-10.7%

Havoc rate

Team

11.7%11.7%130th of 13867th of 6915th of 1710th of 10

Opp

17.2%17.2%107th of 13857th of 6913th of 175th of 10

Standard-downs success

Team

42.5%42.5%128th of 13766th of 6916th of 1712th of 13

Opp

49.5%49.5%101st of 13755th of 6914th of 178th of 13

Passing-downs success

Team

26.6%26.6%112th of 13761st of 6915th of 1713th of 13

Opp

26.0%26.0%23rd of 13714th of 694th of 172nd of 13

Line yards / carry

Team

2.42.4133rd of 13768th of 6917th of 1713th of 13

Opp

3.43.4128th of 13768th of 6916th of 1711th of 13

Stuff rate

Team

23.7%23.7%130th of 13766th of 6917th of 1712th of 13

Opp

12.7%12.7%130th of 13767th of 6915th of 1713th of 13

Power success rate

Team

61.1%61.1%Tied 109th of 13759th of 6915th of 1710th of 13

Opp

76.7%76.7%113th of 13761st of 6915th of 176th of 13

FBS rankings · 2026 season · all stats vs 136 FBS programs

Player stats · 2026 season

Quarterbacks

Player	#	G	Cmp/Att	Pct	Yds	Y/A	TD	INT	Rate	ZPR	QBR	Adj ANY/A	Sack%
Game Manager · +0.00 EPA/play	3	8	178 / 264	67.4	1751 #47 FBS	6.6	11 #57 FBS	6	132.3	47	50.3	5.8	4.7
Yards by week → Game manager Consistent underneath passer who protects the lead. Rarely loses games; rarely wins them alone. Starter — 264 pass attempts and 22 carries in 8 games, about as many passes and runs a game as a typical FBS quarterback who plays every week. This week's matchup — QB Sagapolutele keeps the offense on schedule and doesn't lose the game. Pribula is the one who extends plays on the move until something opens up. Season receipt Completion %68.0% 79th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts Rush yards / carry-3.3 bottom 1th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts Trait fingerprint Plays like Alan Bowman Texas Tech · 2019 Tanner Mangum BYU · 2018 Mike White Western Kentucky · 2017 View Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele's full player page
Pocket Passer · +0.10 EPA/play	11	5	75 / 120	62.5	701	5.8	3	0	119.8	39	38.8	6.0	2.4
Yards by week → Pocket passer Balanced passer who operates within the system, without one standout number carrying the profile. This week's matchup — QB Brousseau operates within the system without forcing anything. Pribula is the one who extends plays on the move until something opens up. Season receipt Yards / attempt6.3 bottom 11th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts INT rate0.0% 97th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts Trait fingerprint Plays like Max Johnson North Carolina · 2025 Matt McKay NC State · 2019 Alan Bowman Texas Tech · 2019 View Jackson Brousseau's full player page

Running backs

Player	#	G	Car	Yds	Avg	TD	Long	Stuff%	10+%
Workhorse · +0.14 EPA/play	24	5	82	363	4.4	3	28	18.5	11.1
Yards by week → Workhorse Built to take 20+ carries per game. Volume is the value. This week's matchup — RB Mohammed just keeps getting the ball, series after series. Middlebrook is the one who does a little of everything without one standout trait. Season receipt Weight220 lb 86th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Receiving share18.0% 91th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Trait fingerprint Plays like Deion Hankins Texas State · 2024 Dylan Carson Air Force · 2024 Ari Broussard Rice · 2021 View Adam Mohammed's full player page
Satellite Back · -0.10 EPA/play	20	9	77	238	3.1	4	20	26.9	5.1
Yards by week → Satellite back Deployed as a receiver as much as a runner. Value is in space, not between the tackles. Starter — 77 carries and 16 catches in 9 games, about as many touches a game as a typical FBS running back who plays every week. This week's matchup — RB Emory wins in space out of the backfield. Middlebrook is the one who does a little of everything without one standout trait. Season receipt Receiving share17.2% 88th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Yards / carry3.7 bottom 7th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Trait fingerprint Plays like John Moten IV Northwestern · 2018 Jeremy Cox Old Dominion · 2018 Jaylen Thomas Colorado State · 2019 View Ashten Emory's full player page

Receivers

Player	#	G	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Long
Slot Technician · +0.24 EPA/play	7	9	61	565 #51 FBS	9.3	4 #70 FBS	42
Yards by week → Slot technician· Boom-or-bust Runs precise routes in tight quarters. Volume player who keeps chains moving. his yards come in chunks — feast or famine Impact starter — 61 catches and 1 carry in 9 games, more catches a game than nearly every FBS receiver who plays every week. This week's matchup — WR Hendricks wins underneath on volume and route precision. Gibson is the one who moves the chains on third down. Season receipt Reception volume61 100th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Yards / reception9.6 bottom 14th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like Linell Bonner Houston · 2017 Jason-Matthew Sharsh Hawai'i · 2019 Dezmen Roebuck Washington · 2026 View Chase Hendricks's full player page
Possession Receiver · +0.23 EPA/play	9	8	35	478	13.7	1	49
Yards by week → Possession receiver Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive. 35 catches in 8 games. About as many catches a game as a typical FBS receiver who plays every week. This week's matchup — WR Strong moves the chains on third down. Gibson is the one who moves the chains on third down. Season receipt Yards / reception14.4 60th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions TD rate2.9% bottom 19th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like K.J. Brent Wake Forest · 2015 Isaiah Winstead Toledo · 2021 Markese Triplett Southern Miss · 2014 View Ian Strong's full player page
Complete TE · +0.47 EPA/play	22	7	19	241	12.7	1	91
Yards by week → Complete TE No single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike. 19 catches in 7 games. About as many catches a game as a typical FBS tight end who plays every week. The most common profile in its group this season — 126 of 166 classified this way. Played in 7 of 10 games this season · freshman · 4-star, 2026 class View Taimane Purcell's full player page
Complete TE · +0.19 EPA/play	85	8	22	226	10.3	2	38
Yards by week → Complete TE No single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike. Starter — 22 catches, 4 carries and 1 pass attempt in 8 games, about as many catches a game as a typical FBS tight end who plays every week. The most common profile in its group this season — 126 of 166 classified this way. Played in 8 of 10 games this season · freshman View Mason Mini's full player page
Possession Receiver · +0.49 EPA/play	6	5	12	138	11.5	1	80
Yards by week → Possession receiver· Boom-or-bust Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive. his yards come in chunks — feast or famine This week's matchup — WR Grayes moves the chains on third down. Gibson is the one who moves the chains on third down. Season receipt Yards / reception15.0 66th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Reception volume12 bottom 13th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like Jarrod Jackson Louisiana · 2017 Izaiah Lottie New Mexico State · 2016 Derrion Grim Fresno State · 2017 View Kyion Grayes's full player page
+0.29 EPA/play	10	4	8	111	13.9	1	21
Yards by week →
+0.33 EPA/play	4	6	11	108	9.8	1	26
Yards by week →
Possession Receiver · -0.37 EPA/play	81	5	17	82	4.8	0	20
Yards by week → Possession receiver Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive. This week's matchup — WR Sams moves the chains on third down. Gibson is the one who moves the chains on third down. Season receipt Yards / reception6.1 bottom 2th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions EPA / play (adj)-0.4 bottom 1th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like Tony Gaiter IV Florida International · 2016 P.J. Simmons Kent State · 2015 Aaron Grubb UTSA · 2014 View Tyree Sams's full player page
+1.02 EPA/play	15	2	5	60	12	0	21
Yards by week →

Defensive line

Player	#	G	Tot	Solo	TFL	Sack	Hur
Nose Anchor	96	9	26	8	1	0	3
Nose anchor The heaviest frame on the interior. Sack production is intentionally not the point of this profile. 26 tackles in 9 games. About as many tackles a game as a typical FBS defensive lineman who plays every week. 130 of 606 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Weight310 lb 82th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like Myles Murphy North Carolina · 2022 Jonathan Ford Miami · 2021 Earl Miller Jr. Florida Atlantic · 2026 View Derek Wilkins's full player page
Nose Anchor	44	7	21	10	3.5	1.5	0
Nose anchor The heaviest frame on the interior. Sack production is intentionally not the point of this profile. 21 tackles in 7 games. About as many tackles a game as a typical FBS defensive lineman who plays every week. 130 of 606 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Weight345 lb 99th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like Anthony Booker Jr. Maryland · 2022 Naquan Jones Michigan State · 2018 Bryan Mone Michigan · 2018 View Jericho Johnson's full player page
Nose Anchor	97	4	11	6	0	0	0
Nose anchor The heaviest frame on the interior. Sack production is intentionally not the point of this profile. 130 of 606 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Weight310 lb 82th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like TaVeon Robinson Colorado State · 2026 Xadavien Sims Arkansas · 2026 Gary Baker Oregon · 2018 View Michael-Anthony Okwura's full player page
3-Tech Penetrator	56	4	11	4	1.5	0	3
3-tech penetrator Disruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield. 200 of 606 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate13.6% bottom 45th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like Kole Briehler Stanford · 2026 Brayden Utley Baylor · 2022 Malachi Bailey Arizona · 2025 View Legend Journey's full player page
Two-Gap Base	99	5	10	3	0	0	1
Two-gap base Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. 276 of 606 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate0.0% bottom 9th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like Se'Von Pittman Akron · 2016 Jonathan Bonner Notre Dame · 2018 Ashton Coker UTEP · 2026 View Ashun Shepphard's full player page
	98	2	6	5	1	1	2

Linebackers

Player	#	G	Tot	Solo	Ast	TFL	Sack	PD	INT
Balanced Linebacker	9	9	49	19	30	4.5	3	0	0
Balanced linebacker Solid in every phase without a signature dimension. 49 tackles in 9 games. About as many tackles a game as a typical FBS linebacker who plays every week. The most common profile in its group this season — 330 of 564 classified this way. Played in 9 of 10 games this season · freshman View AJ Tuitele's full player page
Balanced Linebacker	3	9	37	13	24	0	0	0	0
Balanced linebacker Solid in every phase without a signature dimension. 330 of 564 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume37 bottom 49th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles TFL rate0.0% bottom 9th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like Levani Damuni Stanford · 2020 Mariano Sori-Marin Minnesota · 2019 Aaron Banks Bowling Green · 2017 View Kamar Mothudi's full player page
Balanced Linebacker	32	9	31	13	18	0	0	0	0
Balanced linebacker Solid in every phase without a signature dimension. 330 of 564 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume31 bottom 35th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles TFL rate0.0% bottom 9th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like Alfred Thomas Kennesaw State · 2026 Jeremiah Beasley Missouri · 2026 Dre Greenlaw Arkansas · 2016 View Tristan Jernigan's full player page
Balanced Linebacker	19	6	22	11	11	2	0	0	0
Balanced linebacker Solid in every phase without a signature dimension. 330 of 564 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume22 bottom 19th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles PD rate0.0% bottom 21th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like Jayden McDonald UCF · 2026 Jordan Magee Temple · 2020 Stanquan Clark Louisville · 2025 View Odera Okaka's full player page
Thumper	33	7	21	7	14	3	3	0	0
Thumper Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge. 62 of 564 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate14.3% 80th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Sack rate14.3% 100th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like Casey Toohill Stanford · 2016 Owen Carney Jr. Illinois · 2021 George Tarlas Boise State · 2022 View JD McKinley's full player page
Thumper	—	8	17	10	7	3.5	1	0	0
Thumper Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge. 62 of 564 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate20.6% 97th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Tackle volume17 bottom 12th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like Isaiah Gay Illinois · 2017 Alex Nobles Florida International · 2023 Chris Henderson South Alabama · 2020 View Solomon Williams's full player page
	21	7	13	6	7	0	0	0	0
	15	5	8	1	7	0	0	0	0
	10	4	7	2	5	1.5	1.5	0	0
	4	3	7	3	4	0.5	0	0	0

Defensive backs

Player	#	G	Tot	PD	INT	TFL	Sack
Box Safety	23	9	50	1	1	2	0
Box safety Lives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker. Starter — 50 tackles in 9 games, about as many tackles a game as a typical FBS defensive back who plays every week. 150 of 657 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume50 93th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like Corey Hall Ball State · 2016 Tysheem Johnson Ole Miss · 2022 CJ Brown Bowling Green · 2024 View Isaiah Crosby's full player page
Hybrid Nickel	2	7	39	2	5 #1 FBS	1	0
Hybrid nickel· Takeaway threat Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. the kind of DB who takes it back the other way 39 tackles in 7 games. About as many tackles a game as a typical FBS defensive back who plays every week. 358 of 657 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate5.1% bottom 36th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like Josh Harvey-Clemons Louisville · 2016 Kenny Keys UNLV · 2016 Garrett Kauppila Air Force · 2019 View Kingston Lopa's full player page
Hybrid Nickel	7	9	36	3	0	3	2
Hybrid nickel Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. 36 tackles in 9 games. About as many tackles a game as a typical FBS defensive back who plays every week. 358 of 657 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate8.3% 53th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like Zach Ford Toledo · 2022 Derek Williams Jr. Texas · 2026 Scott Nelson Wisconsin · 2021 View Daniel Harris's full player page
Hybrid Nickel	14	7	23	0	1	1	1
Hybrid nickel Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. The most common profile in its group this season — 358 of 657 classified this way. Played in 7 of 10 games this season · freshman · 3-star, 2025 class View Aiden Manutai's full player page
Centerfielder	20	8	16	2	0	1	1
Centerfielder Single-high range who erases the deep middle of the field. 116 of 657 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate12.5% 73th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like Tim Hough UNLV · 2017 Jadon Canady Tulane · 2022 Marcus Rios UCLA · 2016 View Cameron Sidney's full player page
Hybrid Nickel	16	8	16	0	0	1.5	0
Hybrid nickel Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. The most common profile in its group this season — 358 of 657 classified this way. Played in 8 of 10 games this season · freshman View Michael Hurst's full player page
	25	5	13	1	0	1	0
	24	8	12	2	0	0	0
	13	5	11	2	0	0	0
	1	7	11	3	0	1.5	0
	26	8	6	0	0	1	0

Kicking

Player	#	G	FG M/A	FG%	XP M/A	Pts	Long
Steady	33	8	8/11	72.7	14/14	38	41
	91	3	2/4	50	5/5	11	37

Punting

Player	#	G	No	Yds	Avg	Long	In20	TB
Steady	29	8	45	1869	41.5	62	11	1

Net average is unavailable — CFBD's punting feed carries gross yards only, with no return-yardage or touchback deduction.

Kick returns

Player	#	G	No	Yds	Avg	TD	Long
	26	8	15	280	18.7	0	46

Punt returns

Player	#	G	No	Yds	Avg	TD	Long
Possession Receiver · -0.37 EPA/play	81	5	9	81	9	0	24

Biggest plays from California’s games

Official highlights with our numbers: the plays that moved the chance to win most in California’s games this season, whoever made them.

All 50 plays from California’s games

How scary each game got

California lost to UCLA after being 82% to win; the closest win was against Virginia Tech, down to 9%

Tap a game for its score and win chances.

Each bar runs from the lowest to the highest chance our model gave California during that game; the thick mark is where it started. Numbers are the game week.

2026 stat leaders · California

through 9 games

Isaiah Crosby leads California with 50 tackles through 9 games.

1. Isaiah Crosby DB 50 tackles

2. AJ Tuitele LB 49 tackles

3. Chase Hendricks WR 565 receiving yards

4. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele QB 1,751 passing yards

5. Ian Strong WR 478 receiving yards

Roster

2026

24 players carry a qualified CFB Zeitgeist Score this season so far.

Kingston Lopa S #6 of 537

Chase Hendricks WR #46 of 465

AJ Tuitele LB #90 of 567

Isaiah Crosby S #124 of 537

Ian Strong WR #110 of 465

Daniel Harris S #130 of 537

+18 more

Recruiting and the portal: top commits · who's gone and who's back

How they play · 2026

California fields a struggling pass-first offense behind a porous defense, though it gives up the big play.

Offense

8th pct EPA/play

Run/Pass

60% pass plays

Defense

17th pct EPA allowed

Defensive shape

10th pct at limiting explosive plays

Percentile vs all FBS, based on this season's per-game production. Bar = where this team ranks — right is better.

California reads strongest in success rate allowed (top 52%) and passing EPA allowed (top 66%); the crux lives in rushing EPA allowed, where California sits at the 3rd percentile.

Offense · strengths lead

EPA / play -0.02

8th

Success rate +0.37

10th

Explosive plays +1.20

32nd

Rushing EPA -0.08

6th

Red-zone finish +3.15

20th

Defense · higher bar = harder to play against

EPA allowed +0.18

17th

Success rate allowed +0.41

48th

Explosive plays allowed +1.39

10th

Passing EPA allowed +0.22

34th

Red-zone defense +3.80

29th

Hidden math · special situations

Field position (O) +27.43

16th

Passing EPA +0.09

22nd

Rushing EPA allowed +0.21

4th

Elite · 90+Strong · 70+Average · 40-70Concern · 10-40Bottom · <10

Home-field advantage · 2018–present · FBS opponents

California is worth +2.1 points more at home than on the road.

Bottom third of FBS, 17th percentile of 133 programs

49% at home, 37% away against FBS opponents since 2018 (22-23 home, 17-29 away). Interval ±3.4.

The stadium and how the home edge is measured

Our model gives every stadium the same flat 2.3-point home edge. The books use about 3. Per-team versions were tested and did not hold up (why). Against the closing line, California has beaten the number by −2.6 more at home than away over 98 games. That is inside the ±6.1 that many games can resolve, so the results cannot tell this stadium from the flat number. That is the honest reading of nearly every FBS stadium.

California Memorial Stadium seats 62,467 and has averaged 62% full (38,487, 31 games reported). Visitors face the 18th-longest trip of 135 FBS venues: a median 655 miles since 2018. The map isn't translating, though — the split above still reads bottom third of fbs. 21% of the 2026 roster (23 of 111 located players) grew up inside 100 miles of the stadium.

Edge = half the gap between average home margin and average road margin, FBS opponents only, non-neutral games since 2018; the interval is 95%. Market line: closing spread, seasons with lines on file. Trip length is straight-line miles from the visiting team's campus to the venue, measured across all 52 home games since 2018.

Home22-23Away17-29Edge+2.1 ±3.4Visitor trip655 mi

The carries are split. The job isn’t.

Adam Mohammed and Ashten Emory split the carries (81/159 vs 78/159) -- but the job isn't split the same way.

Adam MohammedAshten Emory

Carries

the baseline -- every row below is tested against this split, not a flat 50/50

Targets

shared -- dots touch, this room really is a committee here

Top-5-carry share

concentration alone -- EPA/carry doesn't corroborate, read with caution

Screened 2 claims, 0 survived, 2 falsified

WR/TE room

The targets are split. The job isn’t.

Chase Hendricks (WR) and Mason Mini (TE) split the targets (78/116 vs 38/116) -- but the job isn't split the same way. Mason Mini produces in bigger chunks.

Chase HendricksMason Mini

Targets

the baseline -- every row below is tested against this split, not a flat 50/50

3rd-down targets

shared -- dots touch, this room really is a committee here

Garbage-time share

shared -- dots touch, this room really is a committee here

Top-5-catch share

concentration and EPA/target agree -- a real boom/bust split

Screened 3 claims, 1 survived, 2 falsified

Scheme claimsFive specific, testable claims about how this team plays.

California’s 4th-quarter offense, before and after garbage time

Raw Q4 EPA/play ranks 5th percentile in FBS. Strip out snaps taken with a blowout margin and it climbs to the 15th — the correction is the finding, not a footnote.

Source CFB Zeitgeist · CFBD play-by-play, garbage-time adjusted by pre-play margin

Standard downs vs. passing downs

Does California hold up once the down-and-distance turns against them?

11th percentile success on standard downs, 20th on passing downs — little dropoff between the two — a schedule-independent identity.

Source CFB Zeitgeist · advanced team stats, Connelly success-rate definition

View all FBS teams as a table

Team	Standard-downs percentile	Passing-downs percentile
Air Force	98th	23rd
Akron	58th	34th
Alabama	77th	57th
App State	33rd	49th
Arizona	76th	94th
Arizona State	38th	61st
Arkansas	71st	24th
Arkansas State	85th	59th
Army	93rd	58th
Auburn	14th	69th
BYU	86th	35th
Ball State	31st	52nd
Baylor	15th	46th
Boise State	77th	92nd
Boston College	63rd	28th
Bowling Green	43rd	21st
Buffalo	9th	11th
California	11th	20th
Central Michigan	36th	9th
Charlotte	18th	41st
Cincinnati	68th	83rd
Clemson	7th	39th
Coastal Carolina	23rd	64th
Colorado	16th	65th
Colorado State	66th	95th
Delaware	59th	64th
Duke	21st	67th
East Carolina	37th	19th
Eastern Michigan	16th	30th
Florida	61st	70th
Florida Atlantic	67th	87th
Florida International	20th	53rd
Florida State	30th	90th
Fresno State	25th	84th
Gardner-Webb	5th	23rd
Georgia	98th	89th
Georgia Southern	60th	71st
Georgia State	68th	66th
Georgia Tech	53rd	40th
Hawai'i	48th	29th
Houston	87th	99th
Illinois	73rd	91st
Indiana	55th	44th
Iowa	79th	13th
Iowa State	18th	31st
Jacksonville State	82nd	80th
James Madison	45th	77th
Kansas	52nd	18th
Kansas State	64th	68th
Kennesaw State	61st	16th
Kent State	5th	21st
Kentucky	90th	51st
LSU	86th	98th
Liberty	93rd	78th
Louisiana	36th	66th
Louisiana Tech	26th	79th
Louisville	95th	72nd
Maine	0th	86th
Marshall	69th	32nd
Maryland	34th	26th
Massachusetts	35th	38th
Memphis	92nd	93rd
Mercyhurst	2nd	34th
Miami	99th	95th
Miami (OH)	50th	43rd
Michigan	10th	89th
Michigan State	23rd	55th
Middle Tennessee	27th	64th
Minnesota	32nd	4th
Mississippi State	66th	59th
Missouri	34th	41st
Missouri State	52nd	30th
NC State	62nd	77th
Navy	89th	17th
Nebraska	46th	85th
Nevada	28th	27th
New Mexico	55th	48th
New Mexico State	14th	36th
Norfolk State	7th	0th
North Carolina	89th	73rd
North Dakota State	30th	45th
North Texas	95th	84th
Northern Illinois	51st	14th
Northwestern	88th	88th
Notre Dame	100th	43rd
Ohio	82nd	42nd
Ohio State	84th	80th
Oklahoma	4th	50th
Oklahoma State	96th	86th
Old Dominion	1st	36th
Ole Miss	81st	94th
Oregon	39th	26th
Oregon State	97th	70th
Penn State	20th	47th
Pittsburgh	65th	50th
Purdue	57th	82nd
Rice	59th	14th
Robert Morris	2nd	5th
Rutgers	42nd	81st
SMU	91st	82nd
Sacramento State	13th	6th
Sam Houston	11th	37th
San Diego State	8th	54th
San José State	17th	2nd
South Alabama	44th	74th
South Carolina	70th	56th
South Florida	84th	57th
Southern Miss	48th	7th
Stanford	40th	9th
Syracuse	57th	39th
TCU	70th	10th
Temple	50th	68th
Tennessee	75th	12th
Texas	27th	61st
Texas A&M	46th	55th
Texas State	74th	100th
Texas Tech	64th	76th
Toledo	73rd	52nd
Troy	39th	15th
Tulane	12th	8th
Tulsa	49th	7th
UAB	24th	62nd
UCF	29th	45th
UCLA	80th	60th
UConn	72nd	73rd
UL Monroe	47th	11th
UNLV	41st	19th
USC	79th	97th
UT Martin	6th	3rd
UTEP	9th	1st
UTSA	91st	33rd
Utah	94th	98th
Utah State	3rd	76th
Vanderbilt	41st	32nd
Virginia	83rd	2nd
Virginia Tech	43rd	91st
Wake Forest	75th	96th
Washington	56th	16th
Washington State	19th	5th
West Virginia	54th	75th
Western Kentucky	22nd	25th
Western Michigan	32nd	27th
Wisconsin	25th	22nd
Wyoming	78th	48th

California by half

1st-half offense ranks 20th percentile in FBS; 2nd-half, 3rd — competitive snaps only, garbage time excluded from both halves.

Source CFB Zeitgeist · advanced team stats, garbage-time adjusted by pre-play margin

How much of California’s number is the schedule?

Raw EPA/play through week 10 is -0.02; 6th percentile once opponent strength is stripped out, it's -0.02. The widest gap came in week 4: 0.16 raw vs. 0.03 adjusted.

Source CFB Zeitgeist · season-to-date, opponent-adjusted model

Pass defense by zoneThe part of the field opponents keep attacking.

What this team throws, and gives up, by depth.

On short throws (≤19 air yards), California’s passing game completes a completion rate above the FBS mean (68.1% vs 67.0% league-wide, shrunk toward the mean for its 350-play sample) — mid-pack, 87 of 136 qualifying offenses.

On short throws (≤19 air yards), California’s defense allows a completion rate below the FBS mean (64.6% vs 66.3% league-wide, shrunk toward the mean for its 181-play sample) — mid-pack, 31 of 137 qualifying defenses.

We won’t show a deep-ball (20+ air yards) leaderboard here, on either side of the ball: even a full season of charted plays gives most teams well under 30 deep attempts — too thin to tell a real tendency from noise, so we won’t guess. Same refusal for yards-after-catch allowed and where a team’s attempts land by zone: both measured and both came back statistically indistinguishable from season-to-season noise.

Screened 273 claims, 273 survived · 2025+ only, charted plays (parse_status='complete'); n=350 short-zone plays, raw rate 68.6%; 2025+ only, charted plays (parse_status='complete'); n=181 short-zone plays, raw rate 62.4%

Havoc & trenchesDefense havoc rate 0.117, 6th percentile

Disruption, run-blocking, and down-and-distance efficiency.

Havoc rate (D) 0.117

6th

Havoc allowed (O) 0.172

23rd

Front-seven havoc (D) 0.069

5th

Secondary havoc (D) 0.048

18th

Stuff rate (D) 0.150

8th

Stuff rate allowed (O) 0.234

6th

Line yards (O) 2.412

3rd

Line yards allowed (D) 3.222

9th

Standard-downs success (O) 0.428

15th

Standard-downs success allowed (D) 0.454

50th

Passing-downs success (O) 0.266

19th

Passing-downs success allowed (D) 0.276

67th

Screened 12 claims, 12 survived · 2026 season, FBS only, min. 3 games with data this season

Turnover luckHow much of the margin was skill vs. the bounce.

Fumble luck

Recovering 40% of their own fumbles — running cold vs. the ~52% league rate.

2 of 5 own fumbles recovered themselves, 2026 only.

TakeawaysWhat this defense does once it gets the ball.

Takeaway conversion

Converting 25% of pass disruptions into takeaways — well above the ~18% league rate.

7 interceptions of 28 disrupted passes (21 deflected, 7 intercepted), 2026 only.

PenaltiesWhether flags are costing this team games.

Penalty battle

Losing the penalty battle: 81 penalties committed vs. 72 drawn on opponents, a 50-yard deficit.

758 penalty yards committed vs. 708 drawn on opponents, 2026 season total.

Ratings and comparisons

RatingsWhere the public rating systems put this team.

CFB Zeitgeist Score

#117

-4.4

SP+

#101

-8.2

FPI

#94

-6.9

Elo

#122

1209

SRS

#108

-9.7

The national models put California between 94th and 122nd nationally — CFB Zeitgeist agrees, slotting them 117th.

National rank of 138 FBS teams · 2026 season. SP+/FPI/SRS published; Elo & CFB Zeitgeist Score ranked by rating.

Comparable teamsPrograms built like this one — tier, prestige band, kind of fanbase, roster size. Not a stat match.

Most similar programs · California

Reads like

AkronMid-AmericanSame tier of program · Same prestige band · Similarly-sized rosters up front App StateSun BeltSame tier of program · Same prestige band · Similarly-sized rosters up front ArizonaBig 12Same tier of program · Same prestige band · Similarly-sized rosters up front

Matched on how the programs are built — tier, prestige band, kind of fanbase, conference, voice and roster size — not on this season's stats. A calibration, not a prediction.

WeatherHow warm or cold its home and road games usually are.

California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA

Usual during the game around Nov 20: 57°, between 52° and 61° in about 7 in 10 games (24 games since 2016).

Road games since 2016: the middle game was 63°, and 8 in 10 ran between 48° and 81° (51 of 53 road games, at stadiums we cover).

HomeRoad

What a usual Saturday feels like here, by kickoff time

Airport readings near each stadium during the game, not on the field. How we measure

Weather observations: National Weather Service, through the Iowa Environmental Mesonet at Iowa State University. Rain: NOAA MRMS radar and CoCoRaHS volunteer gauges (CC BY 4.0). Game data: CollegeFootballData.com.

This page may include content derived from public news sources, social media, and fan communities. We relay these sources as-is — we are not reporting them. Sources may be summarized or quoted imperfectly; for anything that matters, go look at the original source directly. The original source may also be wrong. Text written by our model says so in a line beneath it, and it can get facts wrong. All analysis is editorial opinion, not professional reporting. Data sources · About this site

California

Virginia’s best edge on California is running

Key stats

Game manager

Pocket passer

Workhorse

Satellite back

Slot technician· Boom-or-bust

Possession receiver

Complete TE

Complete TE

Possession receiver· Boom-or-bust

Possession receiver

Nose anchor

Nose anchor

Nose anchor

3-tech penetrator

Two-gap base

Balanced linebacker

Balanced linebacker

Balanced linebacker

Balanced linebacker

Thumper

Thumper

Box safety

Hybrid nickel· Takeaway threat

Hybrid nickel

Hybrid nickel

Centerfielder

Hybrid nickel

Biggest plays from California’s games

California lost to UCLA after being 82% to win; the closest win was against Virginia Tech, down to 9%

Stat leaders

Roster

How they play

Player percentiles

California is worth +2.1 points more at home than on the road.

Where the models rank California

Reads like