On3

California fires head football coach Justin Wilcox

California has fired head football coach Justin Wilcox toward the end of his ninth season in charge of the program, On3's Pete Nakos has learned.

Not all that unexpected. Cal hasn't been terribly good under Wilcox and well they haven't been very good under any head coach in the last twenty years really.

Cal and Stanford are both looking for new coaches now. It will be interesting to see who they go after and if they decide to try and take football more seriously.

Wilcox will probably go off and be a DC somewhere again for a while and get another shot at a HC job. Cal just doesn't have the resources to be all that successful.

I don't think he was the right fit for Oregon but I don't harbor any ill feelings towards him.

Just another coaching vacancy to watch.

He's available for the Oregon State job!

Remember when Oregon inexplicably offered him the job?

Bullet dodged.

Edited 18 hours ago18 hr by Vanducky

13 minutes ago, Vanducky said:

Remember when Oregon inexplicably offered him the job?

Bullet dodged.

I don't think he was the right fit for the Oregon job.

But if he had the job he would have done far better than he did at Cal. The resources and support at Oregon is completely different. Just look at what happened to all our previous head coaches who left.... They did much worse.

Wilcox would have kept Oregon where we were and nor elevate the program. He'd probably be getting 8-10 win seasons (including bowl games) ... Which wouldn't cut it for where we want to go but would be far better than Cal.

Lanning has elevated the program.

ESPN.com

Cal fires Justin Wilcox: Top candidates, transfers and re...

Cal becomes the latest to join the coaching market. Leadership and financial issue make it tricky for candidates.

2 hours ago, Charles Fischer said:

He's available for the Oregon State job!

My sentiments exactly... I actually think he would do better there than CAL.

Plus he'd be able to have his linemen score an inside NIL deal on the Wilcox Family Farm!

No "ill will" someone said?

His defenses when DC injured at least 3 of our qb's over the years on questionable hits.

I don't forget or forgive that kind of culture.

Yeah, maybe a perfect Beavis.

56 minutes ago, VegasDuck said:

ESPN.com

Cal fires Justin Wilcox: Top candidates, transfers and re...

Cal becomes the latest to join the coaching market. Leadership and financial issue make it tricky for candidates.

All comes down to ONE big question. Does Lupoi want to be a head coach?

I don't think he does, if he wanted a HC gig he could have had one by now and probably one that would at least be equal if not greater than Cal.

He might take it but I'd be absolutely shocked if he did.

Probably would not have happened if Ron Rivera wasn't calling the shots in Berkeley. Cal looked awful against Stanford.

Perhaps Luck at Stanford and Rivera at Cal should look in the mirror for the next HC at their respective school.

UCLA, Stanford, Oregon State, and Cal with job openings. One third of OBD's former conference members. And how much more rope will SC give Riley?

Next season, SC plays Ohio State, OBD, UW, Indiana, Penn State, and perhaps Notre Dame. QB Jayden Maiava, TE Lake McRee, WRs Lemon and Lane, and outstanding safety Kamari Ramsey are all eligible for the 2026 draft. No matter how good the 2026 recruiting class is, these guys will not be easy to replace.

SC is far from a PO lock next season.

This just in! Even when the PO field expands to 16 teams, 88%, 120 out of 136 FBS teams, will not be in the PO field.

It only took Indiana 136 seasons to find Cignetti. 😁

And FWIW, I will go on record: Under James Franklin, Virginia Tech will not win a national championship and may never make a PO appearance.

8 minutes ago, Jon Joseph said:

And how much more rope will SC give Riley

If they get less than 8 wins next season he's out. Otherwise.... 2 seasons. Let that recruiting class become sophomores.

He is going to have to kill it in the portal. But with Lanning and Cignetti around.... Portal hunting is even harder.

Lots of talk about Lane Kiffin going to LSU for the biggest paycheck in college football. How does one negotiate a contract with LSU when they are trying to deny paying Brian Kelly his severance pay? I am not debating whether Kelly earned it or not. It seems that LSU is not honoring their agreement. If I am Lane Kiffen, I have to ask myself, will they honor my agreement?

Sad thing about today's College Football is that my first thought when I heard about Wilcox is would any of their players help Oregon next year? On that thought, are any of the USC players ready to move up to a better program?

19 minutes ago, Santa Rosa Duck said:

If I am Lane Kiffen, I have to ask myself, will they honor my agreement?

Depends on the objective.

Maybe he didn't plan on leaving ole Miss and this is all about leverage.

Maybe he doesn't care as much about the end money but wants more resources.

Let's get real. The money all these coaches are getting paid is more than enough to live on and leave a substantial nest egg for multiple generations.

1 hour ago, Duckman60 said:

Sad thing about today's College Football is that my first thought when I heard about Wilcox is would any of their players help Oregon next year? On that thought, are any of the USC players ready to move up to a better program?

If Dante goes, one time Duck, Cal QB Sag?

"(Cal) would any of their players help Oregon next year?"

Some replacement conjecture that Cal would promote Bryan Harsin in an attempt to hold on to the Cal freshman QB. If he "goes to market" expect USC to make a QB offer. I think USC's current QB is draft eligible.

As for Lupoi, he knows his recruiting style requires resources. Loving your alma mater isn't a resource.

1 hour ago, David Marsh said:

Depends on the objective.

Maybe he didn't plan on leaving ole Miss and this is all about leverage.

Maybe he doesn't care as much about the end money but wants more resources.

Let's get real. The money all these coaches are getting paid is more than enough to live on and leave a substantial nest egg for multiple generations.

Jimmy Sexton is Lane's agent; every ounce of pressure will be applied to all of the players involved in this drama, and a number that are not involved.

4 minutes ago, HDuck said:

"(Cal) would any of their players help Oregon next year?"

Some replacement conjecture that Cal would promote Bryan Harsin in an attempt to hold on to the Cal freshman QB. If he "goes to market" expect USC to make a QB offer. I think USC's current QB is draft eligible.

As for Lupoi, he knows his recruiting style requires resources. Loving your alma mater isn't a resource.

Yes, USC QB Maiava, his two top WRs, and TE are all draft eligible.

Harsin bombed at Auburn, and many Cal players took off rather than play for him. He was a strange hire.

Cal GM Rivera named former Wazzu coach Nick Rolovich to be the interim HC. Cal is bowl eligible.

Wilcox could always come on board as a defensive analyst while he rehabs his career.

Thank goodness we have Dan Lanning! His name is seldom on the board for those teams searching for a replacement.

Dan Lanning is 'lucky' to be at Oregon as he's soaking up...

The Ducks coach wants none of the coaching drama.

10 hours ago, Duckman60 said:

Sad thing about today's College Football is that my first thought when I heard about Wilcox is would any of their players help Oregon next year? On that thought, are any of the USC players ready to move up to a better program?

I imagine there are more than a few of us keeping an eye on what happens at Florida (and who they hire) if a certain freshman WR (briefly signed then released by Oregon) who went through an unfortunate injury plagued freshman season might be open to a fresh start? 6-3 and 215 would compliment Dakorien, Evan Stewart, and McClellan nicely in 2026.

As well, (a Duck runner-up) freshman CB at LSU (who has looked very good), might consider a change with their new staff (though if he can handle Brian Kelly he probably can handle just about anyone). Odds for either a huge longshot but...

Looking to Tosh as the No. 1 choice? Bay Area roots etc.

Oregon DC Tosh Lupoi Viewed as Leading Candidate to Replace Justin Wilcox at California

1 hour ago, Steven A said:

Looking to Tosh as the No. 1 choice? Bay Area roots etc.

Oregon DC Tosh Lupoi Viewed as Leading Candidate to Replace Justin Wilcox at California

Sounds on brand for Cal.

17 hours ago, Charles Fischer said:

He's available for the Oregon State job!

Cold, my friend. Just ice cold.

LOL

12 hours ago, HDuck said:

"(Cal) would any of their players help Oregon next year?"

Some replacement conjecture that Cal would promote Bryan Harsin in an attempt to hold on to the Cal freshman QB. If he "goes to market" expect USC to make a QB offer. I think USC's current QB is draft eligible.

As for Lupoi, he knows his recruiting style requires resources. Loving your alma mater isn't a resource.

Oops.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Desert Duck

Not to wish ill on Cal (my alma mater) but might JKS be willing to transfer and serve as Dante's backup for a year before taking the reins? His talent ceiling is higher than Novosad, Moga, Smith and incoming Beaver and he could follow as the next in line to the NFL. He would have a far superior O-line and skill players in Eugene and better coaching even if WS moves on by that time.

Dante has risen back up draft boards after the last several

good performances. The negatives from his Indiana game have dissipated some. No recent word on his supposed inclination to return to Oregon next year, but it would appear to be in his best interest to do so. JKS would be a good heir apparent. And if Dante leaves, he would likely be odds on favorite to win the starting job in 2026.

14 hours ago, Duckman60 said:

Sad thing about today's College Football is that my first thought when I heard about Wilcox is would any of their players help Oregon next year? On that thought, are any of the USC players ready to move up to a better program?

But I sure like having these feeder programs available for us.

It reminds me a bit of having Minor Baseball League clubs, but being able to poach the talent at will.

15 hours ago, Jon Joseph said:

Probably would not have happened if Ron Rivera wasn't calling the shots in Berkeley. Cal looked awful against Stanford.

Perhaps Luck at Stanford and Rivera at Cal should look in the mirror for the next HC at their respective school.

UCLA, Stanford, Oregon State, and Cal with job openings. One third of OBD's former conference members. And how much more rope will SC give Riley?

Next season, SC plays Ohio State, OBD, UW, Indiana, Penn State, and perhaps Notre Dame. QB Jayden Maiava, TE Lake McRee, WRs Lemon and Lane, and outstanding safety Kamari Ramsey are all eligible for the 2026 draft. No matter how good the 2026 recruiting class is, these guys will not be easy to replace.

SC is far from a PO lock next season.

This just in! Even when the PO field expands to 16 teams, 88%, 120 out of 136 FBS teams, will not be in the PO field.

It only took Indiana 136 seasons to find Cignetti. 😁

And FWIW, I will go on record: Under James Franklin, Virginia Tech will not win a national championship and may never make a PO appearance.

Yeah, SC could easily lose 4 games in conference next year while still being a pretty good team. I don't think SC is going to tolerate pretty good for very long, although that's where they've been for a while now (at least ever since Oregon started recruiting many of the palyers that in the past were assumed to be going to SC)

No, Franklin will not win a national championship at VaTech (or anywhere else for that matter). Tech needs innovation, Franklin is not that.

I wonder how long Cignetti is going to stay at Indiana. Will Penn St go after him? Certainly some of the more traditional powers will try to poach him soon. I really hope he does stay, though that mean Indiana will always be a tough game. It's good to see a new team competing at such a high level.