| Year: | 2018 |
| Team: | California Golden Bears |
| Conference: | Pac-12 Conference |
| Division: | North Division |
| Short Conf: | Pac-12 |
| Record: | 7–6 |
| Conf Record: | 4–5 |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Oc Year: | 2nd |
| Dc Year: | 2nd |
| Sport: | football |
The 2018 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bears went 7–6 during Justin Wilcox's second year as head coach. The Bears upset #15 Washington 12–10 and defeated USC 15–14 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles to snap a 15-year losing streak to the Trojans, but at the same time, they also snapped a 18-year losing streak to USC in the Coliseum. They lost 10–7 in overtime to TCU in the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl.[1] [2]
Cal's offensive efficiency ranked as the second worst among all Power Five teams.[3] This ranking was in direct contrast to Cal's offensive performances under Cal's previous coach Sonny Dykes; in 2014 Cal was ranked No. 11 in nation in points scored, and in 2015 was ranked No. 13 in total yards.[4] [5] However, there was an inverse contrast in team's defensive performance as Wilcox's 2018 team was ranked No. 15 in total yards allowed as opposed to consistent bottom of the charts performances under Dykes.[6] Two standouts of Cal's defense were second team All-Pac-12 linebacker junior Evan Weaver who had 155 tackles and two interceptions, and first team All-Pac-12 senior Jordan Kunaszyk who had 143 tackles, six forced fumbles and one fumble recovered; Kunaszyk went undrafted but was later signed by the Carolina Panthers.[7] [8]
On December 5, 2017, defensive line coach Jerry Azzinaro left the Golden Bears after one season to become the new defensive coordinator for the UCLA Bruins under Chip Kelly.[9]
The Golden Bears had two individuals selected in the 2018 NFL draft.[10]
| 7 | 225 | Minnesota Vikings | |||
| 7 | 232 | Green Bay Packers |
| Back | B | Center | C | Cornerback | CB | Defensive back | DB | |||
| Defensive end | DE | Defensive lineman | DL | Defensive tackle | DT | End | E | |||
| Fullback | FB | Guard | G | Halfback | HB | Kicker | K | |||
| Kickoff returner | KR | Offensive tackle | OT | Offensive lineman | OL | Linebacker | LB | |||
| Long snapper | LS | Punter | P | Punt returner | PR | Quarterback | QB | |||
| Running back | RB | Safety | S | Tight end | TE | Wide receiver | WR |
The Golden Bears signed a total of 21 recruits.
Listed in the order that they were released
| Lott Trophy[11] | Jordan Kunaszyk | LB | SR | |
| Rimington Trophy[12] | Addison Ooms | C | SR | |
| Maxwell Award[13] | Patrick Laird | RB | SR | |
| Doak Walker Award[14] | Patrick Laird | RB | SR | |
| Fred Biletnikoff Award[15] | Kanawai Noa | WR | JR | |
| Vic Wharton III | WR | SR | ||
| John Mackey Award[16] | Ray Hudson | TE | SR | |
| Butkus Award[17] | Jordan Kunaszyk | LB | SR | |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy[18] | Jordan Kunaszyk | LB | SR | |
| Outland Trophy[19] | Patrick Mekari | OL | SR | |
| Paul Hornung Award[20] | Ashtyn Davis | S/KR | JR | |
| Wuerffel Trophy[21] | Patrick Laird | RB | SR | |
| Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[22] | Ross Bowers | QB | JR |
The 2018 Pac-12 media days are set for July 25, 2018 in Hollywood, California. Justin Wilcox (HC), Patrick Laird (RB) & Jordan Kunaszyk (LB) at Pac-12 media days. The Pac-12 media poll was released with the Golden Bears predicted to finish in fourth place at Pac-12 North division.[23]
| Media poll (North) | |||
| 1 | Washington | 249 (40) | |
| 2 | Stanford | 198 (2) | |
| 3 | Oregon | 178 (2) | |
| 4 | California | 108 | |
| 5 | Washington State | 98 | |
| 6 | Oregon State | 45 | |
| Name | Position | Seasons at Cal | Before Cal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | 2nd as head coach (LB Coach, 2003–2005) | Wisconsin – Defensive coordinator (2016) | ||
| Assistant head coach / offensive coordinator / tight ends coach | 2nd year | Eastern Washington – head coach (2008–16) | ||
| Defensive coordinator / outside linebackers coach | 2nd year | Fresno State – Head coach (2012–16) | ||
| Defensive backs coach | 2nd year | Montana State – Defensive backs coach (2016) | ||
| Nicholas Edwards | Wide receivers coach | 2nd year | Eastern Washington – Wide receivers coach (2014–16) | |
| Offensive line coach | 2nd year | Oregon – Offensive line / defensive line coach (2000–16) | ||
| Special teams coordinator / tight ends coach | 2nd year | Arizona – Special teams coordinator (2013–17) | ||
| Associate head coach / inside linebackers | 1st year | Louisville – Defensive coordinator / outside linebackers coach (2017) | ||
| Running backs coach | 1st as Asst. Coach (WR, 2001–2004) | UC Davis – Wide receivers coach (2016) | ||
| Quarterbacks coach / passing game coordinator / recruiting coordinator | 2nd year | UCLA – Quarterbacks coach / passing game coordinator (2016) | ||
| Tony Tuioti | Defensive line coach | align=center | 2nd year | Cleveland Browns – Quality Control, Defense (2014–15) |
| Quality Control, Offensive | 2nd year | La Mirada HS (CA) – Quarterbacks coach (2008–16) | ||
| Reference: [26] | ||||
See also: 2018 North Carolina Tar Heels football team.
See also: 2018 BYU Cougars football team.
See also: 2018 Idaho State Bengals football team.
See also: 2018 Oregon Ducks football team.
See also: 2018 Arizona Wildcats football team.
See also: 2018 UCLA Bruins football team and California–UCLA football rivalry.
See also: 2018 Oregon State Beavers football team.
See also: 2018 Washington Huskies football team.
See also: 2017 Washington State Cougars football team.
See also: 2018 USC Trojans football team.
See also: 2018 Colorado Buffaloes football team.
See also: 2018 Stanford Cardinal football team and Big Game (American football).
See also: 2018 TCU Horned Frogs football team and 2018 Cheez-It Bowl.
with Hal Ramey and Lee Grosscup
See also: 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings.
Burlsworth Trophy Finalist[28]
Senior CLASS Award Finalist[29]
Broyles Award Semifinalist[30]
Lott IMPACT Trophy Semifinalist[31]
Campbell Trophy Semifinalist[32]
Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List[33]
FWAA National Team of the Week (Week 11 vs USC)[34]
Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 13 vs Colorado)[35]
Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week (Week 11 vs USC)[36]
Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week (Week 13 vs Colorado)
Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week (Week 9 vs Washington)[37]
CSM Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week (Week 9 vs Washington)
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team[38]
Google Cloud Academic All-District Team[39]
| First | Jordan Kunaszyk | LB | SR | |
| Second | Evan Weaver | LB | JR | |
| Honorable | Luc Buquette | DE | JR | |
| Honorable | Camryn Bynum | DB | SO | |
| Honorable | Steven Coutts | P | JR | |
| Honorable | Ashtyn Davis | RS | JR |