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5 College Football Programs on the Rise

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Oct 12, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Bill Belton (1) celebrates after running the ball into the end zone for a touchdown in overtime to defeat the Michigan Wolverines 43-40 at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O
Oct 12, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Bill Belton (1) celebrates after running the ball into the end zone for a touchdown in overtime to defeat the Michigan Wolverines 43-40 at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O /
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Nov 1, 2014; Corvallis, OR, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Jared Goff (16) prepares to pass in the first quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Susan Ragan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2014; Corvallis, OR, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Jared Goff (16) prepares to pass in the first quarter against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Susan Ragan-USA TODAY Sports /

In the Pac-12, USC is a pre-season national title contender, Oregon is always in the mix for the conference crown and UCLA is loaded, but the team on the rise is Cal.

The Golden Bears were 1-11 in 2013 and 5-7 last season, and the bulk of that improvement can be attributed to head coach Sonny Dykes, offensive coordinator Tony Franklin and quarterback Jared Goff. The trio helped Cal score 36.3 points per game (which ranked second in the Pac-12 and tenth in the nation) and they amassed 346 passing yards (second in the league and sixth nationally) on average last year.

Goff threw for 3,973 yards and 35 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. He and seven other starters (plus a deep crop of receivers) return on offense.

In a day and age where “system” quarterbacks are looked down upon by NFL scouts and talent evaluators (and the offense at Cal is literally the Tony Franklin System), Jared Goff is getting respect. In his “way-too early 2016 NFL mock draft,” ESPN NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay has Goff as the third QB selected, ninth overall.

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Of course, as good as the offense was, the defense was as bad. Opponents scored 39.8 points per game against Cal last season, which was more than all but five other FBS teams. The Bears allowed 511.8 yards per contest, which was also dead last in the Pac-12 and 121st nationally. Nine starters return in 2015, so at least there’s experience, but the unit will need to improve dramatically under new defensive coordinator Art Kauffman to help Dykes earn his first winning season in Berkeley.

The Bears open the non-conference portion of the 2015 schedule with home games against Grambling State and San Diego State before hitting the road to play Texas in Austin. Goff, Franklin and company will certainly have their hands full will Charlie Strong’s Longhorns in Week 3. In league play, Cal plays in the weaker Northern Division of the Pac-12 and avoids Arizona, but must play USC, UCLA, Utah and Arizona State out of the South.

It’s a tough schedule, but this is an experienced team and much-improved program capable of a winning record and a trip to a bowl game. If they score an upset or two, Cal might be a Top 25 football team.

Next: Big Ten: Penn State

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