Minnesota Football: First look at the California Golden Bears
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 2-0 on the 2025 season after a 66-0 win over the Northwestern State Demons this past Saturday. Now, they’ll have their biggest test of the early season, the ACC’s California Golden Bears, who also enter week three at 2-0.
Gophers Nation takes a first look at the Golden Bears below.
Game / Broadcast Details
Where: Berkley, California
Stadium: California Memorial Stadium (52,428)
Time: 9:30 p.m. CT
Television: ESPN
Radio: KFAN 100.3 | Mike Grimm, Darrell Thompson, Justin Gaard
Odds: Minnesota is a 2.5-point favorite over California with the total currently set at 43.5 points according to BetMGM.
California’s 2025 Results
| Date | Opponent | Result | Record |
| 8/30 | at Oregon State | 34-15 | 1-0 |
| 9/6 | vs Texas Southern | 35-3 | 2-0 |
After opening up the season taking down Oregon State in Corvallis behind the impressive debut of Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, the Golden Bears improved to 2-0 this past weekend with a win over FCS program Texas Southern.
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Series History
The matchup will be the seventh all-time between the two programs. California has won four of the previous six matchups including each of the last two matchups in 2006 and 2009. Minnesota’s last win over California came in 1987, a 32-23 win in Minneapolis.
Head Coach Profile: Justin Wilcox
Wilcox is now in his ninth season with the Golden Bears. Through 94 career games, Wilcox owns a 44-50 record including 23-43 in conference play. The 48-year old Wilcox has amassed two winning seasons in his eight seasons with the Golden Bears, the last coming in 2019.
Prior to being the Cal head coach, Wilcox spent a decade as a defensive coordinator at Boise State, Tennessee, Washington, USC, and Wisconsin.
Player to Watch: QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele
The former On3 five-star prospect has been super impressive through two starts completing 46-of-67 passing attempts for 493 yards and three touchdowns. The Ewa Beach, Hawaii native has shown the ability to make throws well beyond his years while possessing tremendous poise and confidence in the pocket as well. In his first career start against Oregon State, Sagapolutele was 20-for-30 for 234 yards and three touchdowns.
Early storylines to watch:
– How will Drake Lindsey fare in his first career road start? The Gophers redshirt freshman quarterback has been impressive through two weeks but this will be the first time he plays away from Huntington Bank Stadium.
– WIll Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele continue his early success? The former five-star passed the test against Oregon State and Texas Southern in weeks one and two but now the Hawaii native will have to face one of the better defenses in all of college football. How will defensive coordinator Danny Collins’ gameplan to slow down this Cal passing attack?
— How will the late kickoff affect the Golden Gophers? Minnesota won’t arrive in California until Friday and then Saturday’s game won’t kick off until 9:30 p.m. local time in Minneapolis. Will the late kickoff affect the Gophers? Last year, the Gophers needed all four quarters to beat a poor UCLA team in Los Angeles after a late kickoff.
How the Gophers and Golden Bears matchup statistically
| Cal Offense | Minnesota Defense | ||
| Stat Category | # (National Rank) | Stat Category | # (National Rank) |
| Scoring Offense | 34.5 (48) | Scoring Defense | 5.0 (T-6) |
| Rushing Offense | 147.50 (86) | Rushing Defense | 31.5 (3) |
| Passing Offense | 260 (39) | Passing Defense | 65.0 (1) |
| Total Offense | 407.5 (65) | Total Defense | 96.5 (1) |
| Sacks Allowed | 1.0 (T-13) | Sacks | 4.0 (T-60) |
| 3rd Down % | 32% (T-108) | 3rd Down % | 14.29% (T-5) |
| 4th Down % | 60% (T-64) | 4th Down % | 100% (T-113) |
| Red Zone % | 100% (T-1) | Red Zone % | 100% (T-91) |
| Minnesota Offense | Cal Defense | ||
| Stat Category | # (National Rank) | Stat Category | # (National Rank) |
| Scoring Offense | 44.5 (T-21) | Scoring Defense | 9.0 (T-19) |
| Rushing Offense | 205.5 (37) | Rushing Defense | 58.50 (14) |
| Passing Offense | 258 (44) | Passing Defense | 194.0 (67) |
| Total Offense | 463.5 (32) | Total Defense | 252.5 (33) |
| Sacks Allowed | 3.0 (T-52) | Sacks | 3 (T-80) |
| 3rd Down % | 32% (T-108) | 3rd Down % | 24.0% (T-24) |
| 4th Down % | 60% (T-64) | 4th Down % | 50.0% (T-50) |
| Red Zone % | 100% (T-1) | Red Zone % | 100% (T-91) |
Stay Tuned
Stay tuned to Gophers Nation as we bring the latest updates on the Golden Gophers’ upcoming matchup against California.
