Cal Poised For Saturday Spring Game Like No Other

More than 10,000 fans expected to attend the Bears' annual spring game, a significant increase from previous years.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:52pm

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A cubist, fragmented painting depicting a college football game, with players and the field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the official colors of the Cal Bears and their opponent.The vibrant, geometric energy of a college football spring game captures the renewed excitement surrounding the Cal Bears program.Berkeley Today

The Cal football team is set to host its annual spring game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, and the event is expected to draw a much larger crowd than in previous years. With new head coach Tosh Lupoi generating excitement around the program, the university is anticipating over 10,000 fans to attend, compared to just 2,000 last year. The spring game will feature a full game-like format with the team divided into blue and white squads, and will be followed by a concert from local Bay Area artists.

Why it matters

The high level of fan interest in Cal's spring game reflects the renewed energy and optimism surrounding the football program under new head coach Tosh Lupoi. After several down years, the Bears are looking to rebuild and reconnect with their fanbase, and a strong turnout for the spring game could be an early indicator of their ability to do so.

The details

The spring game will kick off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, with gates opening at 11 a.m. Admission is free, and the event will feature activities like a kids fun zone, a fan photo station, and a Cal student store pop-up. Following the game, there will be a concert featuring Bay Area artists 1 Umbrella and Rexx Life Raj.

  • The spring game will take place on Saturday, April 17, 2026.
  • Gates open at 11 a.m. and the game starts at 1 p.m.

The players

Tosh Lupoi

The new head coach of the Cal football team, who has generated significant excitement and momentum around the program since his arrival.

Ron Rivera

The Cal football general manager, who has stated that the university is hoping to see the spring game attendance double from the previous year's 2,000 fans.

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What they’re saying

“We want people to come see what we're trying to build. We want them to see what Tosh's impact has been and we want them to see what they've help us put together as far as this football team is concerned.”

— Ron Rivera, Cal football general manager

What’s next

Following the spring game, the Cal football team will continue its offseason training and preparation for the upcoming 2026 season.

The takeaway

The high level of fan interest and excitement surrounding Cal's spring game is a positive sign for the football program under new head coach Tosh Lupoi. If the team can capitalize on this momentum and translate it into success on the field, it could mark the beginning of a resurgence for the Bears.