Here we go again exploring the Conference of (real NCAA) Champions and its individual schools on Pac-12 Friday. This week we look at the California Golden Bears football team, a squad with a mixed legacy that goes back forever and a day. Heck, we even awarded Cal our 1937 MNC designation when we first started doing historical analysis (a very long time ago, it seems). That was a high point for the Golden Bears, obvi.

Since 1916, Cal has won 13 conference titles, finished in the rankings 14 times, posted a .523 overall record, and played in 24 bowl games. But the Golden Bears have experienced a lot of ups and downs during those 107 full seasons. Some of that is reflected below, and while nothing may ever top The Play, the Cal football legacy will continue in the ACC starting in 2024. Hopefully, the Golden Bears will thrive in that setting.

5. 1991

Cal football had been in the dark for a long time until the school hired Bruce Snyder as its head coach. Improved recruiting led to a 10-2 record and a Citrus Bowl victory over Clemson. The No. 8 Golden Bears rode the No. 5 offense in the nation to the No. 7 SRS ranking overall, while Cal played against the No. 21 SOS. Big wins included a road victory over then-ranked UCLA and a rare home triumph, 52-30, over USC.

4. 1951

This team finished ranked No. 12 after finishing with an 8-2 record, thanks to the No. 11 offense and the No. 7 SRS ranking overall. The Golden Bears’ only two losses came against the conference foes from Los Angeles, by a combined 21 points. Otherwise, Cal rolled its opponents, including a 35-0 road victory over then-No. 19 Pennsylvania and a 20-7 road win over then-No. 3 Stanford in the Big Game. Delicious!

3. 1948

This season was a disappointment, despite the 10-1 overall record, thanks to a Rose Bowl loss against Northwestern that cost the Golden Bears a shot at the MNC. Cal still finished No. 5 in the polls, with the No. 16 offense, the No. 11 defense, and the No. 5 SRS ranking overall. The Golden Bears claimed wins over everyone in the conference, as well as Navy and Wisconsin. Six opponents scored 7 points or less, too.

2. 2004

With a 10-1 record, Cal got screwed over by the BCS and had to settle for a Holiday Bowl bid, and the Golden Bears played uninspired football before losing to one of the most overrated coaches ever. But the team’s only regular-season loss was to eventual MNC USC, by 3 points on the road. Cal finished No. 9 in the polls despite the bowl loss, thanks to No. 7 offense, the No. 8 defense, and the No. 3 SRS ranking overall. Bitter!

1. 1949

Two seasons in a row, the Golden Bears lost the Rose Bowl after a perfect regular season, but this team gets the nod as the best in school history. It finished No. 3 in the media rankings, while displaying the No. 13 offense, the No. 19 defense, and the No. 2 overall SRS ranking. After beating ranked teams from Stanford, UCLA, and USC in the regular season, Cal’s good fortune ran out against No. 6 Ohio State in Pasadena.