Cal has one of the toughest football schedules in the Pac-12

The California Golden Bears cannot be thrilled with how their 2023 schedule plays out in the Pac-12.

The California Golden Bears have not had a good offseason. Jack Plummer transferred to Louisville, meaning another QB is making their way to Berkeley.

Then, when the 2023 Pac-12 football schedule came out on Wednesday, the Golden Bears wound up with one of the most brutal schedules in the entire conference.

Why? They play on the road against UCLA, Utah, Washington, and Oregon (h/t Jon Wilner of The Mercury News).

“No team faces a more difficult array of road games than the Bears, who visit UCLA, Utah, Washington and Oregon (plus Stanford),” Wilner wrote. “Oh, and they host Auburn in Week Two. Considering how the schedule could have played out, the Bears should be satisfied with the final version: It gives them the best possible chance to succeed. The finale at UCLA will be Cal’s last scheduled game against UCLA, which heads to the Big Ten in 2024.

Cal could end the year at the bottom of the Pac-12 standings, especially with Colorado looking like one of the most improved teams in the entire country.

Justin Wilcox has a tough season ahead of him in Cal, and the Pac-12 schedule makers didn’t do the Golden Bears any favors whatsoever.

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