Is Justin Wilcox on the hot seat? Losing to him would be humiliating for USC

ESPN.com published an article this preseason suggesting that California coach Justin Wilcox may be on the hot seat.

In seven seasons under Wilcox, Cal has gone 34-40, including three consecutive losing campaigns and a losing record this season, currently at 3-4.

Wilcox signed a contract extension in the winter of 2022 (after he declined an offer to be Oregon’s head coach) that would cost Cal a lot of money if Wilcox were dismissed. The contract extension runs through the 2027 season, spans six seasons, and will pay him a total of $28.5 million, excluding any performance bonuses, if he merely remains the Bears’ coach through the end of 2027.

Entering his seventh campaign at the helm in Berkeley, Wilcox hired offensive coordinator Jake Spatival.

“Coach Spav” was the former head coach at Texas State. He was quarterback coach and offensive coordinator for Johnny Manziel’s junior season at Texas A&M.

The Bears have still struggled this season on offense, though they have improved so far this year. They enter the USC game 56th in the nation, averaging 407.6 yards per game and 29.9 points.

Only time will tell if Wilcox will be retained, though I think with his current buyout and Cal’s move to the ACC in 2024, Wilcox will get more time and deserves it at least for now.