Overview
- Cal will finish the regular season at home against No. 25 SMU under interim coach Nick Rolovich and then play in a bowl game.
- Rivera said the 31-10 Big Game defeat, featuring 13 penalties and three lost fumbles with two returned for touchdowns, drove the decision.
- Rivera is leading the hire through his industry contacts and a committee, not a search firm, and has an initial list of 14 candidates that includes Rolovich and offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin.
- Wilcox departs with a 48-55 record over nine seasons and no winning seasons since 2019, with Cal never posting a winning conference mark in his tenure.
- Contract figures reported place Wilcox’s buyout around $10.8–$10.9 million, and Rivera said retaining freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is an immediate priority.