Ranking every Power 4 college football team in California

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Who’s the best college football team in California? It’s a question that seems to be repetitive each season.

With the season just under one month away, there might not be a better time than now to decide which school reigns supreme heading into the 2026 season.

Are they from the ACC or the Big Ten?

Maybe to some fans, it might not even be any of the teams listed, but for the sake of time, we’ve decided to rank only the Power 4 conference teams: the ACC, Big Ten, SEC, and Big 12.

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4. UCLA Bruins (Big Ten)

2025 record: 3-9

Coming into the 2026 campaign, the UCLA Bruins look to turn the page on last year’s three-win season, bringing in new leadership as former James Madison head coach Bob Chesney takes the reins at UCLA.

Likely to deploy Nico Iamaleava as the starter once again, UCLA saw significant roster turnover in several other position groups, bringing in 40-plus transfers this offseason.

UCLA also has a graceful schedule for 2026, with the Bruins playing nine games on the West Coast, eight of them in-state.

3. Stanford Cardinal (ACC)

2025 record: 4-8

It’s an alumni party in Stanford as Tavita Pritchard will be in the head coaching role for his alma mater.

Alongside team general manager Andrew Luck, another former Stanford quarterback, Pritchard will look to restore their school’s glory and out of the bottom of their conference

Bringing on a new arm for Stanford, Davis Warren transferred from Michigan blue to Cardinal red after missing the entire 2025 season due to a torn ACL.

Now recovered, Warren hopes to find the same spark he displayed in 2024, and with work alongside Pritchard and Luck, perhaps he could be the driving force who shifts the tide in Stanford.

2. California Golden Bears (ACC)

2025 record: 7-6

Outside of our No. 1 team for this list, there might not be a team on the West Coast with more hype to have a breakout season than the California Golden Bears.

Finishing in the middle of the ACC last year, Cal showed the college football world that it was no longer going to sit and watch but was back to being competitive.

With Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele entering his second year under center, plus Cal alum Tosh Lupoi taking over the head coaching duties, the Golden Bears may be on the cusp of being one of the top teams in the ACC for 2026.

1. USC Trojans (Big Ten)

2025 record: 9-4

Can this be the season Lincoln Riley finally delivers in the College Football Playoff?

The Trojans are certainly built for it behind potential first-round quarterback Jayden Maiava, who led USC to a nine-win season last year.

Losing several key stars to the NFL draft could impact USC. However, with 10 transfers joining the team and expected to make an impact, such as wide receiver Terrell Anderson and defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren, the Trojans’ roster is still ready to break the glass ceiling as a contender.

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