Cal Tries to Keep Focus on 2023 as Realignment Noise Abounds

The interesting thing about the constant stream of news and speculation regarding Cal’s possible conference home for 2024 is that the people most affected by the outcome – the football players – have no say in what happens.

So as head coach of the Cal football team, Justin Wilcox’s job is to keep the team focused on the 2023 season, which will feature all 12 teams in the final season of Pac-12 play as we know it.

You would have to believe that by the time the men’s and women’s basketball teams start official practice, the Golden Bears’ 2024 conference issue will be resolved. But the football team is now in the heart of preseason camp, and conference uncertainty reigns. And any coach will tell you that if a player’s attention is focused anywhere other than this season, this practice and this play it is a recipe for doom.

Coaches hate distractions, and this could be a major distraction.

Have the players done a good job of tuning out the conference realignment noise?

“Yes,” said Wilcox on Thursday. “I think they do a good job. Like all of us, this conference realignment thing, this matters big time. Us, the group out here, we need to play good football. That’s what we can do right now. We need to concern ourselves with what it takes to do that.”

Easy to say, difficult to do.

“When we are informed of whatever is happening next, then we’ll address it and talk about it. Right now there’s a lot of reports, there’s a lot of speculation, and of course people are hearing it and paying attention, because of the significance of it. But when we go to practice and meetings, it’s all about 2023 Cal football.”

It’s virtually impossible for Wilcox to shut out all the realignment news.

“You really can’t help it,” he said. “I guess if I pick up my cell phone. You’re forced to pay attention. And it’s something to pay attention to. The significance is undeniable. [But] until they invite me to the meeting, I’m here doing my job. The investment with our players and team on the now is what we have control over.”

Whether Cal will be in the ACC or Big 12 or Big Ten or Mountain West or become an independent in 2024 is up in the air.

QB Competition

Redshirt freshman TCU transfer Sam Jackson V remains the favorite to win the starting quarterback job for the opener. But the competition with North Carolina State transfer Ben Finley and redshirt freshman Fernando Mendoza is closer than expected.

During practices Mendoza has looked like the best passer of the three, although Jackson’s speed and potential keeps him as the favorite.

We’ll get a better idea of the pecking order on Sunday, when Cal has its first intrasquad scrimmage.

Player Updates.

Defensive lineman Brett Johnson did not participate in practice Thursday as he continues to work his way back from injury issues. But Wilcox expects him to be ready for the September 2 opener against North Texas.

“Yes,” he said. “We would anticipate that.”

Justin Williams-Thomas, the redshirt freshman running back transfer from Tennessee, has not practiced at all in the preseason, and Wilcox does not know when he might return. Williams-Thomas has not been ruled out for the season, though.

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