Despite a decisive win over eventual Pac-12 South winner UCLA, Cal closed out the season with five consecutive losses.

The Bears reopened California Memorial Stadium with over 11,000 fewer seats[2] on September 1 with a loss to the Nevada Wolf Pack.

[4] Cal quarterback Zach Maynard was benched for the first three series of the game as punishment for missing a tutoring session earlier during the summer and Allan Bridgford started in his stead.

[5] Nevada jumped out to an early lead with an 80 yard scoring drive capped off by a 2-yard run by Stefphon Jefferson.

The Bears responded on the following drive when receiver Keenan Allen was able to score on a 39-yard run and Cal was able to convert a Nevada fumble recovered on the kick off with a 40-yard field goal.

However a Maynard fumble in Nevada territory in the beginning of the quarter led to a 39-yard field goal by the Wolf Pack.

[6] Nevada quarterback Cody Fajardo threw for 230 yards and ran for 97, including one of the Wolf Pack's four touchdowns.

Cal tied with an 18-yard field goal to open the second quarter and added a pair of touchdowns on a 6-yard run by C.J.

Maynard had a 1-yard run to open the fourth quarter and the Buckeyes added a 3-yard reception by Stoneburner with Miller successfully rushing for the two-point conversion.

[13] California will travel to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 22 to face the USC Trojans for the two schools' 100th meeting.

1st quarter scoring: USC – Silas Redd 33-yard run (Andre Heidari kick) 2nd quarter scoring: CAL – Vincen D'Amato 24-yard field goal; USC – Marqise Lee 11-yard pass from Matt Barkley (Heidari kick); USC – Heidari 40-yard field goal 3rd quarter scoring: CAL – D'Amato 26-yard field goal; CAL – D'Amato 35-yard field goal 4th quarter scoring: USC – Heidari 41-yard field goal; USC – Lee 3-yard pass from Barkley (Heidari kick) California will meet the Arizona State Sun Devils on September 29 at California Memorial Stadium for the first Pac-12 home game of the season.

1st quarter scoring: ARIZ – Darwin Rogers 1-yard pass from Taylor Kelly (Alex Garoutte kick).

1st quarter scoring: UCLA – Cassius Marsh 4-yard pass from Brett Hundley (Ka'i Fairbairn kick); CAL – D'Amato, Vincen 26-yard field goal.

California traveled to Martin Stadium on October 13 to face the Washington State Cougars for the Bears' first Pac-12 North divisional opponent.

The Golden Bears lead the all-time series 43–25–5 with California winning the last meeting 30–7 in San Francisco.

For the first time since 1892, the annual Big Game between the California Golden Bears and the Stanford Cardinal was not played at the end of the season in either November or December.

The last time California travelled to Salt Lake City to face the Utes, the all-time attendance record at Rice-Eccles Stadium (46,768) was set.

Utah senior running back Reggie Dunn set an NCAA record with two 100-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns.

Kelley 18 Yd Pass From Bryan Bennett (Maldonado Kick) California traveled to the Reser Stadium to face the Oregon State Beavers for the Bears' final game of the regular season.

The Golden Bears led the all-time series 34–30–0 with California winning the last meeting 23–6 in San Francisco.