The Bears were led by third-year head coach Sonny Dykes and played their home games at Memorial Stadium.

[1] In Week 3, the Bears defeated Texas 45–44 in Austin, marking the program's first-ever victory over the Longhorns.

[2] The following week, Cal beat Washington 30–24, earning their first victory in Seattle since 2005 and snapping a six-game losing streak to the Huskies.

[4] The Golden Bears rebounded with a 54–24 win over last-place Oregon State, in which Cal gained a school-record 760 yards while becoming bowl-eligible for the first time since 2011.

Following the season, Sonny Dykes' contract was extended until 2019, owing to the team's athletic and academic improvements during his tenure.