UC Davis is a state funded school, as are all UC and CalState schools. Creating our own conference reduces costs and increases opportunities for California kids who want to stay home for school.

The interim coach at Cal is Nick Rolovich. I sure hope he's not in consideration for the permanent job. My sister knew him at WSU and told me he's a real jerk. Plus, he was head coach at Hawaii for awhile and, despite some success here, alienated a lot of people.

Happy for NDSU and Polasek. Seems like a really genuine guy who cares: https://www.inforum.com/sports/hot-mic-interview-tim-polasek-on-signing-a-new-contract-with-the-bison?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar

Vigen announced he's staying at Montana State so they will continue to be a powerhouse

I read agalum's comment as more of a keep "the state", that is state government, out of the business of creating athletic conferences. It's one thing to have colleges within a state combine on their own to form a conference. It is something else to have the State create and oversee a conference.

what’s the difference? Every conference is geographically based. State schools are run by the state that’s why your diploma has the governors signature on it.

Personally, I think the state of California should consider creating a “California Conference” to maximize opportunities for California kids and keep revenue in state. — Sailorgabe

The Big West as a California bus-league is pretty boring.
A version with football programs might be more fun (in 30 years)...

File this in the "never-going-to-happen" bin:
California
Stanford
San Diego State
Fresno State
San Jose State
Sac State
Cal Poly
UC Davis

Boring? That’s subjective. Do you need to be reminded that college is meant to provide opportunities for kids to play sports but more importantly to get an education. We have grown to much accustomed to college sports being about entertainment and money, we have forgotten the reason schools even exist.

If you are looking to watch semipro ball go watch USC or Alabama. If you want to support your alumni and root for our kids root for California schools.

Boring? That’s subjective. — Sailorgabe

Correct. I thought the Big West was boring and was holding Davis back. The Mountain West is a growth opportunity for Davis (hence the facilities improvement plan going into the MWC).

yes Davis is doing a phenomenal job with athletics. When I was an undergraduate we didn’t have any of this awesome facilities. Now? Just very impressive. I still stand by my belief that in 10 years Davis will be a highly attractive place to play in all sports. We are the only real college town in California with D1 sports. That counts.

Cal Poly and Goleta have an argument.

An argument for 2nd!!

Stanford names Tavita Pritchard as new head coach,
https://gostanford.com/news/2025/11/28/tavita-pritchard-named-bradford-m-freeman-director-of-football

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

yes, but I think even with their three other campuses, Cal Poly implies Slo. I think the state was wrong to force Cal Poly to take on Cal Maritime.

San Luis Obispo not Goleta

Evidently he’s not a coach, he’s a “director of football”. Maybe a fancy title in lieu of SEC type pay. Otherwise it sounds more like a GM.

Tavita is the HC. They have the position endowed. Luck is GM.

does that mean that they are paid through boosters?

yah, I knew that - just commenting on the title that normal people would not associate with being the head coach. I guess the endowing folk require a sexier title.

That is a strange hire at Stanford. He was the OC of terrible Stanford teams a few years back, so lets hire him as head coach?

Eck extended at New Mexico. 5 years at 1.75 per year. That’s the landscape in the MWC.

Is this part of the long game for Plough? Does he know that in a few/several years his salary doubles potentially?

Lane Kiffin to burn college football to the ground?

LSU will give him $25M per year for NIL. Short, good, insanity.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2443071156212948/?mibextid=CDWPTG

I heard lane kiffin has decided to become the Mondavi Co-Offensive coordinator at UC Davis after the Mondavi family and dude who created pom have donated $30 million per year!

dude who created pom

I mistakenly read that with an “rn” in it, but I guess POM is a pomegranate juice company?

Here are my Top 3 candidates for Cal. And Plough ain't going to Cal at this juncture. Maybe after one of these guys gets fired next, but not in 2025/26:

Tosh Lupoi would be a really interesting hire at Cal. Dude can flat out coach and get after it, but does he have the personality to recruit today's soft ass California HS football player? Reminds me a little of Aranda at Baylor; heck of a football coach, great mind and talent as a DC, but is he a head coach? Actually, he also reminds me a little of Ron Rivera, so maybe this is the guy.

Rolo may not be fun to work with or work for according to this thread, but he is an outstanding football coach and recruiter. And he is actually a good guy from what I know, and I'll leave it at that. He's used to doing less with more, and if you watched their upset of SMU, the players and staff love him.

Will Stein, another Oregon staffer, is a good fit. Likeable and humble dude, very personable, QB friendly, Offensive guru, has the temperament for California recruits, I like this one. He has also spent a lot of time recruiting California since he's been with the Ducks.

I too was a bit surprised by Wulff's firing in SLO, I thought they were close. They did load-up on transfers last year, which is typically the smoke coming before the firing. Two LA-area P4 candidates could emerge as the lead dogs in that one.

Portland State is a dumpster fire. They need to hire the right guy (everyone loved Barnum but that only goes so far) and get their recruiting mess straightened out, then address the facility situation. 20+ miles from campus to stadium is no recipe for success, just ask UCLA. Their ability to take anyone academically should make it easier to recruit there, but that also creates other headaches.

Ha, me too - then I thought about it and looked closer, because I was literally drinking a POM.

:lol: maybe should have chosen a less close to controversial donor

Bill Cowher Goes OFF on Lane Kiffin to LSU | NFL Today

Amen! Hopefully Plough is as sincere as he says he is. If you haven't listened to the new Aggie Pride Podcast interview with Plough, he has me so fired up for this weekend! Go Ags!

Also, the pom/porn thing got my old eyes, too! Cracked me up.