BERKELEY, Calif. – The Wagner College football team will head west to face Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) member California on Saturday, Sept. 19. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. PT (3:30 p.m. ET) at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California, with live coverage on ACC Network featuring Roxy Bernstein and Dave Clawson on the call.
First and Ten
Wagner (1-2, 0-1 NEC) enters Saturday's matchup following an 87-3 loss to Sun Belt Conference member RV James Madison.
Freshman kicker Johnny DiSalvatore got Wagner on the board with a 40-yard field goal with 9:01 remaining in the first quarter.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Zion Fowler-El led the Seahawks with four receptions for 45 yards. Eight different Wagner receivers recorded at least one reception.
Defensively, redshirt freshman Jordan Gaston recorded a nine-yard sack in the second quarter.
The Series
Saturday's meeting marks the first all-time matchup between the Seahawks and the Golden Bears.
Wagner is 0-22 all-time against FBS opponents and will face two FBS teams in the same season for the ninth time in program history. The Seahawks' closest result against an FBS opponent was a 24-21 loss at UConn in 2019.
California is 17-0 against FCS opponents since 2005. The Golden Bears last faced an FCS opponent on Sept. 6, 2025, defeating Texas Southern, 35-3.
Scouting the Golden Bears
California enters Saturday's matchup with a 1-1 overall record and a 1-0 mark in ACC play after earning a 21-18 road victory over Syracuse on Sept. 12. The Golden Bears opened the season with a 45-24 home loss to UCLA.
Cal finished the 2025 season with a 7-6 overall record and a 4-4 mark in conference play.
The Golden Bears are led by first-year head coach Tosh Lupoi, who previously served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Oregon for four seasons. Cal was selected to finish 12th in the ACC Preseason Media Poll.
Defensively, Cal has recorded four interceptions through its first two games, tied for fifth nationally. Defensive back Kingston Lopa leads the nation with four interceptions, including three against Syracuse. Lopa returned one of those interceptions 24 yards for a touchdown and was named ACC Defensive Back of the Week and Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week.
Offensively, sophomore quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele completed 21 of 34 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns against Syracuse. Running back Adam Mohammed has averaged 127 all-purpose yards per game through the first two contests.
Against the ACC
Saturday's matchup marks Wagner's fifth all-time meeting against an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent.
The Seahawks are 0-3 all-time against Syracuse, with the most recent meeting coming in 2022. Wagner also faced Boston College in 2016, falling to the Eagles in the programs' lone meeting.
Back to California
Saturday's matchup marks Wagner's first game in California since 2004, when the Seahawks fell to San Diego, 35-14.
Three Seahawks on the current roster hail from California: Conor Lawlor, Jack Stevens and Karlos Grier.
Preseason 2026
Wagner was selected fourth in the 2026 NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the program's highest preseason ranking since 2019.
Five Seahawks were named to the 2026 Preseason All-NEC Team: senior defensive lineman Logan Barnes, redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Ethan Appolon, senior defensive back Shamar Williams, senior running back Sekou Kamau and senior offensive lineman Malik Wilson.
Wagner will play 12 games this season, including seven conference contests, five home games and two matchups against FBS opponents.
The Captains
Ahead of the season, senior defensive lineman Logan Barnes and junior quarterback Jack Stevens were selected by their teammates to serve as team captains.
Barnes was named a captain for the second consecutive season, while Stevens earned the honor for the first time.
Community Tailgate
Wagner College will host a community tailgate reception prior to Saturday's game from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Maxwell Family Field in Berkeley, California.
Alumni, parents and supporters are invited to join fellow Seahawks fans before kickoff. The tailgate will feature a BBQ menu, soft drinks and water. Guests age 21 and older will have access to a cash bar, with their first beverage complimentary courtesy of Wagner.
Following the tailgate, fans can head to California Memorial Stadium to cheer on the Seahawks against the Golden Bears.
For more information, click here.
What's Next
Following Saturday's matchup, Wagner will have a bye week before returning to NEC play on Saturday, Oct. 3, when the Seahawks travel to New Britain, Conn., to face two-time defending conference champion Central Connecticut State.
Kickoff is set for noon at Arute Field, with live coverage available on NEC Front Row.
