What Is 2011 Cal Golden Bears football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2011 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 7–6 record under head coach Jeff Tedford. They played their home games at Memorial Stadium and competed in the Pac-12 Conference's North Division.

Key Facts

The 2011 Cal Golden Bears finished the season with a 7–6 overall record and 4–5 in Pac-12 play
Head coach Jeff Tedford led the team for his 10th consecutive season
They played home games at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California
Cal defeated the UCLA Bruins 43–17 in a key October victory
The team earned a berth in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini 35–28

Overview

The 2011 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Competing in the Pac-12 Conference's North Division, the team was led by head coach Jeff Tedford, who was in his 10th season at the helm.

After a challenging start, the Bears improved in conference play and secured a winning record, culminating in a postseason bowl appearance. Their performance reflected a mix of strong offensive plays and defensive inconsistencies throughout the season.

Record: The team finished with a 7–6 overall record and a 4–5 mark in Pac-12 play, placing third in the North Division.
Head coach: Jeff Tedford remained the head coach, continuing his tenure that began in 2002 and making 2011 his 10th consecutive season.
Stadium: Cal played all home games at historic Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California, which underwent renovations before the season.
Offensive leader: Quarterback Zach Maynard threw for 2,099 yards and 15 touchdowns, leading the team in passing.
Defensive standout: Inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks recorded 91 tackles and 5.5 sacks, earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors.

Season Performance

The 2011 campaign featured a blend of early struggles and mid-season resurgence, with the Bears showing resilience in key conference matchups. Several games highlighted both offensive potential and defensive vulnerabilities, shaping their bowl eligibility path.

September slump: Cal started 1–3, losing to teams like Southern Miss and Colorado, raising concerns about team cohesion.
October turnaround: The Bears defeated UCLA 43–17 and narrowly lost to Oregon 53–35, showing improved offensive firepower.
Running game: Isi Sofele rushed for 1,322 yards and 7 touchdowns, becoming the team's leading rusher and a key offensive weapon.
Pass defense: The secondary allowed 239.1 passing yards per game, ranking near the bottom nationally and contributing to close losses.
Bowl game: Cal earned a spot in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini 35–28 on December 31, 2011.
Key win: A 34–31 overtime victory over Washington State proved pivotal in securing bowl eligibility late in the season.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2011 Cal Golden Bears with the previous season and conference rivals:

Team	Overall Record	Conference Record	Bowl Result	Head Coach
2011 Cal Golden Bears	7–6	4–5	Won Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (35–28 vs. Illinois)	Jeff Tedford
2010 Cal Golden Bears	5–7	3–5	No bowl appearance	Jeff Tedford
Oregon Ducks (2011)	12–1	9–0	Lost BCS National Championship	Chip Kelly
Stanford Cardinal (2011)	11–2	8–1	Won Fiesta Bowl	David Shaw
UCLA Bruins (2011)	6–8	5–4	Lost in Pac-12 Championship	Mike Rolle

The 2011 Cal team showed improvement over the 5–7 2010 season, particularly in securing a bowl victory. While not matching powerhouses like Oregon or Stanford, they outperformed rivals like UCLA and achieved a winning record, a significant rebound.

Why It Matters

The 2011 season marked a turning point for Cal football, restoring bowl eligibility after a losing season and rebuilding momentum under Jeff Tedford. The team's performance had lasting implications for recruiting, program stability, and fan engagement.

Program stability: Returning to a winning record helped secure Jeff Tedford’s position and delayed major coaching changes for another season.
Bowl significance: The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl win improved Cal’s all-time bowl record and provided national exposure.
Player development: Several underclassmen gained valuable experience, including future NFL player Mychal Kendricks.
Recruiting boost: A winning season and bowl appearance enhanced Cal’s appeal to West Coast recruits in the 2012 class.
Stadium impact: The renovated Memorial Stadium debuted in 2011, enhancing game-day experience and revenue potential.
Conference context: Competing in the newly expanded Pac-12, Cal’s performance reflected the challenges of playing top-tier conference opponents weekly.

Ultimately, the 2011 Cal Golden Bears season served as a bridge between underperformance and future aspirations, demonstrating resilience and laying groundwork for subsequent seasons despite lingering structural challenges.