Featured Photo by Will Navarro/SoFi Stadium
This Wednesday, the Cal Bears will face off against the UNLV Running Rebels in what promises to be a chaotic, yet thrilling matchup. With coaching shakeups and lineup adjustments galore, this game is a true “anything can happen” scenario. So, what can we expect under the bright city lights of LA at SoFi Stadium? Let’s break it down.
UNLV’s Coaching Shakeup
The biggest storyline surrounding the Rebels is the departure of head coach Barry Odom, who is taking his talents to Purdue. Odom’s move to a new gig has left a massive hole in UNLV’s coaching staff, but the Rebels aren’t backing down. Wide receiver coach Del Alexander, who steps into the head coach role, faces an uphill battle to steer this ship, but with the right mix of determination and X’s and O’s knowledge, he might just pull off something spectacular.
Cal’s Quarterback Conundrum
On the other side of the ball, Cal is also facing some major changes. The Golden Bears will be without their star quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, who has made the decision to enter the transfer portal, taking with him 3,004 passing yards and 16 touchdowns. That’s no small loss. Cal will need to find a way to fill that void, and with their own mix of fresh faces and new challenges, they are certainly up against it.
Unpredictable Lineups Across the Board
Across both teams, there are major changes up and down the backfields and in the offensive and defensive lines. Fans of both teams might be looking at their squad like they’ve never seen them before—and that’s not necessarily a good thing. With so many moving pieces, both sides will be scrambling to find rhythm and consistency, and if there’s one thing we know about a midseason shakeup, it’s that anything can happen.
What Does This All Mean?
So, what’s our prediction at West Coast Sports Media? Well, after careful consideration—and a little gut instinct—we’re going with UNLV to pull off the win. Sure, they were two scores away from making the College Football Playoffs after losing to Boise State in the Mountain West Championship game, and despite the coaching change, they still have plenty of talent on the field. On the flip side, Cal limped down the stretch this season, dropping games they should’ve won, even with Mendoza at the helm.
We anticipate a sloppy yet competitive game, with both teams struggling to find their footing in the early going. However, we think UNLV will squeak out a victory, finishing strong and taking it by a solid four-point margin. If we’re right, we’ll be seeing them party on the 50-yard line with none other than Rob Gronkowski himself, hoisting the victory belt in celebration of a hard-fought season finale.
In the end, it’s anyone’s guess—but that’s the beauty of college football, isn’t it? Let’s see how it all shakes out on Wednesday night. Stay tuned!
Based in Los Angeles, California, Martin is a freelance photographer with Martin26Photos, specializing in sports and portrait photography. He has made a name for himself in Southern California’s sports photojournalism scene, covering local high school and college events as well as media days. With experience capturing high-profile Division 1 athletics, Martin aims to expand his work to professional sports in the near future.
