First-year Cal head coach Tosh Lupoi already feeling the heat following pointed comments from GM Ron Rivera

Cal's impatience with first-year coach Tosh Lupoi highlights changing CFB expectations

Look around, and the college football landscape is filled with stories of successful first-year coaches. One such tale is being woven in Southern California, where the College Football Playoff No. 8 UCLA Bruins are off to an 8-0 start.

Rivera discussed the comparisons between the two programs, noting that UCLA coach Bob Chesney had prior head-coaching experience and brought several players with him from last year's James Madison Dukes CFP squad.

"Tosh came in as a first-time head coach," Rivera noted. "He did bring a couple of inexperienced coordinators with him. Things didn't work out the way we needed them to work out on offense."

In early October, offensive coordinator Jordan Somerville, previously assistant quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2023-25), had play-calling removed from his responsibilities during a loss at UNLV.

"He's looking for answers, which is great," Rivera said at the time. "If you continue to do the same thing, isn't that insanity?"

If the Golden Bears don't show any growth over the final month of the season, Lupoi could be the next casualty.

Rivera made clear Cal's final three regular-season games will be huge in determining the program's future, saying, "These last three games, hopefully four, the trajectory has to be going north. We have to show ... there has been some growth and development of our players, our team, and the culture is getting stronger.

"Those are all things you have to have going forward."

Building a strong foundation has always been paramount in team sports, but it's never been more important for a college coach to hit the ground running and make an immediate impact. With the amount of money that goes into financing rosters, a coach needs to show he's worth the investment. Quickly fostering a winning culture also helps attract talent via the transfer portal.

Coaches, particularly those in the power conferences, don't have the luxury of waiting to field competitive rosters. Before, they could argue that building through high-school recruiting takes time, finding players who fit the scheme doesn't happen overnight.

But that's no longer the case. Coaches have it, or they don't.

Lupoi's job status over the next month is made more compelling considering what it could mean for 2025 breakout freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. This year, Sagapolutele has struggled as a sophomore. During Cal's active five-game losing streak, he's averaging 177 passing yards per game with four touchdowns and four interceptions. The Golden Bears have scored no more than 20 points in four of the five games.

Sagapolutele already survived one coaching change, but two might be enough to have him explore portal options.

A lot's riding on Cal's last three games, both for the program and potentially college football at large. Lupoi might be coaching for his job, and Sagapolutele could be auditioning for his next team.