The 2026 Cal Poly Mustangs football team represents California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Mustangs are led by first-year head coach Tim Skipper and play their home games at Mustang Memorial Field in San Luis Obispo, California.
Offseason Coaching changes On November 23, 2025, Paul Wulff was fired as the Mustangs' head coach, finishing his Cal Poly tenure with an overall record of 10–24 through three seasons. On December 3, 2025, UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper was named the Mustangs' new head coach. On January 2, 2026, Sammy Lawanson was hired as the Mustangs' defensive coordinator/safeties coach, having previously served as a co-defensive coordinator at Bowling Green from 2022 to 2024. Ten days later, January 13, Mercer offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Anthony Soto was hired for the same position at Cal Poly.
Big Sky prediction polls The Big Sky Conference released its preseason prediction polls on July 20, 2026. The Mustangs were predicted to finish 11th in the coaches poll and 9th in the media poll.
Schedule
‡New Mustang Memorial Field attendance record.
Game summaries
Idaho
Statistics IDHOCP First downs 18 29 Plays–yards 59–482 78–516 Rushes–yards 34–119 42–197 Passing yards 363 319 Passing: comp–att–int 18–25–0 26–36–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 27:34 32:26 Team Category Player Statistics Idaho Passing Joshua Wood 18/25, 363 yards, 2 TD Rushing Ferrari Miller 12 carries, 44 yards, TD Receiving Tony Harste 9 receptions, 180 yards, 2 TD Cal Poly Passing Anthony Grigsby Jr. 26/35, 319 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jaden Green 15 carries, 71 yards Receiving Tayvion McCoy 10 receptions, 170 yards, TD
No. 6 (DII) Central Washington
Statistics CENCP First downs 23 19 Plays–yards 77–430 61–384 Rushes–yards 41–168 34–180 Passing yards 262 204 Passing: comp–att–int 25–36–1 15–27–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 36:06 23:53 Team Category Player Statistics Central Washington Passing Justin Brennan 25/36, 262 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ryder Bumgarner 21 carries, 99 yards Receiving Mason Juergens 10 receptions, 114 yards, TD Cal Poly Passing Anthony Grigsby Jr. 15/27, 204 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jaden Green 13 carries, 94 yards Receiving Ray Hall 5 receptions, 125 yards, 2 TD
at San Jose State (FBS)
Statistics CPSJSU First downs 20 27 Plays–yards 69–340 78–493 Rushes–yards 29–91 44–255 Passing yards 249 238 Passing: comp–att–int 24–40–2 22–34–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 28:58 32:02 Team Category Player Statistics Cal Poly Passing Anthony Grigsby Jr. 24/40, 249 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jaden Green 10 carries, 52 yards Receiving Fidel Pitts 5 receptions, 103 yards San Jose State Passing Luke Weaver 22/34, 238 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jabari Bates 27 carries, 163 yards Receiving Carson Clark 8 receptions, 81 yards, 2 TD
San Diego
Statistics USDCP First downs 29 18 Plays–yards 78–499 52–384 Rushes–yards 47–263 29–173 Passing yards 236 211 Passing: comp–att–int 25–31–0 14–23–0 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 35:49 24:11 Team Category Player Statistics San Diego Passing Dom Nankil 25/30, 236 yards, 2 TD Rushing Adam Criter 28 carries, 178 yards, TD Receiving Cole Monach 8 receptions, 87 yards, 2 TD Cal Poly Passing Anthony Grigsby Jr. 14/23, 211 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jaden Green 17 carries, 126 yards, TD Receiving Tayvion McCoy 5 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TD
at Eastern Washington
Statistics CPEWU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Cal Poly Passing Rushing Receiving Eastern Washington Passing Rushing Receiving
Weber State
Statistics WEBCP First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Weber State Passing Rushing Receiving Cal Poly Passing Rushing Receiving
at No. 16 Idaho State
Statistics CPIDST First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Cal Poly Passing Rushing Receiving Idaho State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Northern Colorado
Statistics CPUNCO First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Cal Poly Passing Rushing Receiving Northern Colorado Passing Rushing Receiving
Utah Tech
Statistics UTUCP First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Utah Tech Passing Rushing Receiving Cal Poly Passing Rushing Receiving
at Montana State
Statistics CPMTST First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Cal Poly Passing Rushing Receiving Montana State Passing Rushing Receiving
Northern Arizona
Statistics NAUCP First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Northern Arizona Passing Rushing Receiving Cal Poly Passing Rushing Receiving
at UC Davis (Battle for the Golden Horseshoe)
Statistics CPUCD First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Cal Poly Passing Rushing Receiving UC Davis Passing Rushing Receiving
References